Latest news with #JamieSpeiserBlanchet
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Military pay raise a big boost for lower ranks, officials say
The federal government's pay increase for members of the Canadian military will provide some much-needed support for the lowest-ranking positions who are struggling in the face of rising costs of living, according to senior military officials. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $2 billion-per-year graduated series of salary top-ups and incentives on Friday. "The biggest increases should make a difference for our lower-ranked members and those are the ones that, at this time, seem to be hardest hit by the economy," Royal Canadian Air Force Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet told reporters at an event in Halifax on Saturday. The changes will see the lowest ranks of the regular force, like privates, ordinary sailors and aviators, receive a 20 per cent pay increase. Speiser-Blanchet said some members of the military are struggling to make ends meet, just like many Canadians, and this investment will make their lives a lot easier. The increases in pay and benefits will also help with recruitment and retention, said Canadian Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee. A $10,000 bonus is available for recruits in high-demand trades to complete basic training, an additional $20,000 when their training is completed and another $20,000 once they have completed their first term of service. Members and their families sacrifice a lot while serving their country so added incentives to sign up are welcome news, Topshee said. "We ask people to move their families across the country, often multiple times." he said. "There is no overtime in the military. There is no weekend. If we need you to work, you work." Pay raise 'long overdue': Defence minister The last comprehensive overhaul of the military's pay and benefits system happened in 1998, according to senior defence officials. "We're very proud to be able to provide the kind of pay package that our armed forces members deserve," David McGuinty, minister of national defence, said in Halifax on Saturday. "It's long overdue." Many low-ranking military members have struggled due to the cost of living since the pandemic, according to VETS Canada, a Halifax-based charity that supports members. Deb Lowther, the organization's CEO, said she was pleased with Friday's announcement as the organization sees more and more serving members "coming to us in crisis." She said she would like Ottawa to turn its focus to providing more help for members leaving the military and trying to transition back into civilian life. McGuinty told reporters on Saturday that the federal government has heard those concerns and will continue to look at ways to improve support for current and former members. "I think we'll have more to say about this in due course," he said. MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Military pay raise a big boost for lower ranks, officials say
Social Sharing The federal government's pay increase for members of the Canadian military will provide some much-needed support for the lowest-ranking positions who are struggling in the face of rising costs of living, according to senior military officials. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $2 billion-per-year graduated series of salary top-ups and incentives on Friday. "The biggest increases should make a difference for our lower-ranked members and those are the ones that, at this time, seem to be hardest hit by the economy," Royal Canadian Air Force Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet told reporters at an event in Halifax on Saturday. The changes will see the lowest ranks of the regular force, like privates, ordinary sailors and aviators, receive a 20 per cent pay increase. Speiser-Blanchet said some members of the military are struggling to make ends meet, just like many Canadians, and this investment will make their lives a lot easier. The increases in pay and benefits will also help with recruitment and retention, said Canadian Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee. A $10,000 bonus is available for recruits in high-demand trades to complete basic training, an additional $20,000 when their training is completed and another $20,000 once they have completed their first term of service. Members and their families sacrifice a lot while serving their country so added incentives to sign up are welcome news, Topshee said. "We ask people to move their families across the country, often multiple times." he said. "There is no overtime in the military. There is no weekend. If we need you to work, you work." Pay raise 'long overdue': Defence minister The last comprehensive overhaul of the military's pay and benefits system happened in 1998, according to senior defence officials. "We're very proud to be able to provide the kind of pay package that our armed forces members deserve," David McGuinty, minister of national defence, said in Halifax on Saturday. "It's long overdue." Many low-ranking military members have struggled due to the cost of living since the pandemic, according to VETS Canada, a Halifax-based charity that supports members. Deb Lowther, the organization's CEO, said she was pleased with Friday's announcement as the organization sees more and more serving members "coming to us in crisis." She said she would like Ottawa to turn its focus to providing more help for members leaving the military and trying to transition back into civilian life. McGuinty told reporters on Saturday that the federal government has heard those concerns and will continue to look at ways to improve support for current and former members. "I think we'll have more to say about this in due course," he said.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jets Sign Defenceman Isaak Phillips to Two-Year Contract
First woman to lead Canada's air force exhilarated, but honest about challenges ahead Lt-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet was sworn in as the first woman in history to take command of the Royal Canadian Air Force. She says she is exhilarated and optimistic and honoured to take on the role while being "grounded in reality' about the challenges ahead. She took the reins from Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny at a change-of-command ceremony in Ottawa presided over by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan. (July 10, 2025) 1:50 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Globe and Mail
11-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet becomes first woman to lead Canada's air force
Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet made history Thursday by becoming the first woman to lead the Royal Canadian Air Force. She took the reins from Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny at a change-of-command ceremony at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum presided over by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan. 'I feel exhilarated,' Speiser-Blanchet told reporters after the ceremony. 'I feel optimistic and also grounded in reality. I see big challenges, but I'm extremely honoured to have this opportunity and I feel a really strong sense of pride being here today.' Speiser-Blanchet assumes command at a key time for the air force, as it struggles with personnel shortages and looks to take on new capabilities. 'We are working a lot on known personnel shortages, so recruiting is increasing. We're working diligently with all of our partners within the Department of Defence and even externally on retention measures,' she said. As Canada's air force celebrates 100 years, women reflect on their role in its history The RCAF is poised to soon take on its next generation of fighter jet: the American-made F-35 stealth fighter. That procurement project is currently under review by the federal government due to the ongoing trade war with the United States. The deal with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. government is for 88 planes at a cost of about US$85-million each. Canada has already purchased the first 16 F-35s, which are due to be delivered early next year. Ottawa is expected to arrive at a decision on the remaining warplanes very early in Speiser-Blanchet's mandate – by end of summer. But with the first F-35s expected to enter service within the next few years, pilots will need to quickly begin training. The air force also faces what Speiser-Blanchet described as an 'excellent challenge' to have: the federal government has committed to a large increase in defence spending. 'We do need to do so very judiciously and to make sure that there's the right value for money,' she said. 'With the personnel shortage and the extra demand, we have a very unstable world at the moment and meeting a lot of those operational demands while we're trying to institutionalize some of the acquisitions and changes, I think, is really where that challenge space is.' Kenny, who had been commander since 2022, is retiring after three-and-a-half decades of service in the air force. He said he is leaving with mixed emotions, at a 'point in history where our adversaries are aggressively challenging the rules-based international order and have attacked the beliefs, friendships and freedoms we have enjoyed for decades.' Kenny praised the incoming commander for her vast network of connections across government departments and industry, and for pushing the department to 'challenge the status quo' and build an 'agile, integrated and inclusive' air force. He also said he is 'somewhat envious that she will be in command as all our new capabilities are delivered in the coming few years.' Speiser-Blanchet has served in the past as a Griffon helicopter pilot and in various command roles, most recently as deputy commander of the air force. Her operational deployments included UN and NATO peacekeeping tours in Haiti and Bosnia, along with domestic deployments in response to emergencies such as forest fires and floods. Speiser-Blanchet comes from Chicoutimi, Que., and is now the 22nd commander of the RCAF, which employs some 15,000 military and civilian personnel and manages more than 250 aircraft.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Egor Dëmin dials from long distance
First woman to lead Canada's air force exhilarated, but honest about challenges ahead Lt-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet was sworn in as the first woman in history to take command of the Royal Canadian Air Force. She says she is exhilarated and optimistic and honoured to take on the role while being "grounded in reality' about the challenges ahead. She took the reins from Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny at a change-of-command ceremony in Ottawa presided over by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan. (July 10, 2025) 1:50 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
