Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, will travel to Europe from October 17-20 to meet with Allies and partners to discuss issues of shared interest and ways to strengthen defence relationships. From October 17-18, Minister Blair will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (DMM) in Brussels, Belgium. This meeting will be an important opportunity for Allies to …
NATO DIANA officially opens North American headquarters in Halifax
Halifax, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, accompanied by Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, with NATO Defence Innovation …
Canada announces progress on Canadian Patrol Submarine procurement
Gatineau – Through Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, the Government of Canada is providing members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with the equipment they need to keep Canadians safe and maintain current and future operational readiness. Canada has the largest coastline in the world, and it is essential that the RCN be equipped with superior underwater surveillance capability to …
Minister Blair concludes successful visit to Korea, Japan
Tokyo – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, concluded a successful visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan. In the Republic of Korea, Minister Blair visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 9 and met with Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel serving with the United Nations Command (UNC), including its Deputy Commander, Lieutenant-General Derek Macaulay. Minister Blair …
Minister Blair meets with Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru
Tokyo – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence had a bilateral meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru. Minister Blair and Minister Kihara discussed defence and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, and agreed it is more important than ever to boost defence ties between Canada and Japan to promote peace and stability. To this end, Minister …
Canada announces contract award for maintenance of Leopard 2 tanks
Gatineau – As part of Canada’s defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, the federal government is committed to supporting members of our Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) with the modern equipment they need to complete their missions and keep Canadians safe. Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that the federal government …
Minister Blair meets Korean Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong-Hyun
Seoul – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, met with the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Minister of National Defense, Kim Yong-Hyun. Minister Blair highlighted the decades-long defence relationship between Canada and the ROK, and noted that since the Korean War, in which over 26,000 Canadians served, Canada is one of the few nations that has maintained a continuous presence on the …
Minister Blair announces additional military assistance for Ukraine
Ramstein Air Base – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, and General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff, participated in the 24th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. Minister Blair announced that this week, Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) pilots arrived in Canada to begin fighter-lead-in-training (FLIT). Canada has …
Minister Blair attends 24th Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meeting in Germany
Ottawa – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, is in Germany to participate in the 24th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting hosted by the United States at Ramstein Air Base. Minister Blair joins Allies and partners from approximately 50 nations to discuss Russia’s ongoing illegal and unjustifiable war on Ukraine and our ongoing work to provide Ukraine with the military …
Minister Blair visits Inuvik to highlight Our North, Strong and Free
Inuvik – Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, is in Inuvik for a three-day visit to highlight Canada’s Arctic-focused defence policy update, Our North, Strong and Free, and to meet with municipal, territorial, and Indigenous officials. Minister Blair is accompanied in Inuvik by Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs.. In his conversations, Minister Blair has made clear that as a growing …