The federal government's decision to end the Commissionaires' Right of First Refusal in March 2027 threatens an 80-year commitment to Canadian veterans. As federal security contracts open to competition, concerns are mounting over veteran employment, national security and the future of Canada's largest veteran employer, which supports thousands of former military personnel.
Veterans Affairs Canada is conducting two surveys in 2026 to gather feedback from veterans and clients about its programs and services, including the Income Replacement Benefit and rehabilitation process. Veterans are encouraged to participate honestly, helping VAC identify shortcomings, improve service delivery and better support those transitioning to civilian life.
In this opinion piece, the author questions Canada’s plan to spend over $100 billion on new submarines and broader military expansion. Drawing comparisons to the confusion of cricket, the article challenges whether such investments are necessary, affordable, and equitable amid ongoing healthcare, affordability, and social crises.
A summer message to Canada’s military community encourages serving members and veterans to enjoy the outdoors, connect with fellow veterans, support motorcycle groups, and engage elected officials on veterans’ issues. The column also raises concerns about CAF leadership, accountability, and recent incidents affecting public confidence in the military.
The campaign to secure the Victoria Cross for Private Jesse Larochelle has gained renewed momentum, thanks to General (ret'd) Rick Hillier, Bruce Moncur, and thousands of supporters. With a parliamentary petition submitted and an external review committee established, advocates hope new evidence will finally bring recognition to Larochelle's extraordinary bravery during Operation Medusa.
The article argues that Canada has failed veterans by dismantling dedicated Veterans Affairs hospitals and transferring responsibility to overwhelmed provincial healthcare systems. It highlights long delays, lack of specialized care, and growing inequities affecting injured veterans, particularly Afghanistan veterans, while calling on governments to restore respect, priority care, and meaningful support.
Michael Nickerson compares Canada’s strained healthcare system to its military spending approach, arguing both prioritize costly “latest and best” solutions over prevention. He criticizes investments like F-35 jets, urging a shift toward affordable alternatives, stronger frontline support, and diplomacy to reduce long-term costs and avoid repeating systemic inefficiencies.
Canada’s fighter procurement strategy should be reconsidered to include the Boeing F-15EX alongside the Lockheed Martin F-35. The F-15EX offers advantages in payload, range, speed, and cost efficiency, making it well-suited for continental defence and Arctic sovereignty, while a mixed fleet would improve flexibility, availability, and overall operational effectiveness.
A 2002 analysis critiques Canada’s New Army Strategy, arguing it undermines full-scale mobilization capacity. While prioritizing flexibility, niche roles, and budget constraints, the strategy reduces combat capabilities and readiness. The author warns that this approach leaves Canada ill-prepared for large-scale war, despite evolving threats and renewed consideration of higher mobilization levels.
Nearly half the members of the Women Veterans Council resigned in January 2026, citing lack of meaningful engagement from Veterans Affairs Canada. Formed in 2024 to advise government on gender-specific issues affecting women veterans, the council reportedly faced limited dialogue, restrictive nondisclosure agreements, and unfulfilled promises of influence and collaboration.
Veterans Affairs Canada has officially recognized Gulf War Illness (GWI) as a service-related disability, allowing affected veterans to submit claims. The department has outlined a four-step process—application, medical documentation, review, and decision. The move comes more than three decades after the Gulf War, offering long-awaited recognition and potential support for impacted Canadian veterans.
Drones have reshaped modern warfare, driving demand for effective counter-UAS systems. Raytheon’s Coyote drone family—used by the U.S. Army—offers low-cost, layered defence against swarms and loitering munitions, combining ISR, kinetic intercept, electronic warfare and directed energy capabilities proven in Ukraine-driven operational requirements.
Pierre Trudeau’s “sleeping with an elephant” metaphor feels newly relevant as a volatile United States rattles allies and norms. Canada, long lulled by stability, must confront its vulnerability. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s strategy of economic and military diversification is a risky but necessary tightrope walk to avoid irrelevance—or being trampled.
Canada’s military leaders warn that global threats are escalating, urging a nationwide “whole of society” mobilization to prepare for potential conflict. While calls for massive recruitment spark public skepticism, the deeper concern remains: Canada is investing heavily in war readiness but not equally in diplomacy to prevent the conflict its leaders fear is coming.
The author confesses delaying criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, shaken into speaking out by images of starving children. Canada will join others in recognizing Palestine, though skepticism remains. Lasting peace demands removing extremists on both sides, rebuilding Gaza, investing in opportunity, and fostering honest, respectful dialogue despite polarization.
A movement led by General (ret’d) Rick Hillier urges the Chief of Defence Staff to recommend a review of Private Jesse Larochelle’s Star of Military Valour, potentially upgrading it to a Canadian Victoria Cross. Veterans demand recognition of wartime sacrifice and justice for Larochelle through renewed scrutiny and parliamentary support.
A June 11, 2025 op-ed dismissing a mixed fighter jet fleet for Canada is criticized as unsupported and hyperbolic. The rebuttal emphasizes the need for detailed analysis on costs, operational capabilities, and political considerations—highlighting the F-35's $90B lifecycle cost and urging transparency in the government's decision-making process.
Mark Carney’s rapid rise to Liberal leader and Prime Minister has ushered in a whirlwind of ambitious reforms—particularly his bold pledge to meet NATO’s 2% defence spending target by March. With fast-tracked approvals, sweeping policies, and big spending, Carney’s leadership is defined by urgency, efficiency, and a transformative agenda.
Recent CAF equipment buys—like the C-19 rifle, Harry DeWolf ships, and new handguns—ignore sound business logic. Alternatives, such as upgrading Lee-Enfields or refitting foreign vessels, could cut costs and boost Canadian industry. A practical businessman would prioritize value, efficiency, and local production over prestige and inflated spending.
By Mike Nickerson
Well done, Mark! Can I call you Mark? You seem affable enough in interviews, so I’m going with Mark. And by gum, Mark, that was quite a turnaround. Only a few months ago the Liberal party was on life support, looking down the barrel of the worst election defeat since 1993. Now, whether that turnaround was your doing or Donald Trump’s is an open question, though Jean Chrétien calling for Trump to be awarded the Order of Canada, was probably on the mark (pardon the pun). I mean, let’s face it, if Kamala Harris was President you’d still be in the private sector making ungodly amounts of money. Though I guess putting it that way means condolences are actually in order. So, tough blow old chap.
Regardless, you are now the duly elected prime minister of our fair land, with a set of expectations I dare say no prime minister in recent memory has had to shoulder. And may I just say, so far so good. You passed your first test, meeting with your political benefactor, where you not only succeeded in keeping down your lunch in the Oval Office, but calmly and adroitly stage managed what could have turned very messy in a hurry (Volodymyr Zelenskyy anyone?). It was just the right balance of deference and firmness dealing with the most volatile ego in US presidential history. He might still turn on you anytime now like the attention deficit afflicted child that he is, but a good start nonetheless.
In the meantime, you’ve set yourself some lofty goals if your campaign pledges are anything to go by, particularly with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). To be clear, whether people voted Liberal or Conservative, they all had some serious expectations about getting our military back on its feet in a way that will protect our sovereignty while not being so beholden to our flaky neighbours to the south.
And sure, you made all the right noises such as ordering a re-evaluation of our F35 procurement, and reaching out to European allies to work together and actually be involved in producing some of the military kit that’s all the rage in our conflict-riddled world.
Unfortunately, every government makes the right noises during an election. Your predecessor did it with great regularity while actually doing jack squat, if I may use the technical term. It was why Liberals were about to be forced into retirement en masse until everyone got worried about being annexed by Uncle Sam. So if I may offer just a soupçon of advice it would be this: for the love of whatever god you worship, please get moving on your pledges. Because it’s no exaggeration that Canadians are desperately looking for results.
What might that look like? Well, for a start you might want to accelerate your timeline. As it stands, you’ve pledged to merely maintain the operations and maintenance budget for one more year before tripling it in 2026. The CAF has been struggling to keep its head above water with that amount, much less actually being ready to do anything. It’s what keeps the military operating, helps with recruitment, training and maintenance of the decade’s old junk that’s still actually running, if in ever-limited numbers. In short, triple it now, not next year, and give leadership the money to start building and training our CAF members to be ready to operate all that nice, non-US kit you’ve promised.
Speaking of which, you may have noticed that our military brass has a real fondness with all things American. So not to put too fine a point on it, but you need to show them and Canadians who’s the new boss in town, with none of the whining and stalling tactics senior leadership gets up to when they don’t get their US grade A go-bang toys this coming Christmas.
Needless to say, for that to work you’re going to have to put your money where your campaign mouth was and get moving on streamlining the procurement process. Not next year (or never, as has generally been the case) but now. Canadians need a sign that this time around they’ve got a leader that keeps his bloody promises.
I could go on, be it making our presence felt in the Arctic or fixing the myriad problems with Veterans Affairs. In short, Canadians need to see that things are being done, not tomorrow but today. It’s a tall order I know, but it’s that sort of urgency you encouraged during the election, and rightfully so given the changing times. So please Mark, show us a sign it wasn’t all for naught…again.
