Canadian Defence – CSS Asterix, DND Apartment Buildings
Volume 31 Issue 6
WHY DND IS BUYING APARTMENT BUILDINGS
PETER A. KITCHEN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
PM Carney’s presentation at Davos this year reverberated around the world and was seen as one of the most consequential speeches by a Western leader in some time. Carney argued that the post-WW II “rules-based international order” is no longer functioning because the “great powers” – read U.S. and China – are increasingly using their economic and geopolitical influence to force middle powers (like Canada) into line. Carney said that, because of this trend the middle powers need to band together on issues where they share common values.
Carney suggested that instead of retreating into isolated national fortresses, these nations should band together around shared investments in trade and even defence. So where then does that leave Canada when it comes to its own defence policy? As you’ll read in the interview prepared by Ottawa Bureau Chief, James Careless, with Canada’s new Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David McGuinty, this country is spending more on defence now than it’s done in decades. The goal is to meet the 2% of GDP NATO benchmark soon and potentially spend as much as 5% of GDP by 2035. By the way, much of that spending has gone towards increased pay for Canadian military personnel and we certainly applaud that because it’s long overdue.
We also agree with Minister McGuinty’s assertion that the Canadian people really don’t know how hard the military is working on our behalf, “… the population doesn’t really know who CAF members are, what they do, how well-trained they are, and how they equip themselves.” CDR, for its part is endeavoring to report on Canadian defence issues and bring those stories to the Canadian public. So, let’s hope the Minister and his department can succeed in their effort to win over the Canadian public as well.
McGuinty is certainly not a neophyte when it comes to defence issues having served as the First Chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians from 2017- 2024 and as you’ll read in the interview, he believes Canada is making progress in developing its own defence industrial base, “We are committed to renewing our partnership with industry and supporting a revitalized mutually beneficial defence sector.”
Minister McGuinty surprised us when he detailed how his department has been diving into real estate deals, “We’re buying apartment buildings now, something that’s never happened previously. The officials here came to me and said, well, there are a number of apartment buildings available for us to purchase that are close to Esquimalt. And I’m like, okay, tell me more. Where are we bidding on these? Well, we’ve never done that. Is there anything that legally precludes us? No, there’s not. Great. So go bid. From the day we bid until the day we closed and purchased the property under the asking price was exactly five weeks. I think we picked up another 37 apartments.”
READ: DND Acquires $19.1 million Apartment Complex for CAF Members in BC
We really like the way Minister McGuinty thinks outside the box and as you’ll see in this interview, he truly takes the welfare of Canadian military personnel to heart. We urge you to read the full interview with The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, in this issue.
READ: FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER MCGUINTY
LISTEN ON:
CSS ASTERIX
This is not the first time we’ve featured Federal Fleet’s CSS Asterix on our front cover but, as you’ll read in the Cover Story in this issue, that ship has provided yeoman service to Canada’s Navy for almost a decade now. We asked Senior Staff Writer, Joetey Attariwala, to sit down with Federal Fleet Services President, John Schmidt, at CFB Esquimalt to learn how CSS Asterix might continue to offer critical services to Canada’s Navy even as the new JSS (Joint Support Ship) enters service.
READ: RCN COMMENDATION – Federal Fleet Services
READ: COVER STORY
WATCH NOW: CSS Asterix – Federal Fleet Services – Combat Support Ship
As you’ll learn, CSS Asterix was conceived during a period of acute operational vulnerability for the Royal Canadian Navy, where the ship emerged not from a conventional defence procurement program, but from an innovative solution presented to the RCN via an unsolicited proposal. CSS Asterix is owned, operated and maintained by Federal Fleet Services and is crewed by highly qualified Canadian Merchant Mariners.
For this report Schmidt told CDR, “Asterix can become a key enabler for training and certification. Sailors can gain hands-on experience conducting replenishment operations, managing complex systems, and operating alongside allied navies.” For all the very latest on CSS Asterix and how it can continue to support Canada’s Navy for many years to come, please read the informative Cover Story in this issue.
