Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet becomes first woman to head the RCAF
OTTAWA -- Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet made history Thursday by becoming the first woman to lead the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Kyle Duggan
While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Kyle Duggan.
Armed forces needs to strengthen screening to weed out extremists: expert
OTTAWA -- An expert in extremism says recent arrests linked to an alleged plot to create an anti-government militia show the Canadian Armed Forces needs to do a better job of vetting at the recruitment stage.
Ex-fighter jet pilot Stephen Fuhr is on a mission to change how we arm the military
Not that long ago, former air force fighter pilot Stephen Fuhr was just one among many voices in Canada complaining about the way the federal government makes big defence purchasing decisions. At no point, he said, did it occur to him that he would wind up in his current position - as the prime minister's point person for fixing Canada's...
Ex-fighter jet pilot Stephen Fuhr is on a mission to change how we arm the military
OTTAWA -- Not that long ago, former air force fighter pilot Stephen Fuhr was just one among many voices in Canada complaining about the way the federal government makes big defence purchasing decisions.
New supply management law won't save the system from Trump, experts say
A new law meant to protect supply management might not be enough to shield the system in trade talks with a Trump administration bent on eliminating it, trade experts say. "It's certainly more difficult to strike a deal with the United States now with the passage of this bill that basically forces Canada to negotiate with one hand tied behind...
New supply management law won't save the system from Trump, experts say
OTTAWA -- A new law meant to protect supply management might not be enough to shield the system in trade talks with a Trump administration bent on eliminating it, trade experts say.
Is Canada now free of internal trade barriers? Read the fine print
Federal and provincial leaders are working to dismantle internal trade barriers that push up the cost of goods and make it harder to do business within Canada. But anyone expecting all of them to be gone by tomorrow should read the fine print. Throughout the spring federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney repeatedly vowed to "eliminate" interprovincial trade barriers...
Is Canada now free of internal trade barriers? Read the fine print
OTTAWA -- Federal and provincial leaders are working to dismantle internal trade barriers that push up the cost of goods and make it harder to do business within Canada.
Trump 'terminating' trade talks, threatens tariffs over Ottawa's digital services tax
Ottawa -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he is "terminating all discussions on trade with Canada" and threatening new tariffs over Ottawa's plans to push ahead with a digital services tax at the end of the month.
Ottawa eyeing Ukrainian partnership, EU loans for defence equipment, minister says
OTTAWA -- Ottawa is considering whether to follow in the footsteps of several European nations by forging a new defence co-production deal with Ukraine for military equipment, Defence Minister David McGuinty said Thursday.
Ottawa eyeing Ukrainian partnership, EU loans for defence equipment, minister says
Defence Minister David McGuinty says the federal government is weighing whether to follow in the footsteps of several European nations by forging a new defence co-production deal with Ukraine for military equipment. McGuinty says the idea is under "active consideration" by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Senate under pressure to deal with Carney's major projects bill quickly
Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill could be in for a speedy trip through the Senate this week. Bill C-5 will be introduced at first reading in the upper chamber today after it was fast-tracked through the House of Commons and underwent a rare pre-study by the Senate. A programming motion adopted by the chamber fixes the bill...
Senate under pressure to deal with Carney's major projects bill quickly
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill could be in for a speedy trip through the Senate this week.
Meat producers warn internal trade bill could cause blowback with trade partners
OTTAWA -- The Canadian Meat Council is warning that the Liberal government's legislation to ease the movement of goods and services within Canada could actually undermine red meat exports.
Fixing problems with Phoenix payroll system cost taxpayers $5.1 billion: official
A top federal official said fixing the payroll problems caused by Phoenix cost taxpayers more than $5 billion — and they'll keep paying extra to run two public service payroll platforms at once as Ottawa weans itself off the problem-plagued system. Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, said the alternative to running the Phoenix system...
Fixing problems with Phoenix payroll system cost taxpayers $5.1 billion: official
OTTAWA -- A top federal official said fixing the payroll problems caused by Phoenix cost taxpayers more than $5 billion — and they'll keep paying extra to run two public service payroll platforms at once as Ottawa weans itself off the problem-plagued system.
Ottawa considering 'combination of approaches' to 20% military pay hike
Defence Minister David McGuinty's office says it's considering a "combination of approaches" to boosting pay for armed service members, including introducing retention bonuses for "stress trades." "This investment represents an almost 20 per cent increase to the overall CAF compensation envelope," McGuinty's spokesperson Laurent de Casanove said in an email statement to The Canadian Press. "The Department of National Defence...
Ottawa considering 'combination of approaches' to 20% military pay hike
OTTAWA -- Defence Minister David McGuinty's office says it's considering a "combination of approaches" to boosting pay for armed service members, including introducing retention bonuses for "stress trades."
Parliament set to rise today, with MPs to vote on controversial major projects bill
Ottawa -- Prime Minister Mark Carney's major projects and internal trade bill will be voted on today before the House of Commons rises until September.
Coast Guard union says crews in the dark about promised expanded 'security mandate'
A union official who represents marine search and rescue crews said Monday the union was surprised and "blindsided" by Ottawa's decision to move the Canadian Coast Guard from the control of the fisheries minister to the defence minister. Teresa Eschuk, Union of Canadian Transportation Employees national president, said the union is still in the dark about what the changes will...
Coast Guard union says crews in the dark about promised expanded 'security mandate'
OTTAWA -- A union official who represents marine search and rescue crews said Monday the union was surprised and "blindsided" by Ottawa's decision to move the Canadian Coast Guard from the control of the fisheries minister to the defence minister.
May calls Carney's decision to limit debate on major projects bill a 'new low'
OTTAWA -- Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said Monday that Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to ram his government's major projects bill through the House of Commons this week represents a "new low" in contempt for Parliament.
Trade bill could trigger 'race to the bottom' in health standards, health groups warn
OTTAWA -- Anti-smoking groups are warning the Carney government that its legislation to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers could undermine health standards unless it's amended to add new safeguards.
Cancer society warns internal trade bill could weaken health standards
OTTAWA -- The Canadian Cancer Society is warning the Carney government that its legislation to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers could undermine health standards unless it's amended to add new safeguards.
Liberals under fire for rushing bill through Parliament to speed up resource projects
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is coming under fire for seeking to rush through a major piece of legislation that grants cabinet sweeping powers to quickly approve major projects. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon put a motion on notice Thursday that would push Bill C-5 through the House of Commons by the end of next week — leaving just one...
Liberals under fire for rushing bill through Parliament to speed up resource projects
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is coming under fire for seeking to rush through a major piece of legislation that grants cabinet sweeping powers to quickly approve major projects.
NDP leader says Carney needs to keep Parliament in the loop on trade talks
OTTAWA -- Interim NDP Leader Don Davies is accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of not being transparent about negotiations with the U.S. on getting President Donald Trump's tariffs lifted.
Former MP Charlie Angus says NDP became too focused on leader, TikTok likes
OTTAWA -- The NDP suffered an "unmitigated disaster" in the last election because it lost touch with its grassroots and became too "leader-focused," former MP Charlie Angus said Wednesday.
Auditor general finds F-35 costs soared due to project delays, pilot shortages
OTTAWA -- The estimated cost of Canada's incoming fleet of advanced stealth fighters exploded by nearly 50 per cent in just a few years, auditor general Karen Hogan said Tuesday.
Auditor general finds F-35 costs soar amid project delays, pilot shortages
OTTAWA -- The estimated cost of Canada's incoming fleet of advanced stealth fighters exploded by nearly 50 per cent in just a few years, auditor general Karen Hogan said Tuesday in a new report.
Audit General finds F-35 costs soar amid project delays, pilot shortages
OTTAWA -- The cost of Canada's incoming fleet of advanced stealth fighters has exploded by nearly 50 per cent in just a few years, auditor general Karen Hogan said Tuesday in a new report.
Auditor general finds F-35 costs soared due to project delays, pilot shortages
OTTAWA -- The estimated cost of Canada's incoming fleet of advanced stealth fighters exploded by nearly 50 per cent in just a few years, auditor general Karen Hogan said Tuesday.
Carney vows Canada will meet 2% NATO spending pledge this year
OTTAWA -- Canada will finally meet its NATO defence spending commitment this year as it confronts an alarming new world of threats, Prime Minister Mark Carney said in Toronto Monday morning.
Liberals table bill to speed up approvals for major 'national interest' projects
Ottawa -- Prime Minister Mark Carney's government introduced legislation Friday that would grant it new powers to quickly push forward major projects the federal cabinet deems to be in the national interest.
Liberals poised to table bill to knock down internal trade barriers
The Liberal government is poised to table landmark legislation to break down internal trade barriers and increase labour mobility within Canada. The government has put a bill on the House of Commons notice paper that could potentially be tabled as early as today. Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to break down internal trade barriers by Canada Day to create...
Liberals poised to table bill to knock down internal trade barriers
OTTAWA -- The Liberal government is poised to table landmark legislation to break down internal trade barriers and increase labour mobility within Canada.
Minister says Ottawa reviewing defence spending 'top to bottom' ahead of NATO summit
OTTAWA -- Ottawa is reviewing its spending "from top to bottom" as Canada's closest allies call on Canada to hike defence spending to levels not seen since the height of the Cold War, Defence Minister David McGuinty said Thursday.
Ottawa silent on tariff retaliation as Carney takes part in talks with Trump
OTTAWA -- Ottawa held its fire for a second day in a row Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled his steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent -- despite numerous calls for Canada to swiftly retaliate with new tariffs of its own.
Joly meets with steel CEOs, but Ottawa not yet ready to retaliate on U.S. tariffs
OTTAWA -- Industry Minister Melanie Joly emerged from meetings with major CEOs from the steel sector and organized labour today without announcing any concrete action following calls for retaliation against new U.S. tariffs.
Ford says Carney is in 'deep' trade talks with Trump
OTTAWA -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Prime Minister Mark Carney is in "deep, deep discussions" on trade with U.S. President Donald Trump.
McGuinty: Ottawa reviewing defence spending 'top to bottom' ahead of NATO summit
OTTAWA -- Ottawa is reviewing its defence spending plans "from top to bottom," Defence Minister David McGuinty said Thursday, as Canada comes under pressure from allies to ramp up spending to levels not seen since the height of the Cold War.
Steel firms, workers to meet with MPs in Ottawa urging tariff action against U.S.
OTTAWA -- Canadian steel companies and union workers are meeting with members of Parliament today with the hopes of convincing Ottawa to punch back at U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff hike.
Carney says Canada will take 'some time' to respond to doubled U.S. metal tariffs
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will take "some time" to craft a response to increased U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled the damaging duties on Wednesday.
Premiers huddle with Carney in Saskatoon to choose major projects to prioritize
SASKATOON -- The first in-person meeting between Canada's premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney since the federal election got underway in Saskatoon Monday morning, with provinces pitching major projects they think should get fast-tracked.
Cabinet ministers watch their words as pressure builds on defence file
National defence is becoming an increasingly thorny topic for Prime Minister Mark Carney's government as Canada comes under heavy pressure from its allies to do more and spend more. But with just weeks to go until NATO member nations assemble in the Netherlands for a summit that could put Ottawa in the hot seat on defence spending, several of his...
Cabinet ministers watch their words as pressure builds on defence file
OTTAWA -- National defence is becoming an increasingly thorny topic for Prime Minister Mark Carney's government as Canada comes under heavy pressure from its allies to do more and spend more.
Canada faces 'massive challenge' as NATO eyes new 5% spending target: expert
When representatives of NATO nations meet in The Hague late next month, they're expected to dramatically hike the alliance's defence spending target for members -- the one Canada is failing to hit already. At the last NATO summit in Washington last year, allies lined up to call out Canada for failing to meet the alliance defence spending target of two...
Canada faces 'massive challenge' as NATO eyes new 5% spending target: expert
OTTAWA -- When representatives of NATO nations meet in The Hague late next month, they're expected to dramatically hike the alliance's defence spending target for members — the one Canada is failing to hit already.
Quebec MP Francis Scarpaleggia elected as new House of Commons Speaker
OTTAWA -- Members of Parliament have chosen Quebec MP Francis Scarpaleggia to be their next Speaker of the House of Commons.
Even after the Justin Trudeau experience, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules
Liberal MPs voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise, newly elected Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney confirmed on Sunday. A majority of the caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the decade-old Reform Act. That law was originated by Conservative MP Michael Chong to embolden individual MPs to...
Even after the Justin Trudeau experience, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules
OTTAWA -- Liberal MPs voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise, newly elected Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney confirmed on Sunday.
Liberals vote against adopting rules to allow caucus to oust leader
OTTAWA -- Liberal caucus chair James Maloney says party MPs have voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise.
Carney lays out legislative agenda ahead of new Parliament this week
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech intended to rally his Liberal caucus Sunday afternoon that laid out his governing agenda for the re-opening of Parliament.
Cost of Canada joining Trump's Golden Dome missile defence project still unknown
OTTAWA -- If Prime Minister Mark Carney signs on to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" missile defence shield, he could be committing Canada to a project with a ballooning price tag, an anti-weapons proliferation groups said on Thursday.
Cost of Canada joining Trump's Golden Dome missile defence project still unknown
If Prime Minister Mark Carney signs on to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" missile defence shield, he could be committing Canada to a project with a ballooning price tag, an anti-weapons proliferation groups said on Thursday. Jessica West -- a senior researcher at Project Ploughshares, a Canadian peace research institute based in Waterloo, Ont. -- warned during an...
Cost of Canada joining Trump's Golden Dome missile defence project still unknown
OTTAWA -- If Prime Minister Mark Carney signs on to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" missile defence shield, he could be committing Canada to a project with a ballooning price tag, an anti-weapons proliferation groups said on Thursday.
Carney says single government mandate letter reflects a 'unified mission'
Prime Minister Mark Carney laid out a handful of collective core priorities for his new ministers on Wednesday, vowing his government will work to bring down the cost of living and reconfigure some of Canada's most important international relationships. Carney released just one single mandate letter publicly for his entire cabinet, rather than the traditional spate of individual assignments. He...
Carney says Canada in talks with U.S. on 'Golden Dome' missile defence
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is looking at participating in U.S. President Donald Trump's new Golden Dome missile defence program.
Former ambassador calls Trump's missile defence pitch a political blast from the past
OTTAWA -- Frank McKenna felt a sense of deja vu on Tuesday when U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Canada is interested in buying into his new "Golden Dome" missile defence program.
Carney needs to make a quick decision on Trump's missile defence project: expert
A defence expert says that if Canada wants to fully join U.S. President Donald Trump's "golden dome" missile defence project, it should make a decision soon. David Perry, president of the Canada Global Affairs Institute think tank, says Ottawa has a tendency to punt politically sensitive decisions on ballistic missile defence.