Anti-blackness is a significant problem in the Canadian Forces. For decades it was explicit and the institution evidently remains structurally racist. Last month it was revealed that a white reservist who repeatedly called black soldiers “n…ers” would not face any disciplinary measures. The stated reason was that the individual, whose father is a senior reserve... Continue Reading →
Ottawa’s incestuous world of pro-military lobbying
How do you feel about taxpayer-funded organizations using your tax dollars to lobby elected politicians for more of your tax dollars? Welcome to the Canadian military. Last week Anju Dhillon told the House of Commons “I saw first-hand the sacrifices that our men and women in the navy have made to protect our country.” The Liberal... Continue Reading →
What is behind glorifying the military?
Are soldiers more valuable to society than teachers? Are they more essential than the people who drive buses or clean up our waste? Are their jobs that much more dangerous than firefighters, or psychiatric nurses or loggers? Is what they do more honourable than parenting, caring for elders, providing essential social services or reporting the... Continue Reading →
The story behind the military’s recruitment of Indigenous youth
Is the Canadian military a friend and ally of First Nations or an exploiter and repressor? The military’s immense resources and cultural clout certainly enables it to attract indigenous youth to become soldiers. But First Nations have more reason than most to be wary of the Canadian Forces (CF). A recent Ipolitics story titled “This... Continue Reading →
Here comes the Mali mission media manipulation
For the military, shaping media coverage of deployments is what roasting a marshmallow is to a summer camper's S'mores; there isn't one without the other. Even before beginning a small "peacekeeping" mission, the Canadian forces have an elaborate media strategy. At the end of June, Chief of the Defence Staff Jonathan Vance brought journalists with... Continue Reading →
The left’s naivety about Canada’s role in foreign affairs
Repeat after me: Canada is seldom a force for good in the world, Canada is seldom a force for good in the world. Thomas Walkom’s “Canada should board Korean peace train” is yet another example of how the progressive end of the dominant media has been seduced by Canadian foreign policy mythology. The leftist Toronto... Continue Reading →
Long past time for Canada to exit NORAD
This weekend the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) celebrates its 60th anniversary. On May 12, 1958, Canada and the US officially signed their most significant bilateral military accord. The Cold War agreement was supposed to defend the two countries from an invasion by Soviet bombers coming from the north. But, the Berlin Wall fell... Continue Reading →
Toronto terror attack, toxic masculinity and militarism
Progressive online commentary about Monday’s van attack in Toronto has focused on the influence of “toxic masculinity”. The analyses should be expanded to include the alleged perpetrator’s ties to a powerful patriarchal institution that is Canada’s biggest purveyor of violence. Early reports suggest alleged mass murderer Alek Minassian may have targeted women and been motivated by... Continue Reading →
How Canadian military tries to control what soldiers think
The Canadian Forces spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year to shape popular discussion of military affairs. But, did you know that commanding officers also aim to control the flow of information to rank and file soldiers? Recently, the newspaper at the Esquimalt, British Columbia, naval base rejected an ad from a law firm... Continue Reading →
Snowbirds so much more than just pilots and planes
Canada’s massive military cultural outreach effort suffered a blow last week. The Snowbirds aerobatic team was forced to cancel a half-dozen scheduled appearances because they require “additional practice and training.” Each year the famed Snowbirds participate in some 60 air shows across North America. Over the years they’ve flown more than 2500 shows and cultural... Continue Reading →
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