DOCSLIB.ORG

The Need for Canadian Armed Forces Institutional Communications

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Need for Canadian Armed Forces Institutional Communications COMMUNICATION UNIFICATION: THE NEED FOR CANADIAN ARMED FORCES INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS Major H.A.B. Apostoliuk JCSP 39 PCEMI 39 Master of Defence Studies Maîtrise en études de la défense Disclaimer Avertissement Opinions expressed remain those of the author and do Les opinons exprimées n’engagent que leurs auteurs et not represent Department of National Defence or ne reflètent aucunement des politiques du Ministère de Canadian Forces policy. This paper may not be used la Défense nationale ou des Forces canadiennes. Ce without written permission. papier ne peut être reproduit sans autorisation écrite. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, représentée par le ministre de la of National Defence, 2013 Défense nationale, 2013. CANADIAN FORCES COLLEGE – COLLÈGE DES FORCES CANADIENNES JCSP 39 – PCEMI 39 2012 – 2013 MASTER OF DEFENCE STUDIES – MAÎTRISE EN ÉTUDES DE LA DÉFENSE COMMUNICATION UNIFICATION: THE NEED FOR CANADIAN ARMED FORCES INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS By Major H.A.B. Apostoliuk Par le major H.A.B. Apostoliuk “This paper was written by a student “La présente étude a été rédigée par attending the Canadian Forces College un stagiaire du Collège des Forces in fulfilment of one of the requirements canadiennes pour satisfaire à l'une des of the Course of Studies. The paper is exigences du cours. L'étude est un a scholastic document, and thus document qui se rapporte au cours et contains facts and opinions, which the contient donc des faits et des opinions author alone considered appropriate que seul l'auteur considère appropriés and correct for the subject. It does not et convenables au sujet. Elle ne reflète necessarily reflect the policy or the pas nécessairement la politique ou opinion of any agency, including the l'opinion d'un organisme quelconque, y Government of Canada and the compris le gouvernement du Canada et Canadian Department of National le ministère de la Défense nationale du Defence. This paper may not be Canada. Il est défendu de diffuser, de released, quoted or copied, except with citer ou de reproduire cette étude sans the express permission of the Canadian la permission expresse du ministère de Department of National Defence.” la Défense nationale.” Word Count: 19 592 Compte de mots : 19 592 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents i Abstract ii Chapter 1. Introduction 1 2. Imperatives for Institutional Communications 16 3. The Institutional Communications Environment 48 4. A Strategic Institutional Communications Approach 74 Bibliography 91 ii ABSTRACT In times of fiscal constraint and in the absence of a spotlight mission, the Canadian Forces public profile fades, and the military institution faces risks and benefits from such variability that deserve scrutiny. This paper explores the communications imperatives of the Canadian Forces as an institution necessarily distinct from other elements of the Canadian Government and the public, and concludes that a unified, commander-driven strategic communications approach is necessary to address unique military requirements. Specifically, the military ethos, the need for apolitical military expertise, and the requirements of effective military operations necessitate focussed command engagement. Through a review of the communications environment, the paper concludes that leaders must also delicately navigate between the differing communications needs of the Government, the Canadian people and the military institution itself to have a positive strategic effect, and assure that at all times the institution acts, and is seen to act, subordinate to the civil authority. 1 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION In times of fiscal constraint and in the absence of a spotlight mission, the Canadian Forces public profile fades. Public opinion polling recently demonstrated this trend when the number of Canadians that had “recently seen, read or heard something about the Canadian Forces” dropped from 57 per cent in 2011 to 38 per cent in 2012, related in part to the end of the combat mission in Afghanistan.1 This variability deserves scrutiny, in light of the importance of communications to democratic government institutions.2 For the Canadian Forces, it is valuable to question how the institution should approach communications, and strategic communications, in a complex communications environment. Is there a need for a unique Canadian Forces voice distinct from other Government of Canada communications? Further, in what areas would such a voice be necessary to achieve the Government’s objectives in the military domain, and how would leaders assure alignment of a distinctly military strategic communications approach with overall Departmental and Government communications imperatives? Military communicators would have to consider such an approach in light of the existing communications environment. Key questions include what limitations and opportunities are presented by current and evolving communications mediums, what is 1Government of Canada Public Opinion Research Reports – National Defence – 2012, “Views of the Canadian Forces, tracking study, final report - Summary,” last accessed February 12, 2013, http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/301/pwgsc-tpsgc/por-ef/national_defence/2012/049-11-e/index.html. 2D.M. White, Political Communication and Democratic Government, Politics 24, no. 1 (May 1989): 30. 29-41 2 the public and Government appetite for military discussion, what are the current policies and communications guidance, and what limitations do existing practices impose. Given the importance of these questions, this paper will review the concepts of communications and strategic communications, and propose a Canadian Forces approach that considers the military’s communications environment. Further, an analysis of the needs and expectations of the Government, the Canadian people and the military will demonstrate the imperative for the Canadian Forces to communicate strategically as a unified institution, in areas of unique interest to the military. In light of existing shortfalls, the paper will recommend areas for focused communications planning and leadership engagement. Definitions Some explanatory definitions facilitate common understanding of the concepts used in this paper, including the Canadian Forces institution, institutional communications, strategic communications, public affairs and information operations. The distinction between the military institution and the broader Department of National Defence is important when discussing the possible long-term needs of institutional communications. As explained by the Government, “Under the law, the Canadian Forces are an entity separate and distinct from the Department.” 3 The National Defence Act 3National Defence and the Canadian Forces, “What is the relationship between DND and the Canadian Forces?,” last updated 26 June 2012, http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/about-notresujet/index-eng.asp. 3 outlines the separation between these establishments, and the name “The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces” reflects this division. Under the Minister, a civil servant Deputy Minister heads the Department, while the Chief of the Defence Staff leads the Canadian Forces. The Deputy Minister is responsible for “policy, resources, interdepartmental coordination and international defence relations.”4 The Chief of the Defence Staff is exclusively responsible to Government for the “command, control and administration of the Canadian Forces and military strategy, plans and requirements.”5 Members of the military have a special relationship with the government forged on sworn fealty to the Crown, and with the Canadian people they serve to defend. Military leaders have a critical relationship with the men and women they command and lead in dangerous operations, which could result in their deaths. These unique relationships and responsibilities necessitate that the communications associated with the institution be examined distinctly from, but in close relationship to, the communications approach of the Department of National Defence and the Government. At the same time, this separation of entities does not negate the reality of the jointly run National Defence Headquarters, the subordination of the CF to civil authority, or the functional authority for public affairs given to the Assistant Deputy Minister Public Affairs (ADM PA) within the Department. The Canadian Forces institution incorporates both the “organizational characteristics arising from the CF’s functional role, and professional attributes reflected 4Ibid. 5Ibid. 4 in the CF’s distinctive values and norms.”6 Thus, its leaders lead not only the organization, but also the profession of arms. The military doctrinal manual, Leadership in the Canadian Forces: Leading the Institution, provides guidance to current and future institutional leaders on “how best to direct, enable and motivate others while steering the Canadian Forces in the successful achievement of its very wide range of tasks and maintaining its professional ethos and relevance.”7 Canadian military leadership doctrine defines institutional leaders not by position, but by the impact that select officers and senior non-commissioned officers can have on the institution. Those most obvious examples include the Chief of the Defence Staff, senior officers and non-commissioned members in the services: the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Special Forces Command, and the leadership teams
Load more

Recommended publications
  • ON TRACK Autonome Et Renseigné
    Independent and Informed ON TRACK Autonome et renseigné The Conference of Defence Associations Institute ● L’Institut de la Conférence des Associations de la Défense Winter / Hiver Volume 15, Number 4 2010/2011 The Vimy Award Recipient Sustaining Funding for Defence No Mountain Too High China in the Arctic What next for the Canadian Forces? DND Photo / Photo DDN CDA INSTITUTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Admiral (Ret’d) John Anderson Général (Ret) Maurice Baril Dr. David Bercuson L’hon. Jean-Jacques Blais Dr. Douglas Bland Mr. Robert T. Booth Mr. Thomas Caldwell Mr. Mel Cappe Dr. Jim Carruthers Mr. Paul H. Chapin Mr. Terry Colfer Dr. John Scott Cowan Mr. Dan Donovan Lieutenant-général (Ret) Richard Evraire Honourary Lieutenant-Colonel Justin Fogarty Mr. Robert Fowler Colonel, The Hon. John Fraser Lieutenant-général (Ret) Michel Gauthier Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) Roger Girouard Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Bernd A. Goetze Honourary Colonel Blake C. Goldring Mr. Mike Greenley Général (Ret) Raymond Henault Honourary Colonel, Dr. Frederick Jackman The Hon. Colin Kenny Dr. George A. Lampropoulos Colonel (Ret’d) Brian MacDonald Major-General (Ret’d) Lewis MacKenzie Brigadier-General (Ret’d) W. Don Macnamara Lieutenant-général (Ret) Michel Maisonneuve General (Ret’d) Paul D. Manson Mr. John Noble The Hon. David Pratt Honourary Captain (N) Colin Robertson The Hon. Hugh Segal Colonel (Ret’d) Ben Shapiro Brigadier-General (Ret’d) Joe Sharpe M. André Sincennes Dr. Joel Sokolsky Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) Ken Summers The Hon. Pamela Wallin ON TRACK VOLUME 15 NUMBER 4 CONTENTS CONTENU WINTER / HIVER 2010/11 PRESIDENT / PRÉSIDENT Dr. John Scott Cowan, BSc, MSc, PhD From the Executive Director......................................................................4 VICE PRESIDENT / VICE PRÉSIDENT Général (Ret’d) Raymond Henault, CMM, CD Colonel (Ret’d) Alain Pellerin Le mot du Directeur exécutif....................................................................4 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTEUR EXÉCUTIF Le Colonel (Ret) Alain Pellerin Colonel (Ret) Alain M.
    [Show full text]
  • Operation “Assurance”: Planning a Multi-National Force for Rwanda/Zaïre 1
    OPERATIONS AND POLICY OPERATIONS CF Photo by: WO Blouin, ISC94-2015 Scene in a refugee camp near Goma, Zaïre. OPERATION “ASSURANCE”: PLANNING A MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE FOR RWANDA/ZAÏRE 1 By Dr. Michael A. Hennessy n November 1996, as a by-product of the genocide and prepared doctrinally to be a coalition member — but in Rwanda two years earlier, a major humanitarian not a coalition leader — the Canadian Forces found the crisis erupted in Central Africa on the border UN mission to be an unanticipated military and diplo- between Zaïre and Rwanda. Hundreds of thousands matic test. Compounding these challenges were fast- of refugees — this time Hutus — fled into the jun- paced changes to the developing situation in Africa, Igles of the region and appeared on the verge of starva- especially the rapid redirection of refugee movement. tion. Canada took a leading role in forming a UN multi- national force to provide aid and protection to the Operation “Assurance” resulted in perhaps the most refugees. This proved to be a major challenge. Canada exhaustive effort at discerning lessons learned that the last took the lead in the formation of a multi-national UN Army has ever made in peacetime.2 This narrative force in 1956 (UNEF I), and had never led a UN Chapter draws heavily upon those continuing efforts, as well as VII operation. The Canadian government offered to on documentation made during the crisis, to offer a brief deploy 1,500 personnel, including headquarters, trans- synopsis and analysis of Canada’s only recent effort to port, aviation and security elements, in addition to the mount and lead a multi-national humanitarian mission.
    [Show full text]
  • A Rejection of the Need for Warrior Scholars?
    ViEwS and opiNions a rEjECTiON OF ThE NEED FOr WARRIOr SChOLARS? by Bernd horn DND photo IS2010-3031-25 by Corporal Shilo Adamson. ntuitively, virtually no one would argue that more edu- and conventional forces employed asymmetrically, all operat- cation is a bad thing. In fact, most would agree that, as ing within populated centres in a variety of culturally diverse a philosophical concept, the more education one has, environments, are just some of the challenges that have added the richer one is as a person.1 However, the moment complexity to conflict. In order to be effective in this environ- resources or cost enter the equation, the value of edu- ment, military professionals must be adaptive and agile in Ication to individuals often changes. Nowhere is this more both thought and action, as well as adept at critical thinking evident than in the military, where fiscal pressures inevitably and sound reasoning - all benefits of education. In short, mili- prompt ‘innovative ideas’ that often revolve around cutting taries require warrior scholars who are capable of operating in professional development, specifically, education. Moreover, the complex battlespace of today and tomorrow. these same pressures consistently elicit queries with regard to the value of education, specifically undergraduate and gradu- Warrior Scholar ate degrees, to the military. Questions such as, “Do all officers need degrees?” and “What is the military requirement for number of challenges generated in the 1990s forced the graduate degrees?” are frequently ‘floated’ as a precursor to A CF to examine its anti-intellectual culture and make nec- potential program cuts.
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Somalia Reform in the Canadian Armed Forces: Leadership, Education, and Professional Development
    University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2018-12-10 Post-Somalia Reform in the Canadian Armed Forces: Leadership, Education, and Professional Development Domansky, Katie Domansky, K. (2018). Post-Somalia Reform in the Canadian Armed Forces: Leadership, Education, and Professional Development (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/34926 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/109304 doctoral thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Post-Somalia Reform in the Canadian Armed Forces: Leadership, Education, and Professional Development by Katie Domansky A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY GRADUATE PROGRAM IN MILITARY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES CALGARY, ALBERTA DECEMBER, 2018 © Katie Domansky 2018 ABSTRACT After the “Somalia Affair” of the early 1990s, a government investigation concluded that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) had become dysfunctional as a professional military force and needed to be comprehensively reformed. It was perceived to
    [Show full text]
  • 20 July 2018 PAGES: 36 Prepared By: Surgeon Captain J
    S E N I O R C O M M A N D E R S CANADIAN FORCES 1955 to 2018 UPDATED: 20 July 2018 PAGES: 36 Prepared by: Surgeon Captain John Blatherwick, CM, CStJ, OBC, CD, MD, FRCP(C), LLD(Hon) ============================================================================== 1 SENIOR OFFICERS - CANADIAN FORCES CHAIRMAN - CHIEFS OF STAFF 1951 - 1960 General Charles FOULKES, CC, CB, CBE, DSO, CD 1964 - 1966 Air Chief Marshal Frank Robert MILLER, CC, CBE, CD 1966 - 1968 General Jean Victor ALLARD, CC, CBE, DSO**, GOQ, CD =================================================================================================== CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF 1968 - 1969 General Jean Victor ALLARD, CC, CBE, DSO**, CD 1969 - 1972 General Frederick Ralph SHARPE, CMM, DFC, CD 1972 - 1977 General Jacques Alfred DEXTRAZE, CC, CMM, CBE, DSO*, KStJ, CD 1977 - 1980 Admiral Robert Hilborn FALLS, CMM, CStJ, CD 1980 - 1983 General Ramsey Muir WITHERS, CMM, CStJ, CD 1983 - 1986 General Gerard Charles Edouard THERIAULT, CMM, OStJ, CD 1986 - 1989 General Paul David MANSON, OC, CMM, OStJ, CD 1989 - 1992 General Alfred John G.D. DE CHASTELAIN, OC, CMM, CH, OStJ, CD 1992 - 1993 Admiral John ANDERSON, CMM, CD 1993 - 1996 General Alfred John G.D. DE CHASTELAIN, OC, CMM, CH, CStJ, CD 1996 - 1996 General Jean Joseph Edouard BOYLE, CMM, CD 1996 - 1997 Vice-Admiral Lawrence Edward MURRAY, CMM, CD (08 October 1996) ACTING CDS 1997 - 2001 General Joseph Maurice BARIL, CMM, SBStJ, MSM, CD (17 September 1997) 2001 - 2005 General Raymond HENAULT, OC, CMM, CStJ, MSC, CD (28 June 2001) 2005 - 2008 General
    [Show full text]
  • The Meritorious Service Medal 1991-2016
    The Meritorious Service Medal 1991-2016 CONTACT US Directorate of Honours and Recognition National Defence Headquarters 101 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2 http://forces.gc.ca/en/honours-history-awards/index.page 1-877-741-8332 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2016 A-DH-300-000/JD-006 Cat. No D2-364/2016 ISBN 978-0-660-05799-6 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, wearing her insignia of Sovereign of the Order of Canada and of the Order of Military Merit, in the Tent Room at Rideau Hall, Canada Day 2010 Photo: Canadian Heritage, 1 July 2010 iv | The Meritorious Service Medal Dedication To the recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal who have demonstrated military professionalism and brought honour upon themselves and their nation. v | The Meritorious Service Medal Table of Contents Dedication ......................................................................................................................... v Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Statistical Analysis ........................................................................................................... 7 Meritorious Service Decorations Regulations, 2015 ................................................. 35 Register – Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division), 1991-2016 ...................................................................................... 45 Glossary of Post-nominals .........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
    Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation 2000–2001 Annual Report Canadian Museum of Civilization Canadian War Museum Canadian Museum of Canadian War Museum Civilization 330 Sussex Drive 100 Laurier Street Ottawa, Ontario P.O. Box 3100, Station B K1A 0M8 2 Hull, Quebec J8X 4H2 www.civilization.ca www.warmuseum.ca Information: (819) 776-7000/ Vimy House 1-800-555-5621 221 Champagne Avenue North Teleprinter (TDD): (819) 776-7003 Ottawa, Ontario Group Reservations: (819) 776-7014 K1R 7R7 Facility Rentals: (819) 776-7018 Members of the Museum: (819) 776-7100 CWM Information and Other Volunteers: (819) 776-7011 Services: (819) 776-8600/ Financial Support to the CMCC — 1-800-555-5621 Development: (819) 776-7016 Fax: (819) 776-8623 Cyberboutique: www.civilization.ca Friends of the CWM: (819) 776-8618 Museum of New France Passing the Torch Campaign: Creator of the Virtual Museum of (819) 776-8636 or New FranceTM 1-800-256-6031 www.vmnf.civilization.ca www.passingthetorch.ca Published by Corporate Communications (819) 776-8380 Public Affairs Branch, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation Cover photos: CMC — Shiva Nataraja, by S. Rajan, bronze, 1977. Owners: George and Joanne MacDonald. Photo: H. Foster CWM — Canteen, Nijmegen, by Molly Lamb Bobak (1922–). Painted in Holland, 1945. Table of Contents Page Page 4 Board of Trustees 40 Exhibitions and Programmes 5 Corporate Governance 40 • Permanent Exhibitions 7 Chairman’s Report 40 • Temporary Exhibitions 10 President and CEO’s Report 42 • Travelling Exhibitions 12 Corporate Plan 44 • Upcoming
    [Show full text]
  • Higher Education and the Profession of Arms: Explaining the Logic
    VIEWS AND OPINIONS HIGHER EDUcatION AND THE PROFESSION OF ARMS: EXPLAINING THE LOGIC by Bill Bentley and Bernd Horn DND photo by Sergeant Charles Barber, J6 Imaging, Canadian Forces College Forces Canadian J6 Imaging, Charles Barber, Sergeant by DND photo Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walter Natynczyk, addresses members of the JCSP course at CFC Toronto, 16 May 2012. he question often arises among senior officers as profession in Western society, to possess a deep understanding to what is the requirement for higher, or more and comprehension of a relevant body of knowledge. More accurately, graduate education. Although few, if exactly, as Eliot Freidson, a leading scholar on the subject of any, would deny the value of such an investment, professionalism identifies: “A profession has a formal program the barrier is always time. For individuals who that produces the qualifying credentials, which is controlled by Tare exceptionally busy, the issue continues to be the trade-off the profession and associated with higher education.”2 between time spent on studies, and time available to clear the ever-present day-to-day workload. Many default to a position And, there is good reason. The failure to abide by this that time spent in an appointment or rank adequately prepares tenet could have serious repercussions, as the institution dis- the individual for the challenges they encounter or will face in covered in the 1990s. By 1997, Doug Young, then- Minister of the future. So what exactly is the requirement for graduate National Defence (MND), General Maurice Baril, the Chief of education for senior officers? the Defence Staff (CDS), and the Louise Frechette, the Deputy Minister (DM), were all seriously concerned that the balance There is no ‘silver bullet’ answer to the question; no among the four pillars of professional development – training, quantifiable data that can categorically provide comprehensive education, experience, and self-development – had become proof.
    [Show full text]
  • ON TRACK Vol 14 No 4 New.Indd
    Independent and Informed ON TRACK Indépendant et Informé The Conference of Defence Associations Institute ● L’Institut de la Conférence des Associations de la Défense Winter/Hiver 2009/10 INSIDE A L’INTÉRIEUR CANADIAN NAVAL CENTENNIAL AFGHANISTAN KANDAHAR LESSONS IN 1910-2010 - OUR TROOPS AND THE CONFLICT CIVIL-MILITARY COOPERATION THE DILEMMAS OF NUCLEAR IRAN UNE MISSION POUR LES CANADIENS DISINFORMATION IN A DIGITAL WORLD: AND NORTH KOREA OU POUR LES AFGHANS? IMPLICATIONS FORDND CANADA Photo / Photo DDN DONOR PATRONS of the CDA INSTITUTE DONATEUR PATRONS de l’INSTITUT de la CAD Mr. Keith P. Ambachtsheer Colonel (Ret’d) John Catto Dr. John Scott Cowan Brigadier-General (Ret’d) James S. Cox Colonel The Hon. John Fraser The Jackman Foundation The Hon. Colin Kenny Brigadier-General (Ret’d) W. Don Macnamara Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. Morrison Colonel (Ret’d) Gary H. Rice Mr. David Scott The Hon. Hugh D. Segal Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) Ken Summers COMPANIONS of the CDA INSTITUTE COMPAGNONS de l’INSTITUT de la CAD Admiral (Ret’d) John Anderson Mr. Robert Booth Mr. M. Corbett Mr. John A. Eckersley Lieutenant-général (Ret) Richard Evraire Major-General (Ret’d) Peter Gartenburg Colonel Blake Goldring Dr. J.L. Granatstein Colonel (Ret’d) I. Isbester Mr. Jon Jennekens L3 Communications Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) George E.C. MacDonald Colonel (Ret’d) D. Bruce McGibbon Mr. Daniel Rodrique Colonel (Ret’d) Ben Shapiro Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret’d) Skutezky Mr. Robert G. Tucker Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) Jack Vance OFFICER LEVEL DONORS to the CDA INSTITUTE DONATEURS de l’INSTITUT de la CAD - NIVEAU d’OFFICIER Major-général (Ret) Clive J.
    [Show full text]
  • Lester Pearson and the Unwarranted Primacy of Peacekeeping BOOK
    BOOK EXCERPT PASSAGES Fatal distraction: Lester Pearson and the unwarranted primacy of peacekeeping J.L. Granatstein The eminent Canadian historian Jack Granatstein frames a provocative question in the title of his timely book Who Killed the Canadian Military? His answer: every prime minister since Diefenbaker has de-emphasized or degraded the role and relevance of the Canadian armed forces as instruments of national security and the national interest. Even from post-Cold War strengths of 90,000 in the early 1990s, Canada’s forces have declined by half in the decade since, in which a new and unpredictable threat, global terrorism, has emerged. Quite apart from the mustering out of Canada’s forces and the rusting out of their equipment, Canadians have seen Canada primarily in a peacekeeping role, ever since Lester B. Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for proposing the United Nations Emergency Force in the Middle East in 1956. What was peacekeeping then has become today a very different and more dangerous vocation. In this exclusive excerpt from his new bestseller, Granatstein asserts that “Mike” Pearson inadvertently played a role in diminishing the strength of Canada’s military. « Qui a tué l’armée canadienne ? », s’interroge l’éminent historien canadien Jack Granatstein, qui a coiffé de ce titre provocant son dernier ouvrage (Who Killed the Canadian Military ?). Tous les premiers ministres depuis Diefenbaker, répond-il, qui ont successivement amoindri ou déconsidéré le rôle de cette institution chargée d’assurer notre sécurité et de défendre l’intérêt national. Déjà érodées au lendemain de la guerre froide avec 90 000 soldats au début des années 1990, les Forces canadiennes ont vu depuis cet effectif décroître de moitié alors qu’apparaissait l’imprévisible menace du terrorisme international.
    [Show full text]
  • Canada's Rangers : Selected Stories, 1942-2012 / Compiled and Introduced by P
    Canada’s Range Canada’s R s: s elected s tories The Pacific Coast Militia Rangers were formed in 1942 to counter the threat of a Japanese invasion during the second World War. after a brief postwar interlude, the Whitney Lackenbauer Compiled and introduced by P. department of national defence created the Canadian Rangers in 1947 to accommo - date a unique form of military service in remote and isolated regions across Canada. Through sovereignty patrols and as guides and mentors to other members of the Canadian Forces, the Rangers support national security. In search and rescue mis- sions, responses to avalanches, floods, and forest fires, and myriad local activities, the Rangers contribute to safety and security in communities. as the stories in this volume affirm, the Canadian Rangers are stalwart sentinels watching over the farthest reaches of our country — a role they have proudly played for sixty-five years. 30840 Ranger Stories Cover APPROVED.indd 1 2/20/13 1:44 PM Statistics as of 1 December 2010 30840 Ranger Stories Cover APPROVED.indd 2 2/20/13 1:45 PM Canada’s RangeRs selected stories 1942-2012 Canada’s RangeRs selected stories 1942-2012 Compiled & Introduced by P. Whitney Lackenbauer Copyright © 2013 Her Majesty the Queen, in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence. Canadian Defence Academy Press PO Box 17000 Stn Forces Kingston, Ontario K7K 7B4 Produced for the Canadian Defence Academy Press by 17 Wing Winnipeg Publishing Office. WPO 30840 Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Canada's Rangers : selected stories, 1942-2012 / compiled and introduced by P.
    [Show full text]
  • JLJLJLJ F I Mr
    cxt NOTE EXECUTIVE OFFICE From: Samir Sanbar, Assistant Secretary-General, DPI OFTHESECRETARY-GENFRAI The Media^i\jsioru3f^DPI has purchased 'Chronicle of a Genocide Foretold', a three- part documentary shot over three years which tells the stories, from a critical perspective, of several Rwandans before, during and after the genocide of April 1994. Part two of the , ,_.,.,, nri. mm.,.. .1. nnn-injuj fMfnerrn!aaao,~r^-~r~£--^-f^-**t^fti'rnf^fH^JS*B««Wnwu««T-*«ue™-Mi-wur™'«t.*wiii™»«i „ j»^.iT-.Twr-*—^-ir-lM—Mm..•... 11^,1 wi u, documentary focuses on the UN role in Rwanda and relates the experiences of the UN soldiers who pulled put of Kigali. This documentary which was produced by Canadian filmmakers was shown on a Canadian cable channel VisionTV which bills itself as "Canada's Faith Network", and was accompanied by a half-hour debate between Major General Romeo Dallaire and Belgian Senator Alain Destexhe. The debate was described in a publicity flyer as providing "new and startling revelations about the UN's role and the international community's complicity and cowardice in the genocide in Rwanda". The documentary was also aired in Belgium and France. In addition, the documentary and debate received further prominence from a spinoffin articles which appeared in various Canadian dailies as well as in the Washington Post (copy of article attached). Ted Koppel of Nightline has also expressed an interest in the issue, according to Fred Eckhard. It is in this context and because the results of a Belgian legislative commission investigation will be released towards the end of October, that we are organizing a screening of part II of the documentary together witji the^nsmng debate on Thursdayj6 October 1997 at 2:00 pm injhe ^I^cr^ening_R^m_(ex-stadip,4).
    [Show full text]