Ottawa – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Bill Blair released Our North, Strong and Free – a defence policy update that responds to the significant global shifts we have witnessed since Canada’s comprehensive defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, was announced in 2017. It is an investment in Canada, Canadians and our shared values, security, and sovereignty. The most urgent and important task we …
Ottawa – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement: “On this day 75 years ago, Canada was among the 12 Allies that founded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). With Sweden having recently joined, we now stand strong at 32 Allies. NATO was created to safeguard the citizens of Allied …
Ottawa – The Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, introduced legislation to amend the National Defence Act that proposes a suite of targeted changes to modernize the military justice system. The proposed amendments address key recommendations made in independent and external reviews conducted by former Supreme Court Justices Louise Arbour and Morris J. Fish. To address the recommendation 5 from the Honourable …
Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier, and Dominic Giroux, president and CEO of Hôpital Montfort and Santé Montfort, announced the extension of the agreement between the Department of National Defence and Santé Montfort until 2032. This agreement has been in place since 2003, and it has delivered quality health …
Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, participated via videoconference in the 20th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The meeting brought together representatives from approximately 50 countries, who reaffirmed their commitment to providing Ukraine with the critical military aid that it needs. At the meeting, Minister Blair announced that Canada is committing over $40 …
Oromocto – Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, visited 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown. The Minister was accompanied by Jenica Atwin, Member of Parliament for Fredericton. Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, Minister Petitpas Taylor announced that the Government of Canada is investing $55.6 million to upgrade 255 buildings on the base through an …
Edmonton – Canadian Armed Forces members deserve modern facilities that are fit-for-purpose so that they can train and maintain their readiness. Across Canada, the Government of Canada is investing to upgrade military facilities by building cleaner, more modern infrastructure that will save taxpayers money and better support our military’s needs. Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and tRandy Boissonnault, Minister …
Toronto – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, met virtually with US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III, Mexico’s Secretary of Defence (SEDENA), General Luis Cresencio Sandoval González, and Mexico’s Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR), Admiral José Rafael Ojeda Durán, for the fifth trilateral meeting of North American Defence Ministers (NADM). During the meeting, Minister Blair and his counterparts …
Longueuil – The Government of Canada is leading by example by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its operations to foster a low-carbon, climate-resilient and clean growth economy. Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, was at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, to announce 2 new Greening Government Fund (GGF) projects, and to provide an …
Brussels – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to NATO’s Canada-led Battle Group in Latvia will soon have two new defensive capabilities that are being acquired on an urgent basis. This new equipment will strengthen the defence capacity of the Battle Group as a whole, further adding to the deterrence capabilities of soldiers from …
