Ottawa set to unveil long-awaited update to defence policy
Defence Minister Bill Blair is set to release the long-awaited update to Canada’s defence policy Monday morning in Trenton, Ont.
Bill Blair in political news
Defence policy update raises spending by $8B with focus on Arctic, cyber security
Defence Minister Bill Blair unveiled Monday $7.9 billion in new spending on the Canadian Armed Forces over the next five years in a long-promised update to Canada’s defence policy, but this will still not meet the country’s target under NATO.
The West Block Transcript – Episode 28, Season 13
THE WEST BLOCK Episode 28, Season 13 Sunday, March 24, 2024
Military culture reform is key to fix recruitment ‘death spiral’: minister
Canada’s defence minister says steps taken last week to modernize the military justice system is part of an overhaul of military culture that is crucial to reversing the “death spiral” of shrinking recruitment.
Blair says controversial motion on arms exports doesn't change government's approach to Israel
Defence Minister Bill Blair said Thursday that despite this week's drama over a divisive House of Commons vote calling for an end to future arms exports to Israel, the Commons-approved motion doesn't change Canada's approach to the file at all.
Sexual misconduct will be removed from military justice system jurisdiction
Defence Minister Bill Blair has introduced new legislation to remove the Canadian military’s jurisdictionto investigate sexual misconduct; something that advocates, survivors and former Supreme Court of Canada justices have all called for.
Federal government moves to strip military of power to investigate sexual offences
The federal government has introduced long-awaited legislation to strip military police and the military justice system of the power to investigate and prosecute sexual offences on Canadian soil.
Military ditching aptitude test for some applicants, will start accepting recruits with medical conditions
The military has dropped its aptitude test from the application process for dozens of jobs and plans to start accepting recruits with pre-existing medical conditions — trial efforts meant to boost the Canadian Armed Forces' dismal recruitment numbers.