Canada awards R&D contract to Cellula Robotics Ltd for sub-surface surveillance in the Arctic
The Government of Canada recently awarded a contract to Cellula Robotics Ltd, as part of its commitment to defence research and development. “Our Government is committed to providing the members of the Canadian Armed Forces with the tools they need to do their jobs while obtaining the best possible value for Canadians,” said Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services...
Canada’s Northern people deserve better Arctic SAR capabilities
The Canadian Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met last month to study maritime search and rescue activities, including current challenges and opportunities. Colonel (Retired) Pierre LeBlanc, President, Arctic Security Consultants, addressed the committee a witness on the matter of search and rescue in the Arctic: The Canadian Arctic is actually larger than the whole of continental Europe....
An Out-of-the-Blue Icebreaker Opportunity
By Colonel (Retired) Pierre Leblanc I recently attended the Maritime and Arctic Security & Safety Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, where I learned of an interesting unforeseen opportunity for the Canadian Government to acquire a number of modern icebreakers at deeply discounted prices. On January 30, 2017, I raised my concerns with the aging of the Canadian Coast...
Operation NUNALIVUT 2018 is underway
Since February 23, about 350 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have begun participating in Operation NUNALIVUT 2018. This annual operation will continue to March 21 in Resolute Bay and Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Commanded by Joint Task Force (North), Operation NUNALIVUT first began over ten years ago and had since included regular and reserve forces personnel from the...
Canadian Army participates in NOREX 18 in the Arctic
Over 230 members from 4th Canadian Division, the Canadian Army in Ontario, are participating in Northern Exercise 2018 (NOREX 18) in and around Resolute, Nunavut from February 4 to 17, 2018. The 4th Canadian Division includes members from the 31 Canadian Brigade Group, headquartered in London, Ontario and the 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, headquartered in Petawawa, Ontario. This...
Nanisivik versus Resolute Bay
By Colonel Pierre Leblanc (Ret’d) In 2007, the Harper government promised to refurbish a mining installation in Nanisivik into a deep-water berthing naval facility to support Arctic operations. Over the years, the scope of the program was reduced to a simple refueling facility which is still not operational. It may be time to revisit the plan altogether in favor of...
