Canada's New Defence Minister

[Humphrey Bogart]

Don't know what your standard for a "large and complicated organization" is, but Garneau ran the Space Agency for four years; that's ain't nothing.

He also was an Astronaut so he's probably pretty intelligent.  8)

 

[Kirkhill]

He also was an Astronaut so he's probably pretty intelligent.  8)

Yes, but can he do rocket surgery?  ;D

 

[Journeyman]

He also was an Astronaut so he's probably pretty intelligent.  8)

So, while he may not be an architect, he may know rocket science?   

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

So, while he may not be an architect, he may know rocket science?   

Therefore he is a Sky Captain 

Let's hope he doesn't bomb at the box office

/end corny movie reference

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Didn't she gift the army with the Iltis because it was built in her riding?

Nope, not the Iltis, that's a whole other fiasco.
She gave us the LSVW. The rights to build it were bought from Iveco by Western Star. Like the Iltis and Bombardier, is was then built to the lowest standard possible, with inferior parts and the will to make as much as possible off of a government contract at the cost of performance and a complete disregard for the soldiers that then have to use this shit in combat situations. Heaters that wouldn't work because the rubber band it ran on would break in the cold. Crippling, no shit leg breaking spare tire mounts and, IIRC, 60bhp with the turbo kicked in. And we can't leave without the cause of the name, LSVW. Loud Squeeky Vehicle Wheeled. They were the hardest brake pads known to man, actuated by minimum pressure wheel cylinders. All in an attempt to have the warranty, that covered them, void by the time they finally wore out.

 

[Lightguns]

Nope, not the Iltis, that's a whole other fiasco.
She gave us the LSVW. The rights to build it were bought from Iveco by Western Star. Like the Iltis and Bombardier, is was then built to the lowest standard possible, with inferior parts and the will to make as much as possible off of a government contract at the cost of performance and a complete disregard for the soldiers that then have to use this crap in combat situations. Heaters that wouldn't work because the rubber band it ran on would break in the cold. Crippling, no crap leg breaking spare tire mounts and, IIRC, 60bhp with the turbo kicked in. And we can't leave without the cause of the name, LSVW. Loud Squeeky Vehicle Wheeled. They were the hardest brake pads known to man, actuated by minimum pressure wheel cylinders. All in an attempt to have the warranty, that covered them, void by the time they finally wore out.

Not to mention all those poor RCEME types that ran out of parts for their well maintained '76 Chevy trucks.........

 

[Good2Golf]

Not to mention all those poor RCEME types that ran out of parts for their well maintained '76 Chevy trucks.........

...although, that was one of the better "MIL"COTS buys out there, all things considered.  Yes, the 24V bit always was a bit wonky, but otherwise, it was kind of hard to screw up a Chevy 1-ton (called a 5/4 ).

Regards
G2G

 

[Colin Parkinson]

We also picked up the US army Dodge 1 ton Milcot as well as a interim buy (not to mention the M151, CJ5)

 

[The Bread Guy]

Updated mandate letter for the DefMin (also attached) - key highlights ...

... As Minister of National Defence, your overarching goal will be to ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces are equipped and prepared, if called upon, to protect Canadian sovereignty, defend North America, provide disaster relief, conduct search and rescue, support United Nations peace operations, and contribute to the security of our allies and to allied and coalition operations abroad. It will be important that you ensure a close link between defence policy, foreign policy, and national security. I also ask you to work closely with your colleague, the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, to ensure a seamless transition for Canadian Forces members to the programs and services of Veterans Affairs.

In particular, I will expect you to work with your colleagues and through established legislative, regulatory, and Cabinet processes to deliver on your top priorities:

    Work with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to end Canada’s combat mission in Iraq and Syria, refocusing Canada’s efforts in the region on the training of local forces and humanitarian support.

    Ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces have the equipment they need. This includes:

        working with the Minister of Finance to maintain current National Defence spending levels, including current planned increases;
        working with the Minister of Public Services and Procurement to launch an open and transparent competition to replace the CF-18 fighter aircraft, focusing on options that match Canada’s defence needs; and
        working with the Minister of Public Services and Procurement to invest in strengthening the Navy, while meeting the commitments that were made as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.

    Work with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to renew Canada’s commitment to United Nations peace operations. This includes:

        making Canada’s specialized capabilities – from mobile medical teams, to engineering support, to aircraft that can carry supplies and personnel – available on a case-by-case basis;
        working with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to help the United Nations respond more quickly to emerging and escalating conflicts and providing well-trained personnel to international initiatives that can be quickly deployed, such as mission commanders, staff officers, and headquarters units; and
        leading an international effort to improve and expand the training of military and civilian personnel deployed on peace operations, while insisting that any peacekeepers involved in misconduct be held accountable by their own country and the United Nations.

    Maintain Canada’s strong commitments to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

    Conduct an open and transparent review process to create a new defence strategy for Canada, replacing the now-outdated Canada First Defence Strategy.

    Renew Canada’s focus on surveillance and control of Canadian territory and approaches, particularly our Arctic regions, and increase the size of the Canadian Rangers.

    Work with senior leaders of the Canadian Armed Forces to establish and maintain a workplace free from harassment and discrimination.

    Work with the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence to reduce complexity, overhaul service delivery, and strengthen partnerships between National Defence and Veterans Affairs.

    Support the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness in a review of existing measures to protect Canadians and our critical infrastructure from cyber-threats.

    Work with the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence to develop a suicide prevention strategy for Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans. ...

 

[MilEME09]

end Canada’s combat mission in Iraq and Syria,

I Thought it wasn't a combat mission?

invest in strengthening the Navy, while meeting the commitments that were made as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.

This sounds like to me a green light to buy from other yards not currently part of the NSPS

 

[The Bread Guy]

I Thought it wasn't a combat mission?

It is now that it's on paper.

 

[MarkOttawa]

milnews.ca:

Work with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to renew Canada’s commitment to United Nations peace operations. This includes:

       

making Canada’s specialized capabilities – from mobile medical teams, to engineering support, to aircraft that can carry supplies and personnel – available on a case-by-case basis;
        working with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to help the United Nations respond more quickly to emerging and escalating conflicts and providing well-trained personnel to international initiatives that can be quickly deployed, such as mission commanders, staff officers, and headquarters units; and
        leading an international effort to improve and expand the training of military and civilian personnel deployed on peace operations, while insisting that any peacekeepers involved in misconduct be held accountable by their own country and the United Nations.

Sure looks now like no large number of Army troops (infantry, light-armoured) in units for any one mission such as Mali.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[brihard]

It is now that it's on paper.

That's been the case since the original mandate letter in 2015. The interesting wording received attention then.

 

[McG]

Are we sure that is an updated letter?  One of the tasks is to undertake the defence policy review, and I am pretty sure the government is claiming that box is checked.

 

[FJAG]

Are we sure that is an updated letter?  One of the tasks is to undertake the defence policy review, and I am pretty sure the government is claiming that box is checked.

I'm pretty sure it isn't a current one notwithstanding the date in the file name. The date at the top of the letter itself is 12/11/2015. The comment about ending the "combat mission in Iraq and Syria" undoubtedly referred to the previous mission under Harper. Also the lengthy "feel good" preamble sounds to me like the initial attempt to separate themselves from the Harper style of government that they entered into immediately after the election.

:cheers:

 

[The Bread Guy]

Are we sure that is an updated letter?  One of the tasks is to undertake the defence policy review, and I am pretty sure the government is claiming that box is checked.

I'm reading this ...

... Conduct an open and transparent review process to create a new defence strategy for Canada, replacing the now-outdated Canada First Defence Strategy ...

... as the yellow bit being the next step/deliverable, especially since a new "policy" was announced in June, not a "strategy"

 

[McG]

Research beats assumption.  I don’t think that a new mandate letter. Reference this thread:

Prime Minister Trudeau has published the mandate letters given to the ministers of his cabinet.  The full text of the letter to the Minister of National Defence is here: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/minister-national-defence-mandate-letter

Excerpt (sorry for the poor formatting):

 

[The Bread Guy]

Research beats assumption.  I don’t think that a new mandate letter. Reference this thread:

I do stand corrected - thanks for that!