Canada's boutique military: 'Should we not be able to defend ourselves?'
Maintenance problems plague military equipment that includes submarines, aircraft and the army's rolling stock. 'I have never seen it as bad as it is now,' said Maisonneuve. Lots of Canadian military equipment 'is parked by the fence right now because there are not enough spare parts to fix them.'
Boivin worries about the declining rate of military equipment that is supposed to be ready for training and operations. Key naval fleets that are serviceable to meet training and readiness requirements in support of concurrent operations dropped below 50 per cent in 2022-2023, as did key army fleets. Serviceability rates for air force fleets increased slightly but were also way off target.
'The reality is I'm privileged as a commander that the serviceability rate of the equipment that the services give me to employ on operations is high,' said Boivin. His concern is about the equipment left back in Canada for training the brigades at home.
'I believe we're always going to be in a position where there are some challenges,' said the commander.
'We've got quality people. We simply need to give them quality equipment, train them properly, and I'm very confident that we'll do well in the operating environment.
'Every day we've got dedicated Canadian Armed Forces members that are delivering crazy good effects for the country on all of the operations that we have,' Boivin said, pointing to the successful helicopter rescue recently of 20 sailors from a ship grounded off Newfoundland as an example.
'I don't think we're a broken military,' the commander said.
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36 minutes ago
Carney facing some Liberal pushback over Modi's invitation to G7 summit
Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing some pushback from his caucus over Canada's decision to invite the Indian prime minister to the G7 meeting in Alberta next week, with one Sikh MP saying it's a bad idea. B.C. MP Sukh Dhaliwal told reporters he met with Carney early Wednesday to express what he says are constituents' frustrations with the decision to include Narendra Modi. Canadian police have alleged Indian agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (new window) , the Canadian Khalistani separatist who was gunned down in B.C. in 2023. Nijjar and others in that movement have been calling for an independent Sikh homeland in northern India called Khalistan, which Modi's government has vigorously opposed and denounced as a national security threat. The RCMP has clearly stated there's credible evidence Indian agents were involved in the assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, Dhaliwal said of Nijjar. It's a bad idea to include Modi in this high-profile get-together, he said. WATCH | Modi coming is a 'bad idea,' Dhaliwal says: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Liberal MP says Modi coming to Canada is 'a bad idea' Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, B.C. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal said he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney Wednesday morning to express concerns he says his constituents have with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi being invited to the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta. Dhaliwal said Carney is alarmed by the Nijjar case and taking seriously what would be an egregious violation of Canadian sovereignty. Canada expelled some Indian diplomats (new window) after the allegations were made public. 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The commission reviewed intelligence suggesting Indian-aligned proxies may have clandestinely provided financial support to various Canadian politicians to try and get more pro-Indian candidates elected. The report also found that India has used disinformation to further its goals in Canada. Liberal MP Karina Gould, a past cabinet minister and leadership contender, said human rights should be on the agenda when Carney meets with Modi and if another controversial G7 invitee, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (new window) , also decides to attend. Bin Salman has been tied to the killing of Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi. I understand why they were invited. Part of diplomacy is having these conversations — you don't shut the door to them, Gould said. But we're also standing up for values that are important to Canadians. WATCH | MPs asked about India, Saudi Arabia invites : Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Liberal MPs asked about Carney inviting India, Saudi Arabia to G7 in Canada Liberal MPs Yasir Naqvi, Ahmed Hussen, Rob Oliphant and Yvan Baker were asked Wednesday to share their thoughts on Prime Minister Mark Carney inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia to attend the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta. The Modi invite is a sign Carney may be looking to reset relations with India after a particularly fractious period under the last Liberal government, said Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University. It's sending a positive signal to the Indians that the Carney government wants to begin to turn the page on some of the frictions we saw during the Trudeau government and the difficulties they had with India, Hampson said in an interview with CBC News. And there are signs India may be open to a rapprochement because Modi accepted the invitation immediately, Hampson said, unlike Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum who took days to consider whether to go or not (new window) . India is the world's fifth-largest economy, a major regional actor in the Indo-Pacific and an increasingly important player on the global stage, and bringing Modi here for the G7 is a way for Carney to signal he's taking Canada's foreign policy in a different direction, Hampson said. The fact that this is a multilateral gathering that we're hosting does give the prime minister some cover when it comes to domestic critics who feel Modi shouldn't be invited. It would be very different if it was an invitation for a bilateral heads of government meeting in Ottawa. At least this can be done under the cloak of the G7, he said. The push to diversify the economy is why other Liberal MPs were deferential to Carney and his decision to include Modi. Canada is facing an economic crisis with U.S. relations at a low point, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said, and Canada needs to collaborate and work out some of the issues with India. I think the G7 is an important avenue for the prime minister to discuss some economic collaboration, Sidhu said. MP Yasir Naqvi, the parliamentary secretary to Sidhu, said there's no excuse for the very serious allegations around extrajudicial killings, but the Carney and Modi face-to-face is a chance for Canada to demand India's co-operation with the ongoing Canadian police investigation and to engage on the larger issue. This only happens if there's a relationship between our governments, Naqvi said. WATCH | Conservative leader on Modi's invitation: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Poilievre says Modi's G7 invitation was 'necessary' 5 days agoDuration0:55'We need to work with India,' Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, said when asked if it's appropriate for the Indian prime minister to come to Canada, as his government's role in a B.C. killing is investigated. And, as Carney looks to lessen Canada's dependence on the U.S., there are opportunities for Canadian businesses in India, Naqvi said. Canada is trying to open the door on relationships and say, 'We need to diversify our trade vastly,' added MP Rob Oliphant, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs. The message to the world is Canada is a vibrant trading partner. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said earlier this week that India is one of the biggest and fastest-growing economies in the world. 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John Paul Tasker (new window) · CBC News
Winnipeg Free Press
37 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
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Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Canada invites U.A.E. to G7 summit, Brazil says Carney invited to COP30
Published Jun 11, 2025 • 1 minute read U.S. President Donald Trump signs the guestbook as UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan looks on and gives a thumbs-up gesture after a meeting at Qasr al Watan (Palace of the Nation) on May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Images OTTAWA — Canada has invited the United Arab Emirates to attend the G7 summit in Alberta, The Canadian Press has learned. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account While UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan could end up attending the summit, which starts Sunday in Kananaskis, Abu Dhabi has not said whether it has accepted the invitation. A Canadian government official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about Canada's list of invitees, confirmed the invitation. Read More The office of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says Prime Minister Mark Carney will attend the COP30 summit in the Amazon region city of Belem this November. The Canadian Press has asked Carney's office to confirm his attendance. Canada also has invited Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the G7 summit, and Riyadh has not indicated whether it has accepted the invitation. The confirmed list of leaders attending the G7 as guests includes the heads of government from Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa and Ukraine, all of whom have said they will attend. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Celebrity NHL Editorial Cartoons Toronto Maple Leafs Music
