It was at the recent CANSEC Defence Exhibition that newly appointed Defence Minister David McGuinty made his first real presentation to Canada's defence community. His words were encouraging but without substance. It is time to target just how much stock one should put into promises on defence investment from Canadian politicians?

In 2014 Canada had the opportunity to acquire 2 French built Warships of the Mistral Class. We could have had them for a cost of $1.4 billion (Cdn) and have them in service by 2016. It is time to target why our politicians say 'Nothing is too good for our military' and nothing is what they end up getting!

ELEVEN YEARS AGO, Esprit de Corps decided to profile 20 top women who were making a positive difference in the world of defence. This was to be a one-off article with the women profiled selected by our own editorial board. The rationale was that there were so many media stories detailing the under-representation of women in a male dominated career field, that it would be better to highlight role models who had succeeded despite any challenges. We realize that this year’s winners are only a small fraction of the thousands of women who contribute in so many unique ways to the security and military legacy of Canada.

Join us as we take you inside Canada’s premier defence and security trade show, where industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from around the world gathered in Ottawa to showcase the future of defence technology, CANSEC.

There is always a lot of political discussion about enhancing Canada's military presence in the Arctic. Unfortunately when the rubber hits the road, the tires tend to fall off. It is time to target the most recent SNAFU when it comes to obtaining equipment that can still work in the cold.

Since 1988, Esprit de Corps Magazine has been a media source focussed on delivery independent views, informative news and in-depth history of the Canadian Military. This is their story.

During the election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to rapidly increase Canada's defence spending to match the NATO target of 2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However now that the Liberals are re-elected it will be interesting to see if newly installed Defence Minister David McGuinty can cash those promised cheques....It is time to target how big a mess is the Canadian Armed Forces in right now?

US President Donald Trump wants a full scale military parade on 14 June which just happens to be his birthday. This plan to demonstrate US military prowess could backfire as truly authoritarian regimes like Russia, North Korea and China have mastered the art of showboating their militaries. The Canadian Armed Forces can no longer stage anything near a 'show-of-force'. Sadly.

The Canadian military's current wild geese occupation of NDHQ pales in comparison to the historical embarrassment suffered by the Australian Army. The Aussies military once took on a fowl foe...and lost.

On Thursday May 1st, the Chief Executive Officer at Lockheed Martin Canada announced her retirement. ​​​​​​​For over a decade and a half Ms. Ben has been a major player in Canada's Defence sector.

With the Royal Canadian Navy poised to invest upwards of $100 billion in a fleet of 10 - 12 new diesel-electric submarines, it is time to target just how effective Canadian submarines have been in modern history...

With advance voting already underway in Canada, it is time to target which political party is promising the most in the way of tangibly rebuilding Canada's shattered Armed Forces. It is also worth targeting the chances of any of those promises coming to fruition...

With US President Donald Trump denouncing Canada as a 'nasty' trading partner and Prime Minister Mark Carney admitting that our past reliance on the US for security is 'over', it is time to target what the future role of the Canadian Armed Forces should be....

Besides tariffing the bejeezus out of the global economy, it seems that US President Donald Trump has increasing designs on annexing Greenland into becoming a US protectorate. Given that Trump has also threatened to bully Canada into becoming the 51st State, it is time to target just how to keep this rogue president in check.

Donald Trump is heralding April 2 as 'Liberation Day' as that is when his proposed tariffs are to kick in. He is doubling down on his threats to Canada and the EU, prompting a Canadian ret'd general to suggest hurting Trump where it will hurt the most....in the US pocket-book.

In the face of US President Donald Trump's threat of annexing Canada, many Canadians are showing a determined patriotism. It is time to target just how Canada could hit back at the US in this trade war with regards to national defence.

The Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman has long been fighting to have Reservists who deploy abroad and domestically recognized and compensated with the same benefits available to the regular force. So far it has been an uphill battle.

The Liberal government quietly announced a major defence contract to build warships in Canada. It is time to target why this announcement was not heralded as an appeasement to US President Donald Trump as proof that Canada is increasing defence spending as per his desire...

In just a few short weeks the entire international strategic situation has experienced a tidal shift. US President Donald Trump has not only turned on Ukraine, he has also labelled Canada and the NATO alliance as untrustworthy partners, unworthy of US military protection.

Last week the Surgeon General announced that the CAF will now admit recruits who have pre-existing medical restrictions, such as ADHD, and Asthma. It is time to target why DND is casting a wider net, when a lack of recruits is not the problem?

A recent CAF study revealed that nearly three quarters of serving personnel are either 'Obese or Overweight'. That is a worse ratio than the general population. It is time to target the CAF and the Battle of the bulge!.

These are frightening times and newly inaugurated US President Donal;d J. Trump is doing his level best to stoke fears worldwide. It is time to target how best to counter Trump's flood of disinformation.

Canada has the third largest forests in the world and yet our Air Force, unlike many allied Air Forces - does not possess a water bomber capability. With Los Angeles still burning it is time to target just how ill prepared Canada is to deal with a similar tragedy.

The Canadian Armed Forces face an existential threat due to releases outpacing recruiting. The answer is simple: Pay service-members a bonus to re-enlist. It is time to target just how to save the CAF.

The Canadian Army is coping with the existential threat of a crippling personnel shortfall due to the recruiting and retention crisis. Add to this the challenge of increasing the size of the forward deployed battle group in Latvia almost threefold, and it is time to start thinking creatively. Perhaps the time has come to establish Canada's own Foreign Legion?

The Canadian Armed Forces just released a report on their own combat readiness and the results are not good. It is time to target when the Minister of National Defence's assessment of the CAF being in a 'death spiral' will touch down. It does not look like the Canadian military will be enjoying a very happy new year.

New images are circulating on social media which depict some despicable housing conditions at military bases across Canada. It is time to target the state of military accommodations for the CAF and how that impacts morale.

We have witnessed an evolution on the modern battlefield through the conflict in Ukraine. The unmanned drone is now the key to tactical success. It is time to target how the Canadian Armed Forces have adapted to this change. Spoiler alert...they haven't.

Vice Admiral Angus Topshee recently told the National Post that the Canadian Navy is able to defend our Arctic waterways against China or Russia...without help from our allies (aka the US Navy). It is time to target just what the heck the Admiral is talking about!

This year's Remembrance ceremonies blew up a storm of controversies in Canada. First it was a Nova Scotian school asking that uniforms not be worn as they might 'trigger' some children, and this year is the 5th anniversary since the CBC fired iconic hockey broadcaster Don Cherry for his remarks about poppies. It is time to target Remembrance in Canada.

With Donald Trump's election victory there comes renewed pressure for Canada to increase defence spending. It is time to target how the Canadian Armed Forces can appease Trump and keep those extra dollars spent in Canada.

On Remembrance Day it is not enough to simply pin on a poppy and stand silent for two minutes. It is a time for all Canadians to reflect upon the sacrifices made by those who serve in uniform. It is also a time for sombre mourning and never an occasion to glorify the horrors of war.

For more than 5 years now, Afghan-Canadian Language and Culture Advisors (LCA) who patrolled alongside our soldiers in Afghanistan have been fighting an uphill battle to get treatment and compensation for the wounds they suffered during that decade-long conflict. It is time to target the sad saga of the LCA's and the bureaucracy that is thwarting them.

The military senior leadership continues to mishandle the sexual assault case which occurred on the NATO base in Latvia in December 2022.

The Canadian Armed Forces just invested $34.8 million in new sleeping bags for the Army. Problem is that they are not suitable for use in a typical Canadian winter. It is time to target just how far off the mark are the DND procurement officials?

No matter how you add up the numbers, the Canadian Armed Forces forces fail to add up to an effective fighting force. It is high time to implement an emergency surge call-up of recently released veterans to train new recruits and to make the 'non-deployable' deployable.

Canada has just announced that the Royal Canadian Navy will purchase a fleet of 8 - 12 new diesel-electric submarines to replace the aging Victoria class subs. What they failed to mention is that in a perfect world, the first of these new submarines will not be delivered until 2037! It is time to target the sad saga of subs in Canadian service.

We have security experts warning that the odds of Canada being drawn into a conventional war are currently at "50-50", and NATO urging it's members to mobilize. It is time to target just how prepared is Canada for a potential full-scale conventional war?

The Canadian Armed Forces were not properly equipped to fight the War in Afghanistan until they were already withdrawn from that un-winnable conflict. Today the CAF remains well configured to fight a counter-insurgency against an ill equipped foe. However, there is nothing on the order books to indicate that the military braintrust is preparing to fight a near-peer conventional war...like the one that has been raging in Ukraine for two and a half years. It is time to target, which war are we planning to fight next?