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Saturday, December 9, 2023
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Scott Taylor

Scott Taylor is editor and publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine.

A ‘no-Nazi’ policy for our military partners should be a low bar to clear

  • Canada is supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the banner of ‘shared values;’ insisting they vet out Azov extremists is not interfering in
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 4, 2023
While emphatically insisting to media that all steps were taken by the CAF instructors to identify potential extremists, military leaders also conceded that Ukraine is a sovereign country, and as such, the vetting of recruits is their responsibility, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Eric Greico

A ‘no-Nazi’ policy for our military partners should be a low bar to clear

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 4, 2023
  • Canada is supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the banner of ‘shared values;’ insisting they vet out Azov extremists is not interfering in

A ‘no-Nazi’ policy for our military partners should be a low bar to clear

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 4, 2023
  • Canada is supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the banner of ‘shared values;’ insisting they vet out Azov extremists is not interfering in
While emphatically insisting to media that all steps were taken by the CAF instructors to identify potential extremists, military leaders also conceded that Ukraine is a sovereign country, and as such, the vetting of recruits is their responsibility, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Eric Greico

Spavor’s lawsuit raises questions that should have already been examined

  • One would think that mere curiosity would have led journalists to delve deeper into the two Canadians who were caught up in the middle
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 27, 2023
Michael Spavor, left, is seeking a settlement from the Canadian government after alleging he was detained in China because he unwittingly provided intelligence on North Korea to Canada and allied spy services through Michael Kovrig. Photograph courtesy of X and the International Crisis Group

Spavor’s lawsuit raises questions that should have already been examined

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 27, 2023
  • One would think that mere curiosity would have led journalists to delve deeper into the two Canadians who were caught up in the middle

Spavor’s lawsuit raises questions that should have already been examined

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 27, 2023
  • One would think that mere curiosity would have led journalists to delve deeper into the two Canadians who were caught up in the middle
Michael Spavor, left, is seeking a settlement from the Canadian government after alleging he was detained in China because he unwittingly provided intelligence on North Korea to Canada and allied spy services through Michael Kovrig. Photograph courtesy of X and the International Crisis Group

Why are other agencies stepping in to protect Canadians from Air Force members?

  • In a pair of recent instances, the CBSA and the OPP are arresting senior officers in the RCAF on firearms infractions to ‘keep Canadians
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 20, 2023
A senior officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force has been charged after the Canada Border Services Agency seized various prohibited weapons including handguns, assault rifles, shot guns, ammunition, and magazines in October 2023. Photograph courtesy of the CBSA

Why are other agencies stepping in to protect Canadians from Air Force members?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 20, 2023
  • In a pair of recent instances, the CBSA and the OPP are arresting senior officers in the RCAF on firearms infractions to ‘keep Canadians

Why are other agencies stepping in to protect Canadians from Air Force members?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 20, 2023
  • In a pair of recent instances, the CBSA and the OPP are arresting senior officers in the RCAF on firearms infractions to ‘keep Canadians
A senior officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force has been charged after the Canada Border Services Agency seized various prohibited weapons including handguns, assault rifles, shot guns, ammunition, and magazines in October 2023. Photograph courtesy of the CBSA

Honour our soldiers by probing Canada’s Afghan engagement

  • Canada needs to establish a public inquiry to ask whether the U.S. officials who knew the war in Afghanistan was unwinnable shared that info
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 13, 2023
Canadian Forces soldiers from Joint Task Force Afghanistan Roto 4 participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony held at Kandahar Airfield, Nov. 11, 2007. DND photograph by Cplc Robert Bottrill

Honour our soldiers by probing Canada’s Afghan engagement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 13, 2023
  • Canada needs to establish a public inquiry to ask whether the U.S. officials who knew the war in Afghanistan was unwinnable shared that info

Honour our soldiers by probing Canada’s Afghan engagement

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 13, 2023
  • Canada needs to establish a public inquiry to ask whether the U.S. officials who knew the war in Afghanistan was unwinnable shared that info
Canadian Forces soldiers from Joint Task Force Afghanistan Roto 4 participate in a Remembrance Day ceremony held at Kandahar Airfield, Nov. 11, 2007. DND photograph by Cplc Robert Bottrill

Canada’s leaders need to do more to avoid our soldiers sacrificing in vain

  • We owe it to all those who serve Canada in uniform to ensure that our politicians only put them at risk when it is
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 6, 2023
Unlike major wars of the past, there are fewer modern conflicts where the Canadian military’s participation has led to a clear-cut victorious outcome, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Canada’s leaders need to do more to avoid our soldiers sacrificing in vain

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 6, 2023
  • We owe it to all those who serve Canada in uniform to ensure that our politicians only put them at risk when it is

Canada’s leaders need to do more to avoid our soldiers sacrificing in vain

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 6, 2023
  • We owe it to all those who serve Canada in uniform to ensure that our politicians only put them at risk when it is
Unlike major wars of the past, there are fewer modern conflicts where the Canadian military’s participation has led to a clear-cut victorious outcome, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

If Canada’s already at war, our military is far from battle ready

  • Given the sorry state of our military, let’s hope the chief of defence staff is wrong when he says we are already at war
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 30, 2023
If we are to take General Wayne Eyre’s, right, assessment to heart that we are already at war, we must also take stock of Canada’s current state of military readiness—and the situation is not good, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If Canada’s already at war, our military is far from battle ready

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 30, 2023
  • Given the sorry state of our military, let’s hope the chief of defence staff is wrong when he says we are already at war

If Canada’s already at war, our military is far from battle ready

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 30, 2023
  • Given the sorry state of our military, let’s hope the chief of defence staff is wrong when he says we are already at war
If we are to take General Wayne Eyre’s, right, assessment to heart that we are already at war, we must also take stock of Canada’s current state of military readiness—and the situation is not good, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Where are we after the military’s ‘MeToo’ moment?

  • Some might argue the string of incidents resulted in few tangible outcomes in terms of formal punishments, but the institution itself has been changed
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 23, 2023
Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan was appointed as the Canadian Armed Forces’ professional conduct and culture chief in 2021 in bid to change the channel on the military’s history with systemic misconduct. DND photograph by Pvt. Hugo Montpetit

Where are we after the military’s ‘MeToo’ moment?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 23, 2023
  • Some might argue the string of incidents resulted in few tangible outcomes in terms of formal punishments, but the institution itself has been changed

Where are we after the military’s ‘MeToo’ moment?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 23, 2023
  • Some might argue the string of incidents resulted in few tangible outcomes in terms of formal punishments, but the institution itself has been changed
Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan was appointed as the Canadian Armed Forces’ professional conduct and culture chief in 2021 in bid to change the channel on the military’s history with systemic misconduct. DND photograph by Pvt. Hugo Montpetit

Sexual assault can’t be brushed off as a mere byproduct of foreign service

  • I cannot fathom a civilian position with the Department of National Defence that comes with the inherent risk of sexual assault—especially when chalked up
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 16, 2023
Members of multiple nations conduct a firepower demonstration for media and special guests during Operation Reassurance at Camp Adazi, Latvia, on March 29, 2023. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

Sexual assault can’t be brushed off as a mere byproduct of foreign service

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 16, 2023
  • I cannot fathom a civilian position with the Department of National Defence that comes with the inherent risk of sexual assault—especially when chalked up

Sexual assault can’t be brushed off as a mere byproduct of foreign service

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 16, 2023
  • I cannot fathom a civilian position with the Department of National Defence that comes with the inherent risk of sexual assault—especially when chalked up
Members of multiple nations conduct a firepower demonstration for media and special guests during Operation Reassurance at Camp Adazi, Latvia, on March 29, 2023. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

It’s not the size of the defence budget, but how it’s spent that matters

  • A nation's defence commitment should be measured as a tangible combat capability based on a percentage of population and regional circumstances, not as an
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 9, 2023
At a Sept. 28 House Defence Committee meeting, Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre admitted that trimming nearly $1-billion from the DND budget would have an impact on operations, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It’s not the size of the defence budget, but how it’s spent that matters

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 9, 2023
  • A nation's defence commitment should be measured as a tangible combat capability based on a percentage of population and regional circumstances, not as an

It’s not the size of the defence budget, but how it’s spent that matters

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 9, 2023
  • A nation's defence commitment should be measured as a tangible combat capability based on a percentage of population and regional circumstances, not as an
At a Sept. 28 House Defence Committee meeting, Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre admitted that trimming nearly $1-billion from the DND budget would have an impact on operations, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s top general needs to apologize for honouring a Nazi SS soldier

  • Even if one gives Gen. Wayne Eyre the benefit of the doubt for applauding in the moment, once the story broke, it became incumbent
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 2, 2023
As Canada’s top soldier, General Wayne Eyre represents every serving member and veteran in the country and it’s a career officer of his rank would be so ignorant of military history as to not realize that Yaroslav Hunka must be a Nazi soldier, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s top general needs to apologize for honouring a Nazi SS soldier

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 2, 2023
  • Even if one gives Gen. Wayne Eyre the benefit of the doubt for applauding in the moment, once the story broke, it became incumbent

Canada’s top general needs to apologize for honouring a Nazi SS soldier

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 2, 2023
  • Even if one gives Gen. Wayne Eyre the benefit of the doubt for applauding in the moment, once the story broke, it became incumbent
As Canada’s top soldier, General Wayne Eyre represents every serving member and veteran in the country and it’s a career officer of his rank would be so ignorant of military history as to not realize that Yaroslav Hunka must be a Nazi soldier, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Standing with Ukraine requires sound training, not scrapyard leftovers

  • Surely, we have learned something from our failed effort in Afghanistan to build a competent security force on the cheap and the quick?
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 25, 2023
Vice-Admiral J.R. Auchterlonie, commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command, speaks to the Canadian Armed Forces members tasked with training recruits of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during Operation Unifier in the United Kingdom on May 18. DND photograph by Corporal Marco Tijam

Standing with Ukraine requires sound training, not scrapyard leftovers

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 25, 2023
  • Surely, we have learned something from our failed effort in Afghanistan to build a competent security force on the cheap and the quick?

Standing with Ukraine requires sound training, not scrapyard leftovers

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 25, 2023
  • Surely, we have learned something from our failed effort in Afghanistan to build a competent security force on the cheap and the quick?
Vice-Admiral J.R. Auchterlonie, commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command, speaks to the Canadian Armed Forces members tasked with training recruits of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during Operation Unifier in the United Kingdom on May 18. DND photograph by Corporal Marco Tijam

PM’s plane saga begs the question: why is the Air Force in the airline business?

  • In 1991, the government of the day decided the RCAF should not be a quasi-airline. So why are we still buying it passenger planes?
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 18, 2023
Instead of replacing the aging Polaris fleet, surely it would be cheaper and a better use of resources for the various government departments to simply charter the passenger flights on an ‘as-required’ basis, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

PM’s plane saga begs the question: why is the Air Force in the airline business?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 18, 2023
  • In 1991, the government of the day decided the RCAF should not be a quasi-airline. So why are we still buying it passenger planes?

PM’s plane saga begs the question: why is the Air Force in the airline business?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 18, 2023
  • In 1991, the government of the day decided the RCAF should not be a quasi-airline. So why are we still buying it passenger planes?
Instead of replacing the aging Polaris fleet, surely it would be cheaper and a better use of resources for the various government departments to simply charter the passenger flights on an ‘as-required’ basis, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Inside Russia at war

  • The Moscow Conference on International Security afforded Hill Times’ contributor Scott Taylor a rare opportunity to witness the effect of 18 months of conflict
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2023
The skyline of Russia's capital is now speckled with modern skyscrapers built within the last two decades. Photograph courtesy of Scott Taylor

Inside Russia at war

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2023
  • The Moscow Conference on International Security afforded Hill Times’ contributor Scott Taylor a rare opportunity to witness the effect of 18 months of conflict

Inside Russia at war

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 13, 2023
  • The Moscow Conference on International Security afforded Hill Times’ contributor Scott Taylor a rare opportunity to witness the effect of 18 months of conflict
The skyline of Russia's capital is now speckled with modern skyscrapers built within the last two decades. Photograph courtesy of Scott Taylor

Latest East China Sea encounter lacking advertised drama

  • Despite the hype from the CBC, not every brush with the Chinese navy in open waters warrants a headline.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 11, 2023
The HMCS Ottawa flies the Battle Ensign during a photo exercise while transiting the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 26, 2023. The ship was among an allied battle group East China Sea that encountered a pair of Chinese warship in the East China Sea last week. DND photograph by Aviator Gregory Cole

Latest East China Sea encounter lacking advertised drama

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 11, 2023
  • Despite the hype from the CBC, not every brush with the Chinese navy in open waters warrants a headline.

Latest East China Sea encounter lacking advertised drama

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 11, 2023
  • Despite the hype from the CBC, not every brush with the Chinese navy in open waters warrants a headline.
The HMCS Ottawa flies the Battle Ensign during a photo exercise while transiting the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 26, 2023. The ship was among an allied battle group East China Sea that encountered a pair of Chinese warship in the East China Sea last week. DND photograph by Aviator Gregory Cole

Officer’s charges could test chain-of-command trust

  • Those who closely follow the history of the Canadian Armed Forces will note that this is not the first time a senior officer has
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 4, 2023
For the men and women of 8 Wing, the charges against Col. Leif Dahl, left, are the second time the trust in their leadership and chain of command have been challenged in recent memory, writes Scott Taylor. Photographs courtesy of DND, Lieutenant Kurt Visser

Officer’s charges could test chain-of-command trust

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 4, 2023
  • Those who closely follow the history of the Canadian Armed Forces will note that this is not the first time a senior officer has

Officer’s charges could test chain-of-command trust

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 4, 2023
  • Those who closely follow the history of the Canadian Armed Forces will note that this is not the first time a senior officer has
For the men and women of 8 Wing, the charges against Col. Leif Dahl, left, are the second time the trust in their leadership and chain of command have been challenged in recent memory, writes Scott Taylor. Photographs courtesy of DND, Lieutenant Kurt Visser

Russian plane crash not the end of the Prigozhin story

  • The Wagner contracts in Africa remain a boon to Russia’s treasury, so it is unlikely that Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private mercenary army will cease to
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 28, 2023
Russian authorities say Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead following an Aug. 23 plane crash north of Moscow, but almost nothing in Russian politics is exactly as it seems, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of the BBC

Russian plane crash not the end of the Prigozhin story

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 28, 2023
  • The Wagner contracts in Africa remain a boon to Russia’s treasury, so it is unlikely that Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private mercenary army will cease to

Russian plane crash not the end of the Prigozhin story

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 28, 2023
  • The Wagner contracts in Africa remain a boon to Russia’s treasury, so it is unlikely that Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private mercenary army will cease to
Russian authorities say Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is dead following an Aug. 23 plane crash north of Moscow, but almost nothing in Russian politics is exactly as it seems, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of the BBC

Canadian troops vital to Ukraine effort, but aren’t superhuman

  • The CAF produces the best soldiers in the world, but actual combat experience cannot be substituted with live-fire ranges and scripted tactical exercises.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2023
Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, mentor Ukrainian recruits during a trench clearance on Operation Unifier, on Feb. 2 in the United Kingdom. Since the spring of 2015, Canada’s Operation Unifier has trained more than 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Eric Greico

Canadian troops vital to Ukraine effort, but aren’t superhuman

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2023
  • The CAF produces the best soldiers in the world, but actual combat experience cannot be substituted with live-fire ranges and scripted tactical exercises.

Canadian troops vital to Ukraine effort, but aren’t superhuman

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2023
  • The CAF produces the best soldiers in the world, but actual combat experience cannot be substituted with live-fire ranges and scripted tactical exercises.
Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, mentor Ukrainian recruits during a trench clearance on Operation Unifier, on Feb. 2 in the United Kingdom. Since the spring of 2015, Canada’s Operation Unifier has trained more than 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Eric Greico

No end in sight for costly Russia-Ukraine stalemate

  • It appears that neither Russia nor the NATO-supplied and -trained Armed Forces of Ukraine have the capability to deliver a heavy enough knock-out blow
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 14, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian military is no longer the parade square paper tigers that rolled across the Ukraine border in February 2022, writes Scott Taylor. Photographs courtesy of President of Ukraine/Flickr and Wikimedia Commons

No end in sight for costly Russia-Ukraine stalemate

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 14, 2023
  • It appears that neither Russia nor the NATO-supplied and -trained Armed Forces of Ukraine have the capability to deliver a heavy enough knock-out blow

No end in sight for costly Russia-Ukraine stalemate

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 14, 2023
  • It appears that neither Russia nor the NATO-supplied and -trained Armed Forces of Ukraine have the capability to deliver a heavy enough knock-out blow
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian military is no longer the parade square paper tigers that rolled across the Ukraine border in February 2022, writes Scott Taylor. Photographs courtesy of President of Ukraine/Flickr and Wikimedia Commons

Steep bonuses for DND execs a real head-scratcher

  • If it were a private sector company, one would expect to see much of DND's senior leadership being escorted to the elevator with their
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2023
According to documents released under the Access to Information Act, some 252 executives at the Department of National Defence—now overseen by Minister Bill Blair—received a performance bonus between April 2021 and March 2022, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Steep bonuses for DND execs a real head-scratcher

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2023
  • If it were a private sector company, one would expect to see much of DND's senior leadership being escorted to the elevator with their

Steep bonuses for DND execs a real head-scratcher

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 7, 2023
  • If it were a private sector company, one would expect to see much of DND's senior leadership being escorted to the elevator with their
According to documents released under the Access to Information Act, some 252 executives at the Department of National Defence—now overseen by Minister Bill Blair—received a performance bonus between April 2021 and March 2022, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Blair should push back on arbitrary NATO spending goal

  • To meet that magical two per cent of GDP NATO goal, Canada would need to spend an extra $20-billion on the military every year.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 2, 2023
Coming into his new job, Defence Minister Bill Blair will, among other things, be faced with warding off pressure from our NATO allies—the U.S. in particular—to spend more money on defence, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Why Blair should push back on arbitrary NATO spending goal

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 2, 2023
  • To meet that magical two per cent of GDP NATO goal, Canada would need to spend an extra $20-billion on the military every year.

Why Blair should push back on arbitrary NATO spending goal

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 2, 2023
  • To meet that magical two per cent of GDP NATO goal, Canada would need to spend an extra $20-billion on the military every year.
Coming into his new job, Defence Minister Bill Blair will, among other things, be faced with warding off pressure from our NATO allies—the U.S. in particular—to spend more money on defence, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

A legion of our own

  • Creating a Canadian foreign legion might be considered extreme, but it would solve a personnel shortage within our military that has reached a critical
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 24, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš speak at the Ādaži military base in Latvia on July 10. The question is where our under-strength Army units are going to find and train the prerequisite number of personnel to keep the necessary Canadian soldiers forward deployed in Latvia, writes Scott Taylor. Latvian State Chancellery photograph by Gatis Rozenfelds

A legion of our own

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 24, 2023
  • Creating a Canadian foreign legion might be considered extreme, but it would solve a personnel shortage within our military that has reached a critical

A legion of our own

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 24, 2023
  • Creating a Canadian foreign legion might be considered extreme, but it would solve a personnel shortage within our military that has reached a critical
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš speak at the Ādaži military base in Latvia on July 10. The question is where our under-strength Army units are going to find and train the prerequisite number of personnel to keep the necessary Canadian soldiers forward deployed in Latvia, writes Scott Taylor. Latvian State Chancellery photograph by Gatis Rozenfelds

NATO Summit a cluster of missed chances to prep for the future

  • The increased use of cluster munitions is a dangerous escalation with harmful implications for innocent Ukrainian civilians on both sides of the battle lines
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 17, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attend a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12. Photograph courtesy of NATO/Flickr

NATO Summit a cluster of missed chances to prep for the future

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 17, 2023
  • The increased use of cluster munitions is a dangerous escalation with harmful implications for innocent Ukrainian civilians on both sides of the battle lines

NATO Summit a cluster of missed chances to prep for the future

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 17, 2023
  • The increased use of cluster munitions is a dangerous escalation with harmful implications for innocent Ukrainian civilians on both sides of the battle lines
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, U.S. President Joe Biden, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attend a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12. Photograph courtesy of NATO/Flickr

Martial law by mercenary is nothing new

  • Historically, the employment of mercenaries has rarely—if ever—resulted in a positive long-lasting result.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 10, 2023
The Wagner Group’s aborted mutiny in Russia is only one in a long line of escapades by privately owned mercenary armies who have been employed by global super powers to extend their martial authority without having to endanger the lives of their own citizenry, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Martial law by mercenary is nothing new

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 10, 2023
  • Historically, the employment of mercenaries has rarely—if ever—resulted in a positive long-lasting result.

Martial law by mercenary is nothing new

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 10, 2023
  • Historically, the employment of mercenaries has rarely—if ever—resulted in a positive long-lasting result.
The Wagner Group’s aborted mutiny in Russia is only one in a long line of escapades by privately owned mercenary armies who have been employed by global super powers to extend their martial authority without having to endanger the lives of their own citizenry, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Pushed by Prigozhin, Putin remains the devil we know

  • Vladimir Putin may be a madman, but Yevgeny Prigozhin is a ruthless lunatic who was never advocating for a peaceful resolution to the war
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 3, 2023
It does not take much imagination to ponder what would have happened if Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin had succeeded in ousting Russian President Vladimir Putin, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CNN

Pushed by Prigozhin, Putin remains the devil we know

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 3, 2023
  • Vladimir Putin may be a madman, but Yevgeny Prigozhin is a ruthless lunatic who was never advocating for a peaceful resolution to the war

Pushed by Prigozhin, Putin remains the devil we know

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 3, 2023
  • Vladimir Putin may be a madman, but Yevgeny Prigozhin is a ruthless lunatic who was never advocating for a peaceful resolution to the war
It does not take much imagination to ponder what would have happened if Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin had succeeded in ousting Russian President Vladimir Putin, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CNN

Chinook helicopter tragedy evokes past military comms confusion

  • The communication gaffes in this incident were eerily reminiscent of DND’s handling of the April 29, 2020, CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash which claimed the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 26, 2023
The recent tragic loss of Captains David Domagala, left, and Marc Larouche will reverberate throughout the entire defence community, writes Scott Taylor. Handout photograph

Chinook helicopter tragedy evokes past military comms confusion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 26, 2023
  • The communication gaffes in this incident were eerily reminiscent of DND’s handling of the April 29, 2020, CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash which claimed the

Chinook helicopter tragedy evokes past military comms confusion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 26, 2023
  • The communication gaffes in this incident were eerily reminiscent of DND’s handling of the April 29, 2020, CH-148 Cyclone helicopter crash which claimed the
The recent tragic loss of Captains David Domagala, left, and Marc Larouche will reverberate throughout the entire defence community, writes Scott Taylor. Handout photograph

Navigating the narratives of the Russian invasion

  • If victory is indeed now assured for Ukraine, perhaps it is time that we begin a debate on what a ‘just’ and ‘humane’ outcome
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 19, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participates in a ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of the National Guard of Ukraine on March 24. On the battlefield, it is apparent the Ukrainian military has begun its counteroffensive, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the office the President of Ukraine/Flickr

Navigating the narratives of the Russian invasion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 19, 2023
  • If victory is indeed now assured for Ukraine, perhaps it is time that we begin a debate on what a ‘just’ and ‘humane’ outcome

Navigating the narratives of the Russian invasion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 19, 2023
  • If victory is indeed now assured for Ukraine, perhaps it is time that we begin a debate on what a ‘just’ and ‘humane’ outcome
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participates in a ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of the National Guard of Ukraine on March 24. On the battlefield, it is apparent the Ukrainian military has begun its counteroffensive, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the office the President of Ukraine/Flickr

Changing climate, wildfire risk a chance for Canada to refit military

  • A huge investment in Canadian aerospace to build an iconic Canadian-designed water bomber should be a popular one.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 12, 2023
Members from the 41 Canadian Brigade and local firefighters participate in fire prevention operations in Drayton Valley, Alta., on May 15. DND photograph by MCpl Genevieve Lapointe

Changing climate, wildfire risk a chance for Canada to refit military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 12, 2023
  • A huge investment in Canadian aerospace to build an iconic Canadian-designed water bomber should be a popular one.

Changing climate, wildfire risk a chance for Canada to refit military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 12, 2023
  • A huge investment in Canadian aerospace to build an iconic Canadian-designed water bomber should be a popular one.
Members from the 41 Canadian Brigade and local firefighters participate in fire prevention operations in Drayton Valley, Alta., on May 15. DND photograph by MCpl Genevieve Lapointe
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It may be time to eschew tradition to beef up Canada’s military

  • Given the developments on the battlefield in the ongoing war in Ukraine, maybe it’s time the CAF rethinks the structure of our military entirely.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2023
An Avidrone Avipak30 automated cargo delivery system is displayed at the Avidrone Aerospace booth at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on May 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

It may be time to eschew tradition to beef up Canada’s military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2023
  • Given the developments on the battlefield in the ongoing war in Ukraine, maybe it’s time the CAF rethinks the structure of our military entirely.

It may be time to eschew tradition to beef up Canada’s military

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 5, 2023
  • Given the developments on the battlefield in the ongoing war in Ukraine, maybe it’s time the CAF rethinks the structure of our military entirely.
An Avidrone Avipak30 automated cargo delivery system is displayed at the Avidrone Aerospace booth at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on May 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The tide has changed for the Russian war machine

  • It would seem that after 15 months of fighting, the tables have been turned and it is the Russian military that has become the
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2023
As a sort of chess-move counter to Russia losing the battlefield advantage, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently ordered the forward deployment of tactical nuclear weapons into neighbouring Belarus, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia/Flickr

The tide has changed for the Russian war machine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2023
  • It would seem that after 15 months of fighting, the tables have been turned and it is the Russian military that has become the

The tide has changed for the Russian war machine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 29, 2023
  • It would seem that after 15 months of fighting, the tables have been turned and it is the Russian military that has become the
As a sort of chess-move counter to Russia losing the battlefield advantage, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently ordered the forward deployment of tactical nuclear weapons into neighbouring Belarus, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia/Flickr

South Korea visit a chance to dive into Canada’s submarine quagmire

  • Korean military analysts were quick to note that Korea's KSS-III submarines would be a perfect fit for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future requirements.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 24, 2023
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2022. There was media speculation that during a recent meeting in Korea, talks between the two leaders involved a potential submarine deal, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

South Korea visit a chance to dive into Canada’s submarine quagmire

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 24, 2023
  • Korean military analysts were quick to note that Korea's KSS-III submarines would be a perfect fit for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future requirements.

South Korea visit a chance to dive into Canada’s submarine quagmire

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 24, 2023
  • Korean military analysts were quick to note that Korea's KSS-III submarines would be a perfect fit for the Royal Canadian Navy’s future requirements.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2022. There was media speculation that during a recent meeting in Korea, talks between the two leaders involved a potential submarine deal, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Despite passport polemic, Canada wasn’t ‘born’ at Vimy Ridge

  • Canada first cut the umbilical cord to Mother Britain during the Chanak crisis of September 1922, but there are no monuments to the wars
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2023
To give them credit, the Vimy Foundation has been hugely successful in promoting the Vimy Ridge myth over the past two decades, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Andy Hay/Flickr

Despite passport polemic, Canada wasn’t ‘born’ at Vimy Ridge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2023
  • Canada first cut the umbilical cord to Mother Britain during the Chanak crisis of September 1922, but there are no monuments to the wars

Despite passport polemic, Canada wasn’t ‘born’ at Vimy Ridge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 15, 2023
  • Canada first cut the umbilical cord to Mother Britain during the Chanak crisis of September 1922, but there are no monuments to the wars
To give them credit, the Vimy Foundation has been hugely successful in promoting the Vimy Ridge myth over the past two decades, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Andy Hay/Flickr

Finding the silver lining in a cloudy Sudan evacuation operation

  • MV Asterix proved to be a very valuable asset to all those allied nations toiling to evacuate their nationals via the port of Sudan.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2023
Members of MV Asterix perform a replenishment at sea with HMS Lancaster in the Red Sea during Operation Savanne on April 27. DND photograph by S1 Taylor Congdon

Finding the silver lining in a cloudy Sudan evacuation operation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2023
  • MV Asterix proved to be a very valuable asset to all those allied nations toiling to evacuate their nationals via the port of Sudan.

Finding the silver lining in a cloudy Sudan evacuation operation

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 8, 2023
  • MV Asterix proved to be a very valuable asset to all those allied nations toiling to evacuate their nationals via the port of Sudan.
Members of MV Asterix perform a replenishment at sea with HMS Lancaster in the Red Sea during Operation Savanne on April 27. DND photograph by S1 Taylor Congdon

Canada playing catch up with its Sudan response

  • The efforts of the Canadian military would have been enhanced if we had kept some sort of diplomatic foothold on the ground.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2023
On April 27, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the Canadian Armed Forces would be belatedly riding to the rescue for Canadian nationals in Sudan, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada playing catch up with its Sudan response

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2023
  • The efforts of the Canadian military would have been enhanced if we had kept some sort of diplomatic foothold on the ground.

Canada playing catch up with its Sudan response

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 1, 2023
  • The efforts of the Canadian military would have been enhanced if we had kept some sort of diplomatic foothold on the ground.
On April 27, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the Canadian Armed Forces would be belatedly riding to the rescue for Canadian nationals in Sudan, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s military is past the point of a quick fix

  • Far beyond the size of Canada’s defence budget, the real crisis facing the Canadian military right now is its chronic shortfall in personnel.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 26, 2023
Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre speaks with soldiers deployed on Operation Unifier in the U.K. on Oct. 28, 2022. Last October, Eyre declared the personnel shortage to be the CAF’s No. 1 priority, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CAF/Corp. Eric Greico

Canada’s military is past the point of a quick fix

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 26, 2023
  • Far beyond the size of Canada’s defence budget, the real crisis facing the Canadian military right now is its chronic shortfall in personnel.

Canada’s military is past the point of a quick fix

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 26, 2023
  • Far beyond the size of Canada’s defence budget, the real crisis facing the Canadian military right now is its chronic shortfall in personnel.
Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre speaks with soldiers deployed on Operation Unifier in the U.K. on Oct. 28, 2022. Last October, Eyre declared the personnel shortage to be the CAF’s No. 1 priority, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CAF/Corp. Eric Greico

Trudeau’s rose-tinted history avoids reality of Ukrainian support

  • By every conventional measure, Canada is involved in a proxy war with Russia. 
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 19, 2023
While I am certainly in agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the fact that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal, to claim this act of aggression shattered eight decades of world peace is just dumb, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trudeau’s rose-tinted history avoids reality of Ukrainian support

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 19, 2023
  • By every conventional measure, Canada is involved in a proxy war with Russia. 

Trudeau’s rose-tinted history avoids reality of Ukrainian support

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 19, 2023
  • By every conventional measure, Canada is involved in a proxy war with Russia. 
While I am certainly in agreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the fact that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal, to claim this act of aggression shattered eight decades of world peace is just dumb, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The challenge with using old ideas to solve the CAF staffing crisis

  • The Naval Experience Program mirrors that of standard recruitment into the Canadian Armed Forces.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 10, 2023
The Naval Experience Program is intended to give Canadians the opportunity to experience the Navy as a sailor on a one-year contract before deciding if a career in the Navy is the right fit for them, Scott Taylor writes. DND photograph by MCpl Manuela Berger

The challenge with using old ideas to solve the CAF staffing crisis

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 10, 2023
  • The Naval Experience Program mirrors that of standard recruitment into the Canadian Armed Forces.

The challenge with using old ideas to solve the CAF staffing crisis

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 10, 2023
  • The Naval Experience Program mirrors that of standard recruitment into the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Naval Experience Program is intended to give Canadians the opportunity to experience the Navy as a sailor on a one-year contract before deciding if a career in the Navy is the right fit for them, Scott Taylor writes. DND photograph by MCpl Manuela Berger

The last thing we need is more of the Iraq conflict

  • On March 27, National Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a further extension of Operation Impact until at least March 31, 2025.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 3, 2023
A door gunner with the Tactical Aviation Detachment watches out of a CH-146 Griffon helicopter during Operation Impact on Sept. 27, 2017. The last thing the Canadian Armed Forces needs is this further extension of the mission in Iraq, a mission that has no clear aim and zero chance of success, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

The last thing we need is more of the Iraq conflict

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 3, 2023
  • On March 27, National Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a further extension of Operation Impact until at least March 31, 2025.

The last thing we need is more of the Iraq conflict

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 3, 2023
  • On March 27, National Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a further extension of Operation Impact until at least March 31, 2025.
A door gunner with the Tactical Aviation Detachment watches out of a CH-146 Griffon helicopter during Operation Impact on Sept. 27, 2017. The last thing the Canadian Armed Forces needs is this further extension of the mission in Iraq, a mission that has no clear aim and zero chance of success, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Department of National Defence

Our soldiers should not be used as political pawns

  • As a proud Canadian, I would like to think that our defence budget is spent for the purpose of providing security, rather than simply
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 27, 2023
National Defence Minister Anita Anand, left, speaks with Maj.-Gen. Steve Boivin, commander of the Canadian Special Operations Command, after a press conference at National Defence headquarters in downtown Ottawa on March 21 to announce $1.4-billion in funding to revitalize the JTF-2 training site at Dwyer Hill. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Our soldiers should not be used as political pawns

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 27, 2023
  • As a proud Canadian, I would like to think that our defence budget is spent for the purpose of providing security, rather than simply