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Scott Taylor

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

There goes the neighbourhood

  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
Mexican marines perform drills at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in June 2018. The Mexican military is structured almost entirely for internal defence and security, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by OS Justin Spinello

There goes the neighbourhood

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what

There goes the neighbourhood

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 14, 2025
  • If our old relationship with the U.S. ‘is over,’ then we can learn from our southernmost neighbour how to be creative in rethinking what
Mexican marines perform drills at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in June 2018. The Mexican military is structured almost entirely for internal defence and security, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by OS Justin Spinello

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance used Pituffik Space Base as a podium to espouse his negative views of the Danish government and Greenland during a March 28 visit to the country. Screenshot courtesy of ABC News

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.

This isn’t the ‘Whisky War’: in defence of Greenland and Denmark

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | April 7, 2025
  • We cannot sit back as the Trump administration bullies Denmark into submission with false claims of neglected defence.
U.S. Vice-President JD Vance used Pituffik Space Base as a podium to espouse his negative views of the Danish government and Greenland during a March 28 visit to the country. Screenshot courtesy of ABC News

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
Then-Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin gets ready for a flight at Solenzara Air Force Base in Corsica, France, on Dec. 4, 2013. DND photograph by Master Seaman Steeve Picard

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic

Will the F-35 become a casualty as Trump’s trade war widens?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 31, 2025
  • The U.S. president badgering Canada into spending more on American defence technology under threat of economic punishment does not sit well with most patriotic
Then-Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin gets ready for a flight at Solenzara Air Force Base in Corsica, France, on Dec. 4, 2013. DND photograph by Master Seaman Steeve Picard

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
Royal Canadian Air Force ground crew perform post flight checks on a CF-18 fighter jet in Kuwait on Nov. 3, 2014. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/DND

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.

Does the military have room to get its elbows up?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 24, 2025
  • Sadly for patriotic Canadians, the majority of the military hardware that the government does purchase is from American defence companies.
Royal Canadian Air Force ground crew perform post flight checks on a CF-18 fighter jet in Kuwait on Nov. 3, 2014. Photograph courtesy of Canadian Forces Combat Camera/DND

Another major procurement project FUBAR

  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
Bill Blair
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair’s March 8 shipbuilding contract announcement was unsurprisingly dropped into a media void, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Another major procurement project FUBAR

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected

Another major procurement project FUBAR

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 17, 2025
  • Buried in the fine print of the Canadian Surface Combatant announcement was the fact that the total cost to build these three warships is expected
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair’s March 8 shipbuilding contract announcement was unsurprisingly dropped into a media void, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trumped again

  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently cast baseless aspersions on NATO's reliability, given its history in the wake of 9/11, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Trumped again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.

Trumped again

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 10, 2025
  • For President Donald Trump to question Canada’s military resolve is an insult to the sacrifices which were made in support of the U.S.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump recently cast baseless aspersions on NATO's reliability, given its history in the wake of 9/11, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House

Casting a wider recruiting net

  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
Major-General Scott Malcolm was among the officials who announced changes to the CAF recruiting process on Feb. 19. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Casting a wider recruiting net

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in

Casting a wider recruiting net

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | March 3, 2025
  • Why is the CAF trying to fix a problem that does not exist instead of addressing the issue of a lack of trainers in
Major-General Scott Malcolm was among the officials who announced changes to the CAF recruiting process on Feb. 19. Screenshot courtesy of CPAC

Trump’s flip-flop on Ukraine

  • The lesson that Canadians need to take from the U.S. president’s complete reversal on Ukraine is that we could easily be next.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been excluded from peace talks between the United States and Russia to end the war against his country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trump’s flip-flop on Ukraine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
  • The lesson that Canadians need to take from the U.S. president’s complete reversal on Ukraine is that we could easily be next.

Trump’s flip-flop on Ukraine

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 24, 2025
  • The lesson that Canadians need to take from the U.S. president’s complete reversal on Ukraine is that we could easily be next.
Volodomyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been excluded from peace talks between the United States and Russia to end the war against his country. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Poilievre’s Arctic follies

  • Canada has the ability to rapidly deploy military personnel to Iqaluit, so what could possibly be gained through having troops stationed there permanently?
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2025
The Conservatives’ plan for the North includes doubling the size of the Canadian Arctic Rangers, but it will hardly serve as a deterrent to those ‘hostile powers’ they want to thwart, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt Jean-François Lauzé

Poilievre’s Arctic follies

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2025
  • Canada has the ability to rapidly deploy military personnel to Iqaluit, so what could possibly be gained through having troops stationed there permanently?

Poilievre’s Arctic follies

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 17, 2025
  • Canada has the ability to rapidly deploy military personnel to Iqaluit, so what could possibly be gained through having troops stationed there permanently?
The Conservatives’ plan for the North includes doubling the size of the Canadian Arctic Rangers, but it will hardly serve as a deterrent to those ‘hostile powers’ they want to thwart, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Sgt Jean-François Lauzé

Talking Trump’s truth

  • Canadian leaders have begun finding creative solutions to solve a problem that does not exist.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2025
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump's blaming of Canada for the entire drug-overdose tragedy in his country defies all logic, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Talking Trump’s truth

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2025
  • Canadian leaders have begun finding creative solutions to solve a problem that does not exist.

Talking Trump’s truth

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 10, 2025
  • Canadian leaders have begun finding creative solutions to solve a problem that does not exist.
Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump's blaming of Canada for the entire drug-overdose tragedy in his country defies all logic, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Losing the battle of the bulge

  • Having a worse fitness record than the general population should be an embarrassment to the Canadian Armed Forces.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 3, 2025
According to a series of briefings to military leaders in June 2024, 44 per cent of personnel in the CAF are overweight, and another 28 per cent are classified as obese. DND photograph by Leading Seaman Sisi Xu

Losing the battle of the bulge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 3, 2025
  • Having a worse fitness record than the general population should be an embarrassment to the Canadian Armed Forces.

Losing the battle of the bulge

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | February 3, 2025
  • Having a worse fitness record than the general population should be an embarrassment to the Canadian Armed Forces.
According to a series of briefings to military leaders in June 2024, 44 per cent of personnel in the CAF are overweight, and another 28 per cent are classified as obese. DND photograph by Leading Seaman Sisi Xu

Pushing back on Donald Trump

  • Perhaps the most effective way to alleviate the fears Trump is trying to stoke would be to simply provide facts and context to his
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 27, 2025
Donald J. Trump
Donald J. Trump
Due to his position, even U.S. President Trump’s most glib and offhand threats need to be addressed with diplomacy and tact, but they also need to be countered with some hard truths, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Pushing back on Donald Trump

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 27, 2025
  • Perhaps the most effective way to alleviate the fears Trump is trying to stoke would be to simply provide facts and context to his

Pushing back on Donald Trump

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 27, 2025
  • Perhaps the most effective way to alleviate the fears Trump is trying to stoke would be to simply provide facts and context to his
Donald J. Trump
Due to his position, even U.S. President Trump’s most glib and offhand threats need to be addressed with diplomacy and tact, but they also need to be countered with some hard truths, writes Scott Taylor. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead

Pride in reserve: the CAF isn’t equipped to fight Mother Nature, but what if it was?

  • Provinces are stepping up to help our U.S. neighbours fight fires, and it would be nice to see our Armed Forces similarly involved.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 20, 2025
Canadian soldiers have been called on to help battle flames, but boosting the ranks of the Air Force with a reserve to fly water bombers would be a boon, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard

Pride in reserve: the CAF isn’t equipped to fight Mother Nature, but what if it was?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 20, 2025
  • Provinces are stepping up to help our U.S. neighbours fight fires, and it would be nice to see our Armed Forces similarly involved.

Pride in reserve: the CAF isn’t equipped to fight Mother Nature, but what if it was?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 20, 2025
  • Provinces are stepping up to help our U.S. neighbours fight fires, and it would be nice to see our Armed Forces similarly involved.
Canadian soldiers have been called on to help battle flames, but boosting the ranks of the Air Force with a reserve to fly water bombers would be a boon, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Dan Bard

Military retention bonuses equal common sense

  • DND needs to stop the exodus from the ranks, and the answer to stopping short-term retirements is retention bonuses.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 13, 2025
At present, the CAF does not have retention bonuses, but in recent years they have offered signing bonuses to recruits with specific professional skill sets. DND photograph by MCpl Cass Moon

Military retention bonuses equal common sense

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 13, 2025
  • DND needs to stop the exodus from the ranks, and the answer to stopping short-term retirements is retention bonuses.

Military retention bonuses equal common sense

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 13, 2025
  • DND needs to stop the exodus from the ranks, and the answer to stopping short-term retirements is retention bonuses.
At present, the CAF does not have retention bonuses, but in recent years they have offered signing bonuses to recruits with specific professional skill sets. DND photograph by MCpl Cass Moon

Time for a foreign legion

  • With a Canadian Foreign Legion deployed, the regular combat arms units could begin the healing process of bringing themselves back to full operational readiness
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 6, 2025
Canada’s commitment to a beefed-up mission in Latvia will negatively impact the Army's morale over time without extra support, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Staff Sergeant Christian Milano, Spanish Army

Time for a foreign legion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 6, 2025
  • With a Canadian Foreign Legion deployed, the regular combat arms units could begin the healing process of bringing themselves back to full operational readiness

Time for a foreign legion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | January 6, 2025
  • With a Canadian Foreign Legion deployed, the regular combat arms units could begin the healing process of bringing themselves back to full operational readiness
Canada’s commitment to a beefed-up mission in Latvia will negatively impact the Army's morale over time without extra support, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Staff Sergeant Christian Milano, Spanish Army

A defence budget that tops the two-per-cent goal? Look north

  • Whoever is running Canada in the months to come should be able to convince Donald Trump that an investment in Arctic infrastructure counts towards
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 23, 2024
Canada could and should commit to constructing northern transportation hubs, and labelling all of it an investment in the country’s defence, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Louis Brunet

A defence budget that tops the two-per-cent goal? Look north

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 23, 2024
  • Whoever is running Canada in the months to come should be able to convince Donald Trump that an investment in Arctic infrastructure counts towards

A defence budget that tops the two-per-cent goal? Look north

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 23, 2024
  • Whoever is running Canada in the months to come should be able to convince Donald Trump that an investment in Arctic infrastructure counts towards
Canada could and should commit to constructing northern transportation hubs, and labelling all of it an investment in the country’s defence, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Louis Brunet

Soldiers shouldn’t put up with squalid living conditions

  • Those serving in uniform in a G7 country's military should expect no less than affordable, clean, livable accommodations.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 16, 2024
Serving members of the Armed Forces have been documenting their living conditions in military barracks across the country. Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps  Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps 

Soldiers shouldn’t put up with squalid living conditions

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 16, 2024
  • Those serving in uniform in a G7 country's military should expect no less than affordable, clean, livable accommodations.

Soldiers shouldn’t put up with squalid living conditions

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 16, 2024
  • Those serving in uniform in a G7 country's military should expect no less than affordable, clean, livable accommodations.
Serving members of the Armed Forces have been documenting their living conditions in military barracks across the country. Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps  Photographs courtesy of Esprit de Corps 

Droning into oblivion

  • New drone technology is dominating the modern battlefield, but Canada’s procurement team is barely trying to play catch up.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 9, 2024
A Volatus Aerospace drone is pictured at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on June 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Droning into oblivion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 9, 2024
  • New drone technology is dominating the modern battlefield, but Canada’s procurement team is barely trying to play catch up.

Droning into oblivion

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 9, 2024
  • New drone technology is dominating the modern battlefield, but Canada’s procurement team is barely trying to play catch up.
A Volatus Aerospace drone is pictured at the CANSEC trade show in Ottawa on June 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Can Canada actually defend the Arctic?

  • The Navy’s commander thinks we could stop Russia or China from transiting through the Northwest Passage without official permission
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 2, 2024
At first glance it would seem ludicrous to think we could deter the Russian or Chinese navies with a 7,000 ton Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship which mounts a single 25mm cannon, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal David Veldman

Can Canada actually defend the Arctic?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 2, 2024
  • The Navy’s commander thinks we could stop Russia or China from transiting through the Northwest Passage without official permission

Can Canada actually defend the Arctic?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | December 2, 2024
  • The Navy’s commander thinks we could stop Russia or China from transiting through the Northwest Passage without official permission
At first glance it would seem ludicrous to think we could deter the Russian or Chinese navies with a 7,000 ton Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship which mounts a single 25mm cannon, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal David Veldman

Stripped of remembrance

  • OTTAWA—It all began with a newsletter circulated on Nov. 8 to the parents of students attending Sackville Heights Elementary School in Nova Scotia.  The newsletter
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 25, 2024
The misguided attempt by a Nova Scotia school to ban military uniforms on Remembrance Day, or rants about wearing poppies won’t help people understand our proud military heritage, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Stripped of remembrance

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 25, 2024
  • OTTAWA—It all began with a newsletter circulated on Nov. 8 to the parents of students attending Sackville Heights Elementary School in Nova Scotia.  The newsletter

Stripped of remembrance

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 25, 2024
  • OTTAWA—It all began with a newsletter circulated on Nov. 8 to the parents of students attending Sackville Heights Elementary School in Nova Scotia.  The newsletter
The misguided attempt by a Nova Scotia school to ban military uniforms on Remembrance Day, or rants about wearing poppies won’t help people understand our proud military heritage, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Appeasing Donald Trump with defence dollars

  • Many of the hawkish pundits are self-flagellating in anticipation of facing Trump's wrath, but we need to look at the situation from a detached
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 18, 2024
Before investing in modern weapon systems, the CAF needs to invest in its greatest asset: the men and women who serve, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician

Appeasing Donald Trump with defence dollars

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 18, 2024
  • Many of the hawkish pundits are self-flagellating in anticipation of facing Trump's wrath, but we need to look at the situation from a detached

Appeasing Donald Trump with defence dollars

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 18, 2024
  • Many of the hawkish pundits are self-flagellating in anticipation of facing Trump's wrath, but we need to look at the situation from a detached
Before investing in modern weapon systems, the CAF needs to invest in its greatest asset: the men and women who serve, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician

The new look of remembrance 

  • The modern veteran has very few fellow Canadians who fully understand the horrors they have seen. 
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 11, 2024
Remembrance Day ceremony
Remembrance Day ceremony
Sentries stand post during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Nov. 11, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The new look of remembrance 

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 11, 2024
  • The modern veteran has very few fellow Canadians who fully understand the horrors they have seen. 

The new look of remembrance 

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 11, 2024
  • The modern veteran has very few fellow Canadians who fully understand the horrors they have seen. 
Remembrance Day ceremony
Sentries stand post during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Nov. 11, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The sad saga of Afghan-Canadian military advisers

  • Veterans’ benefits have improved considerably in recent decades, but not all Canadians sent into war zones are treated equally.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 4, 2024
Interim Ombud for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Robyn Hynes, left, has picked up the advocacy mantle for language and cultural advisers with Minister Bill Blair’s office. Photograph courtesy of DND and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

The sad saga of Afghan-Canadian military advisers

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 4, 2024
  • Veterans’ benefits have improved considerably in recent decades, but not all Canadians sent into war zones are treated equally.

The sad saga of Afghan-Canadian military advisers

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | November 4, 2024
  • Veterans’ benefits have improved considerably in recent decades, but not all Canadians sent into war zones are treated equally.
Interim Ombud for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Robyn Hynes, left, has picked up the advocacy mantle for language and cultural advisers with Minister Bill Blair’s office. Photograph courtesy of DND and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

CAF’s fear of publicity shouldn’t trump justice

  • Kristen Adams’ courage has exposed how the military’s fear of media coverage overrode its sense of responsibility to its employees.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 28, 2024
The military should be less worried about trying to protect its public reputation, and more concerned with the welfare of its people, writes Scott Taylor. Unsplash photograph by Kristina Flour

CAF’s fear of publicity shouldn’t trump justice

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 28, 2024
  • Kristen Adams’ courage has exposed how the military’s fear of media coverage overrode its sense of responsibility to its employees.

CAF’s fear of publicity shouldn’t trump justice

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 28, 2024
  • Kristen Adams’ courage has exposed how the military’s fear of media coverage overrode its sense of responsibility to its employees.
The military should be less worried about trying to protect its public reputation, and more concerned with the welfare of its people, writes Scott Taylor. Unsplash photograph by Kristina Flour

Poor procurement won’t keep our soldiers warm at night

  • Army personnel are being left out in the cold after new sleeping bags fail to live up to the standards of their 1960s predecessors.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 21, 2024
The military’s General Purpose Sleeping Bag System missed the mark when soldiers tried it out during a November 2023 exercise in Alberta, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Djalma Vuong-De Ramos

Poor procurement won’t keep our soldiers warm at night

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 21, 2024
  • Army personnel are being left out in the cold after new sleeping bags fail to live up to the standards of their 1960s predecessors.

Poor procurement won’t keep our soldiers warm at night

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 21, 2024
  • Army personnel are being left out in the cold after new sleeping bags fail to live up to the standards of their 1960s predecessors.
The military’s General Purpose Sleeping Bag System missed the mark when soldiers tried it out during a November 2023 exercise in Alberta, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Corporal Djalma Vuong-De Ramos

No matter how you slice it, the military’s numbers don’t add up

  • Without an immediate course change, the Canadian Armed Forces is hurtling towards an existential, tragic end.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 14, 2024
Gen. Jennie Carignan
Gen. Jennie Carignan
Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan. No matter which way you count it, the CAF’s numbers do not add up to an effective fighting force, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

No matter how you slice it, the military’s numbers don’t add up

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 14, 2024
  • Without an immediate course change, the Canadian Armed Forces is hurtling towards an existential, tragic end.

No matter how you slice it, the military’s numbers don’t add up

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 14, 2024
  • Without an immediate course change, the Canadian Armed Forces is hurtling towards an existential, tragic end.
Gen. Jennie Carignan
Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan. No matter which way you count it, the CAF’s numbers do not add up to an effective fighting force, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Submarine saga could turn into ‘sellers beware’

  • One would have to caution those potential bidders that in dealing with the Canadian government it will be a case of ‘sellers beware’ rather
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 7, 2024
HMCS Victoria returns home through the Strait of Juan De Fuca from operations with the United States Navy on Feb. 26, 2015. DND photograph by LS Zachariah Stopa

Submarine saga could turn into ‘sellers beware’

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 7, 2024
  • One would have to caution those potential bidders that in dealing with the Canadian government it will be a case of ‘sellers beware’ rather

Submarine saga could turn into ‘sellers beware’

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | October 7, 2024
  • One would have to caution those potential bidders that in dealing with the Canadian government it will be a case of ‘sellers beware’ rather
HMCS Victoria returns home through the Strait of Juan De Fuca from operations with the United States Navy on Feb. 26, 2015. DND photograph by LS Zachariah Stopa
More Stories

The Three Stooges of Canadian defence

  • The federal government, military brass, and the defence industry are all pointing in different directions when asked for the path forward on our Armed
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 30, 2024
Since the end of the Cold War, Canadian politicians and senior military brass have abandoned any pretence of planning for an actual mobilization of citizens. DND photograph by MCpl Genevieve Lapointe

The Three Stooges of Canadian defence

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 30, 2024
  • The federal government, military brass, and the defence industry are all pointing in different directions when asked for the path forward on our Armed

The Three Stooges of Canadian defence

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 30, 2024
  • The federal government, military brass, and the defence industry are all pointing in different directions when asked for the path forward on our Armed
Since the end of the Cold War, Canadian politicians and senior military brass have abandoned any pretence of planning for an actual mobilization of citizens. DND photograph by MCpl Genevieve Lapointe

Preparing to fight the previous war

  • The equipment and artillery we’re using have no place on a modern battlefield, as witnessed by the ongoing near-peer conflict in Ukraine.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 23, 2024
Canada now possesses an abundance of helicopter heavy-lift capability, which would be perfectly suited to waging a counterinsurgency against a poorly equipped foe, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Louis Brunet

Preparing to fight the previous war

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 23, 2024
  • The equipment and artillery we’re using have no place on a modern battlefield, as witnessed by the ongoing near-peer conflict in Ukraine.

Preparing to fight the previous war

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 23, 2024
  • The equipment and artillery we’re using have no place on a modern battlefield, as witnessed by the ongoing near-peer conflict in Ukraine.
Canada now possesses an abundance of helicopter heavy-lift capability, which would be perfectly suited to waging a counterinsurgency against a poorly equipped foe, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Louis Brunet

Shielding Nazis in Canada the wrong use of time, resources

  • Not releasing the names of alleged Nazi war criminals who entered Canada would be a continued protection of individuals who perpetrated the Holocaust, or
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 16, 2024
The September 2023 standing ovation MPs gave Second World War veteran Yaroslav Hunka is still fresh in Canadians’ minds, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Shielding Nazis in Canada the wrong use of time, resources

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 16, 2024
  • Not releasing the names of alleged Nazi war criminals who entered Canada would be a continued protection of individuals who perpetrated the Holocaust, or

Shielding Nazis in Canada the wrong use of time, resources

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 16, 2024
  • Not releasing the names of alleged Nazi war criminals who entered Canada would be a continued protection of individuals who perpetrated the Holocaust, or
The September 2023 standing ovation MPs gave Second World War veteran Yaroslav Hunka is still fresh in Canadians’ minds, writes Scott Taylor. Screenshot courtesy of CBC News

Canada’s military gutted by politics


  • The CAF has steadily withered on the vine under successive Liberal and Conservative governments.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 9, 2024
The breakdown of the Liberal-NDP deal means people will be buzzing about which of the party election platforms will be the least damaging to a future Canadian Armed Forces, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Cass Moon

Canada’s military gutted by politics


Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 9, 2024
  • The CAF has steadily withered on the vine under successive Liberal and Conservative governments.

Canada’s military gutted by politics


Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 9, 2024
  • The CAF has steadily withered on the vine under successive Liberal and Conservative governments.
The breakdown of the Liberal-NDP deal means people will be buzzing about which of the party election platforms will be the least damaging to a future Canadian Armed Forces, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Cass Moon

Canada’s combat cupboard is empty

  • Meanwhile, we’re aiming to ramp up artillery shell production sometime next fall, and our battle group in Latvia is going to freeze their asses
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 2, 2024
On the modern battlefield, the M777 howitzer Canada has given to the Ukrainian war effort is the wrong weapon system, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl Genevieve Lapointe

Canada’s combat cupboard is empty

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 2, 2024
  • Meanwhile, we’re aiming to ramp up artillery shell production sometime next fall, and our battle group in Latvia is going to freeze their asses

Canada’s combat cupboard is empty

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | September 2, 2024
  • Meanwhile, we’re aiming to ramp up artillery shell production sometime next fall, and our battle group in Latvia is going to freeze their asses
On the modern battlefield, the M777 howitzer Canada has given to the Ukrainian war effort is the wrong weapon system, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl Genevieve Lapointe

Time to admit the obvious: the CAF’s status quo isn’t working

  • The solution to the military’s woes will only come from senior leadership convincing the Liberal government of just how dire the circumstances currently are.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 26, 2024
The only reason our battle groups had the gear and munitions they needed in Afghanistan was because out of necessity, we begged and borrowed from our allies, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Robert Bottrill

Time to admit the obvious: the CAF’s status quo isn’t working

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 26, 2024
  • The solution to the military’s woes will only come from senior leadership convincing the Liberal government of just how dire the circumstances currently are.

Time to admit the obvious: the CAF’s status quo isn’t working

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 26, 2024
  • The solution to the military’s woes will only come from senior leadership convincing the Liberal government of just how dire the circumstances currently are.
The only reason our battle groups had the gear and munitions they needed in Afghanistan was because out of necessity, we begged and borrowed from our allies, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by MCpl Robert Bottrill

The Canadian Armed Forces: early quitters?

  • For Canada to be dismissed as an 'early quitter' by a former Australian prime minister might sting somewhat if those allies who continued the fight
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2024
Canadian soldiers return to their light armoured vehicles during Operation Medusa in 2006. We pursued the war in Afghanistan to the tune of 158 Canadian soldiers killed, 2,000 wounded or physically injured, and countless thousands more suffering the unseen mental wounds of PTSD, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CAF/Sgt. Lou Penney

The Canadian Armed Forces: early quitters?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2024
  • For Canada to be dismissed as an 'early quitter' by a former Australian prime minister might sting somewhat if those allies who continued the fight

The Canadian Armed Forces: early quitters?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 21, 2024
  • For Canada to be dismissed as an 'early quitter' by a former Australian prime minister might sting somewhat if those allies who continued the fight
Canadian soldiers return to their light armoured vehicles during Operation Medusa in 2006. We pursued the war in Afghanistan to the tune of 158 Canadian soldiers killed, 2,000 wounded or physically injured, and countless thousands more suffering the unseen mental wounds of PTSD, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the CAF/Sgt. Lou Penney

Feds’ rush vehicle purchase will do little to boost CAF’s battle readiness

  • Has no one in National Defence headquarters been watching the conflict in Ukraine for the past two years?
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 12, 2024
National Defence Minister Bill Blair announced the government's $35.8-million purchase of 90 light tactical vehicles for the Canadian Armed Forces on July 23. Pentagon tests would indicate that this is a useless purchase, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ rush vehicle purchase will do little to boost CAF’s battle readiness

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 12, 2024
  • Has no one in National Defence headquarters been watching the conflict in Ukraine for the past two years?

Feds’ rush vehicle purchase will do little to boost CAF’s battle readiness

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 12, 2024
  • Has no one in National Defence headquarters been watching the conflict in Ukraine for the past two years?
National Defence Minister Bill Blair announced the government's $35.8-million purchase of 90 light tactical vehicles for the Canadian Armed Forces on July 23. Pentagon tests would indicate that this is a useless purchase, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Let’s get creative: CAF can’t keep picking up emergency response shortfall

  • Given the reality of climate change, the demand for federal disaster assistance will only increase. The answer cannot always be 'send in the military.'
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 5, 2024
Canadian Armed Forces members on the ground helping to respond to the wildfire that engulfed Jasper, Alta., last month. Screenshot courtesy of CTV News

Let’s get creative: CAF can’t keep picking up emergency response shortfall

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 5, 2024
  • Given the reality of climate change, the demand for federal disaster assistance will only increase. The answer cannot always be 'send in the military.'

Let’s get creative: CAF can’t keep picking up emergency response shortfall

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | August 5, 2024
  • Given the reality of climate change, the demand for federal disaster assistance will only increase. The answer cannot always be 'send in the military.'
Canadian Armed Forces members on the ground helping to respond to the wildfire that engulfed Jasper, Alta., last month. Screenshot courtesy of CTV News

The Royal Canadian Navy’s AOPS remains adrift

  • The news of a practically new warship breaking down and flooding will not send Canadian citizens flocking to the recruiting centres.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 29, 2024
HMCS Max Bernays sails in the Pacific Ocean on June 20. DND photograph by Corporal William Gosse

The Royal Canadian Navy’s AOPS remains adrift

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 29, 2024
  • The news of a practically new warship breaking down and flooding will not send Canadian citizens flocking to the recruiting centres.

The Royal Canadian Navy’s AOPS remains adrift

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 29, 2024
  • The news of a practically new warship breaking down and flooding will not send Canadian citizens flocking to the recruiting centres.
HMCS Max Bernays sails in the Pacific Ocean on June 20. DND photograph by Corporal William Gosse

Cutting the CAF to the bone

  • The Liberals' heady promises of shiny new equipment in the distant future may be a case of too little, too late.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 22, 2024
Bill Blair
Bill Blair
There is little to no chance Defence Minister Bill Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will still be steering the government’s defence spending agenda eight years from now, so recent promises aren’t worth much, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Cutting the CAF to the bone

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 22, 2024
  • The Liberals' heady promises of shiny new equipment in the distant future may be a case of too little, too late.

Cutting the CAF to the bone

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 22, 2024
  • The Liberals' heady promises of shiny new equipment in the distant future may be a case of too little, too late.
Bill Blair
There is little to no chance Defence Minister Bill Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will still be steering the government’s defence spending agenda eight years from now, so recent promises aren’t worth much, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

NATO nagging? Defence spending takes heat from allies

  • The Americans have accused Canada of riding their defence coattails—which is ripe, given our shared military history.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 15, 2024
U.S. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, left, posted a photo of his July 9 meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on X, saying that 'it’s time for our northern ally to invest seriously in the hard power required to help preserve prosperity and security across NATO.' Photograph courtesy of X/@LeaderMcConnell

NATO nagging? Defence spending takes heat from allies

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 15, 2024
  • The Americans have accused Canada of riding their defence coattails—which is ripe, given our shared military history.

NATO nagging? Defence spending takes heat from allies

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 15, 2024
  • The Americans have accused Canada of riding their defence coattails—which is ripe, given our shared military history.
U.S. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, left, posted a photo of his July 9 meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on X, saying that 'it’s time for our northern ally to invest seriously in the hard power required to help preserve prosperity and security across NATO.' Photograph courtesy of X/@LeaderMcConnell

Armed Forces under new management, but new CDS faces tough challenges

  • CAF senior leadership needs to regain the trust of the rank and file, which won’t be easy without the political will to effect major
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 8, 2024
Besides restoring morale and addressing the crippling shortage of personnel, incoming Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan will need to deal with the political vacuum in which Canada currently finds itself. DND photograph by Private Hugo Montpetit

Armed Forces under new management, but new CDS faces tough challenges

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 8, 2024
  • CAF senior leadership needs to regain the trust of the rank and file, which won’t be easy without the political will to effect major

Armed Forces under new management, but new CDS faces tough challenges

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 8, 2024
  • CAF senior leadership needs to regain the trust of the rank and file, which won’t be easy without the political will to effect major
Besides restoring morale and addressing the crippling shortage of personnel, incoming Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan will need to deal with the political vacuum in which Canada currently finds itself. DND photograph by Private Hugo Montpetit

Bungling bureaucracy: CAF leadership dropping the ball on transparency

  • It is evident that Gen. Wayne Eyre and his advisers do not understand that the Access to Information Act is a federal law, not
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 1, 2024
Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre’s refusal to release his ‘openness and transparency’ speaking notes is both petty and petulant, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Bungling bureaucracy: CAF leadership dropping the ball on transparency

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 1, 2024
  • It is evident that Gen. Wayne Eyre and his advisers do not understand that the Access to Information Act is a federal law, not

Bungling bureaucracy: CAF leadership dropping the ball on transparency

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | July 1, 2024
  • It is evident that Gen. Wayne Eyre and his advisers do not understand that the Access to Information Act is a federal law, not
Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre’s refusal to release his ‘openness and transparency’ speaking notes is both petty and petulant, writes Scott Taylor. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Rethinking the NATO commitment

  • With a 75-year track record of 1-for-5, maybe NATO should have simply disbanded after they won the Cold War.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 24, 2024
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was in Ottawa on June 19 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the military alliance, but Scott Taylor asks if its history is worth celebrating. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Rethinking the NATO commitment

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 24, 2024
  • With a 75-year track record of 1-for-5, maybe NATO should have simply disbanded after they won the Cold War.

Rethinking the NATO commitment

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 24, 2024
  • With a 75-year track record of 1-for-5, maybe NATO should have simply disbanded after they won the Cold War.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was in Ottawa on June 19 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the military alliance, but Scott Taylor asks if its history is worth celebrating. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Are we truly ‘laggards’ in spending?

  • Among all of these stakeholders clamouring for Canada to spend more on defence, no one is even discussing what they want that money spent
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 17, 2024
Former U.S. ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft recently added her voice to the chorus calling for Canada to hit the two per cent NATO target. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Are we truly ‘laggards’ in spending?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 17, 2024
  • Among all of these stakeholders clamouring for Canada to spend more on defence, no one is even discussing what they want that money spent

Are we truly ‘laggards’ in spending?

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 17, 2024
  • Among all of these stakeholders clamouring for Canada to spend more on defence, no one is even discussing what they want that money spent
Former U.S. ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft recently added her voice to the chorus calling for Canada to hit the two per cent NATO target. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

A dressing down: the CAF’s dress code debacle

  • The military’s ‘new’ dress code is actually a sharp reversal of the controversial policy change announced in September 2022.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 10, 2024
The fact that service members now need a regulation telling them they cannot have so much hair that they cannot don a hat speaks volumes for how low officials lowered the bar, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Hugo Montpetit

A dressing down: the CAF’s dress code debacle

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 10, 2024
  • The military’s ‘new’ dress code is actually a sharp reversal of the controversial policy change announced in September 2022.

A dressing down: the CAF’s dress code debacle

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 10, 2024
  • The military’s ‘new’ dress code is actually a sharp reversal of the controversial policy change announced in September 2022.
The fact that service members now need a regulation telling them they cannot have so much hair that they cannot don a hat speaks volumes for how low officials lowered the bar, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl. Hugo Montpetit

CAF’s toxic leadership exposed

  • It’s a true litmus test of how far morale in the CAF has plummeted when the senior individual representing the concerns of the non-commissioned ranks
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 3, 2024
Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann’s frank assessment of the state of CAF leadership seems to have fallen on deaf ears, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Valerie LeClair

CAF’s toxic leadership exposed

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 3, 2024
  • It’s a true litmus test of how far morale in the CAF has plummeted when the senior individual representing the concerns of the non-commissioned ranks

CAF’s toxic leadership exposed

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | June 3, 2024
  • It’s a true litmus test of how far morale in the CAF has plummeted when the senior individual representing the concerns of the non-commissioned ranks
Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann’s frank assessment of the state of CAF leadership seems to have fallen on deaf ears, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Master Sailor Valerie LeClair

Let’s mobilize our veterans

  • Let the CAF focus on rebuilding its ranks, and expand on the existing veteran-led humanitarian organization Team Rubicon Canada.
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 27, 2024
RCAF members evacuate residents of the Pikangikum First Nation community in July 2019. Willing veterans could backfill the disaster-relief assistance role currently filled by Operation Lentus, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl Ken Beliwicz

Let’s mobilize our veterans

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 27, 2024
  • Let the CAF focus on rebuilding its ranks, and expand on the existing veteran-led humanitarian organization Team Rubicon Canada.

Let’s mobilize our veterans

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 27, 2024
  • Let the CAF focus on rebuilding its ranks, and expand on the existing veteran-led humanitarian organization Team Rubicon Canada.
RCAF members evacuate residents of the Pikangikum First Nation community in July 2019. Willing veterans could backfill the disaster-relief assistance role currently filled by Operation Lentus, writes Scott Taylor. DND photograph by Cpl Ken Beliwicz

Stopping the CAF ‘death spiral’

  • The Liberal government should put out the call for former service members to return to duty on an emergency call-up basis to enrol and
Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 20, 2024
Given the thousands of applicants, it would seem that dress and deportment was not the problem, but rather the recruiting and training branches that simply could not process the influx, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces 

Stopping the CAF ‘death spiral’

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 20, 2024
  • The Liberal government should put out the call for former service members to return to duty on an emergency call-up basis to enrol and

Stopping the CAF ‘death spiral’

Opinion | BY SCOTT TAYLOR | May 20, 2024
  • The Liberal government should put out the call for former service members to return to duty on an emergency call-up basis to enrol and
Given the thousands of applicants, it would seem that dress and deportment was not the problem, but rather the recruiting and training branches that simply could not process the influx, writes Scott Taylor. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces 

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