Archive for the ‘Canadian Forces’ Category
Feds Cut Navy to the Bone
Thursday, May 13th, 2010VICTORIA – The Conservative government, during the 100th anniversary of our Navy, has announced widespread cuts that will seriously compromise the ability of our Navy to do their job, said Dr. Keith Martin, Member of Parliament for Esquimalt – Juan de Fuca. Dr. Martin was responding to recent reports that budget cuts are forcing the navy to slash its fleet of Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels from 12 to six ships and three frigates will now only be working close to home and, according to Admiral McFadden, to a “limited degree.”
“Even worse, resources needed to support our ships for their safety and the protection of our sailors will also be removed leaving our ships vulnerable,” said Dr. Martin, who noted that funding cuts have forced the navy to remove combat systems, navigations and communications systems, and some anti-submarine warfare capabilities, along with key weapon systems, that will no longer be supported.
“This failure to support our men and women in uniform is a shocking dereliction of duty on the part of the Conservative government. This is particularly unconscionable given that Canada will be leaving Afghanistan next year and there will be a financial dividend in the Defence Department,” said Dr. Martin.
“This is some birthday present from the Conservative government, which claims to support our troops.”
Keith defending the Navy in Question Period
Thursday, May 13th, 2010Talking about the Afghanistan mission on CFAX 1070
Friday, March 19th, 2010Game change in Afghanistan
Friday, January 15th, 2010
We must define a clear objective for our political and military operations
By Dr. Keith Martin, MP
So what are we doing in Afghanistan? The current situation is grim. Much of the country is out of the government’s control and the insurgency has grown in strength. The West’s strategy has been focused primarily through a military lens, with development and especially political reconciliation playing secondary roles. Even the central reason why we went to Afghanistan (i.e. to eliminate Al-Qaeda) has, without any substantive public debate, morphed into the much more difficult mission of nation-building. Since Canada is pulling out of the combat mission in 2011, it is imperative that Parliament takes stock and identifies where we go from here…. Read the whole story (pdf)
Help our military families
Friday, June 26th, 2009Keith Martin, National Post
June 26, 2009
On June 17, the House of Commons standing committee on national defence released an extensive report on the health services provided to our Canadian Forces (CF) personnel with a focus on Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The all-party committee made 36 recommendations. During the time that the government is reviewing and responding to this report, the men and women in our Forces and their families will be continuing to make extraordinary sacrifices for our country every day. There are many things that have not been done, that must be done to provide the care they justly deserve from a grateful nation.
Here are five solutions, which could be implemented right away, that would dramatically help our CF members and their families:
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An Open Letter to President Barack Obama
Monday, February 2nd, 2009“Yes we can” change our mission in Afghanistan
Dear President Obama,
Long after you have left the White House the world will remember the famous words you used to bring a nation to its feet, and to signal the beginning of a new era for the American people: “yes we can.” It is with this same spirit of fortitude and courage that I suggest to you that, “yes we can” change our mission in Afghanistan, to finally forge, as you noted in your inaugural address, a hard earned peace in this tortured country. (more…)
Success in Afghanistan
Monday, November 3rd, 2008Success in Afghanistan
Edmonton Sun
Dr. Keith Martin
November 3, 2008
Re: “Afghan peace depends on negotiating,” Oct. 31, by Lyn Cockburn.
Despite the heroism of our troops, our Afghan mission will fail unless we deal with the following four areas irresponsibly neglected by NATO. (more…)
Avoiding our Own Vietnam
Friday, August 1st, 2008How could the security environment in Afghanistan be getting worse, not better, after billions of dollars in aid and six years of having “boots on the ground”?
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Gear sent to Afghan firefighters languishing at Kandahar Airfield
Friday, July 25th, 2008Gear sent to Afghan firefighters languishing at Kandahar Airfield
DND requested equipment collected by Langford Fire Department, MP says
Rob Shaw
Times Colonist
Friday, July 25, 2008
A shipment of used firefighting gear, gathered by Canadians for their impoverished counterparts in Afghanistan at the request of the military, has been sitting at Kandahar Airfield for almost a year because defence officials are worried it could be made into explosive devices.
Fire departments across the country donated the gear, valued at up to $400,000, which included helmets, ladders, clothing, a compressor and 45 breathing apparatus with spare oxygen bottles.
It was all collected by the Langford Fire Department, which spearheaded the donation drive after visiting crews in Kandahar City and Kabul and noticing they battled blazes in civilian clothes without even the basics of a modern fire department.
A Department of National Defence employee provided a list of needed gear in 2005, e-mails show. Langford filled the list last summer.
The Canadian Forces distributed some of the donated items. But the breathing gear and oxygen bottles were left sitting at the Kandahar military base.
“The rationale is that the oxygen tanks on the breathing apparatus could be used to make an IED [improvised explosive device],” said Keith Martin, Liberal MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, who has been negotiating with the government to solve the impasse.
“Well, this is absurd because they are making IEDs anyway and the equipment that was sent over by our firefighters is what was requested by the Department of National Defence.
“Somebody at a desk at Kandahar air force base is blocking lifesaving equipment to get to the Kandahar firefighters.”
Martin wrote the defence minister asking for help, but said he received a reply advising him the oxygen tanks could be turned into IEDs and therefore the gear would be returned or destroyed. Martin accused “pencil-pushers” in the government of blocking a goodwill donation that Afghans would appreciate.
Langford sent the same oxygen tanks to Afghanistan in 2004 without complaint, said Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett.
While disappointed, firefighters don’t want to criticize the soldiers.
“As a Canadian who is very supportive of our Canadian military, we must defer everything to them,” said Beckett.
But he acknowledged firefighters were upset when they learned some of their Afghan colleagues suffered smoke inhalation while fighting fires at a prison break last month. Meanwhile, the gear they needed was sitting unused at the airfield.
Langford has spoken with American officials in Kabul who suggested they could distribute the Canadian donations, said Beckett. Langford is also seeking help from the Canadian International Development Agency and non-governmental organizations, he said.
The Department of National Defence confirmed the gear is sitting in Kandahar, but denied it was worried about IEDs. “Some of the equipment wasn’t distributed because of the fact it was deemed to be unsafe for operations,” said Lt. Dean Menard, public affairs officer.
He said the main concern was Afghans could injure themselves because they weren’t able to maintain the gear. However, Langford paid for Afghan firefighters to fly to Victoria in April to train on the equipment.
At the time, the Canadians also donated a mechanical jaws system to the Afghans. Beckett said it, along with future donations, will remain in Canada until firefighters figure out how to actually get them to crews in Afghanistan.
