NATIONAL NEWS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / SOMMAIRE DES NOUVELLES NATIONALES
ADM(PA) / SMA(AP)
July 17 2013 / le 17 juillet 2013
MINISTER / LE MINISTRE
Future of Defence: Comment
J.L. Granatstein: Prime Minister Harper has shuffled his cabinet, desperately putting the best possible
face on the ministry as it prepares for the 2015 election. New faces, new possibilities, new Tory hopes.
But what about Defence, where Rob Nicholson, with no previous military experience or evident interest,
is now the minister? When Mr. Harper came to power at the beginning of 2006, the Canadian Forces was
a high priority. Unfortunately, this government that started well on defence has completely lost its way.
The prime minister looks out of touch, the outgoing defence minister was distracted by minor scandals
and personal issues, and the new minister knows nothing of the military. Put bluntly, there is no vision in
the government on defence questions. Mr. Nicholson will need very good luck to rescue the sinking
ship(s) at DND (Ctz A13).
Plans to Demolish London Barracks
London Conservative MP Susan Truppe says she was surprised to read in The Free Press about plans to
demolish much of Wolseley Barracks, and she wants answers from her own government about it. With
recent changes in cabinet, she's not even sure new Defence Minister Rob Nicholson is aware of the
plans. London's Garrison Community Council, a liaison between the military and community, had heard
there were going to be buildings cleared out, but wasn't aware of the extent of the demolition, said
president Heather Broadhead (R. Richmond: LFP A2).
ASSOCIATE MINISTER / MINISTRE ASSOCIÉ
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
CDS / CEM
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
CANADA IN AFGHANISTAN / LE CANADA EN AFGHANISTAN
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
PROCUREMENT / APPROVISIONNEMENT
Shipbuilding Discussion at Conference
The federal shipbuilding program was clearly on the minds of delegates at a Canada-U.S. regional trade
conference in Halifax. What was supposed to be a panel about innovation in the marine, defence and
technology sectors turned into a discussion instead about ways of landing work related to new coast
guard and navy ships (J. Albertstat: HCH B2).
OTHERS / AUTRES
Sea Kings Grounded
Military investigators were trying to determine whether an accident involving a Sea King helicopter in
Nova Scotia was caused by a fleet-wide problem or an isolated incident. In the meantime, all the military's
Sea Kings have been grounded as a precaution. The grounding of the Sea Kings will raise further
questions about the problem-plagued program to replace those helicopter (D. Pugliese: EJ A14, CH A8,
Ctz A3, Gaz A11, SSP C12; G. Galloway: G&M A17; CP: HCH A1, NP A5, VTC A8, WStar C8, VProv
A19, RDA C3, CG A8; K. Sims: ESun 26, KWS 7, LFP B2, CSun 30, ESun 32; CTV 11PM).
Accident de Sea King
Les Forces armées canadiennes ont décidé de clouer au sol ses hélicoptères Sea King après que l'un de
ces appareils eut basculé vers l'avant et brisé cinq de ses pales sur la piste de la base Shearwater à
Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse. Le lieutenant-colonel James Hawthorne, commandant de la 12e escadre
Shearwater, a affirmé hier que les quatre occupants de l'appareil n'avaient pas été blessés lors de
l'accident, qui s'est produit lundi soir. Il a indiqué que l'hélicoptère avait atterri après une mission
d'entraînement de cinq heures et qu'il s'était renversé alors que ses rotors tournaient encore (Pr A12, Qt
20).
Tests de dépistage
Les Forces armées canadiennes ont une fois de plus échoué à obtenir la mise en place de tests de
dépistage de drogues plus sévères pour leurs troupes, au grand dam du commandant de l'armée
canadienne, le lieutenant-général Peter Devlin. Celui-ci avait recommandé à la fin de 2012 que les
soldats susceptibles d'être déployés à la dernière minute passent des tests plus stricts. Certains soldats,
comme ceux qui peuvent être envoyés outre-mer, sont soumis à des tests plus rigoureux, une mesure
que les Forces souhaiteraient appliquer à tous les militaires en attente de déploiement. Mais le
lieutenant-général Devlin a révélé que la proposition avait été bloquée par les avocats du ministère de la
Défense, qui craignaient qu'elle n'enfreigne la Charte des droits et libertés et ne mène l'Armée dans une
bataille juridique perdue d'avance (Qt 40, VE 31).
CSEC Directed Memo
Canada's highly secretive electronic eavesdropping agency helped develop a federal directive that lets
government agencies use and share information that was likely extracted through torture, a newly
obtained document says. Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC), and its parent
department, DND, were among several federal agencies that contributed to the information-sharing
policy, says an RCMP memo disclosed under the Access to Information Act (CP: MTT C4, SJT B7, RDA
C4, HS A8).
Changes to Rank and Division Designations: Letter
Former Defence Minister Peter MacKay: The distinctive Canadian symbol of the maple leaf, will be more
prominent on military uniforms than before. Before last week's announcement, the only Canadian Army
officers whose uniforms included the maple leaf as part of their rank insignia were the 58 general officers.
All other officers had bars on their shoulders to denote rank. While the announcement did include the
exchange of general officers' rank insignia with the restoration of the secondary badge worn by Canadian
Army members that was used during and after the Second World War, this reinstated badge features
three maple leaves, ultimately adding more maple leaves to the military uniform. The restoration of the
secondary badge will affect approximately 50,000 regular and reserve members, resulting in an additional
100,000 maple leaves on Canadian Army uniforms. I have heard from many soldiers that wearing this
new badge will make them proud (VTC A7).
Hamilton Spectator editorial: It's amazing how the sensibilities of some Canadian nationalists can be so
easily bruised. The latest upset has come with former Defence Minister Peter MacKay's announcement
that world war-era British-style ranks, titles and insignia are returning to the Canadian Army. He has
signalled the same is likely for the Royal Canadian Air Force. These moves to reconnect Canada's Armed
Forces to the British roots that were in place during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War
are a welcome corrective to the 1960s decision by Lester Pearson's Liberal government to unify the
forces (HS A12).
Michael Staples: No organization on Earth is more into tradition and history than the Armed Forces. The
argument could easily be made that the service has long since moved from the past and is well
entrenched in the present, where traditions of another kind are being established as it further forges its
identity as an Army. There's nothing wrong in embracing the past, but let's be careful we don't become
drowned in the progression (FDG C7).
CF Members’ Cost of Living: Comment
Charlottetown Guardian editorial: When CF members living on one of Canada's military bases report
having to take second jobs, sell possessions, raid RRSPs and keep their kids out of sports like hockey –
just to make ends meet – something is drastically wrong. Former Defence Minister Peter MacKay has
acknowledged the problems. He's already announced projects to build more affordable on-base military
housing, which, as Ombudsman Pierre Daigle has noted, should help long-term. This problem has
festered for far too long already. When some Forces members at Cold Lake have, according to Mr.
Daigle's report, resorted to declaring bankruptcy, an order to "stand by" doesn't cut it (CG A7).
New Principal of RMC
Dr. Harry Kowal has been appointed as the 13th principal of the Royal Military College of Canada (Staff:
KWS 3).
Fire in Esquimalt
Coverage of a fire at the Tudor House Pub in Esquimalt noted that firefighters were assisted by DND (C.
Hartnett / S. Petrescu: VTC A1, VProv A2).
Missing Man
The whereabouts of a man whose empty sailboat washed up onto the shores of Prince Edward County
on Sunday remains a mystery. Marine controller Chris Armour at the CFB Trenton-based Joint Rescue
Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) said aircraft and the Canadian Coast Guard vessel returned home (B. Bell:
KWS 5).
PTSD Study: Letter
BGen Jean-Robert Bernier’s letter on the CF’s efforts on treating PTSD was reprinted (FDG C6).
Back to Top
Section: Arguments
Byline: J.L. Granatstein
Outlet: Ottawa Citizen
Headline: Nicholson inherits an expensive mess at defence department
Page: A13
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Source: Ottawa Citizen
Prime Minister Harper has shuffled his cabinet, desperately putting the best possible face on the
ministry as it prepares for the 2015 election. It might be an uphill struggle, so savagely has the
government been battered in recent months. New faces, new possibilities, new Tory hopes. But
what about Defence, where Rob Nicholson, one with no previous military experience or evident
interest, is now the minister? When Harper came to power at the beginning of 2006, the
Canadian Forces was a high priority. The war in Afghanistan, new equipment, more troops, and
much more money - the Tories promised action, and they largely delivered. But only for a few
years. As casualties mounted in Kandahar, as the costs of equipment soared, and as the 2008
economic crash reverberated, the military slipped off the priority list. Yes, there is still much
more funding for the troops than in 2005, but the balloon of optimism has deflated completely.
Consider the Canada First Defence Strategy, announced with much fanfare in 2008. Aimed at
protecting sovereignty in the Arctic - where there are no current or foreseeable threats to
Canadian interests - the CFDS was really a shopping list for equipment, some of which no one
needed.
For example, the Navy doesn't really want Arctic patrol ships than cannot sail through even
minor ice. The promised usable harbour in the Arctic archipelago would be helpful, however,
along with a Coast Guard icebreaker to keep it open to traffic, but no progress has been made in
creating the harbour or building the ship. And the purchase of new search-and-rescue aircraft, of
great use in the north as elsewhere in Canada, remains bogged down in the great procurement
swamp that has resulted from the massive intrusion of Public Works into the Department of
National Defence's territory.
Not that DND managed procurement very well. The F-35 mess has been exhaustively covered by
the media. Only marginally less so has
been the developing ship procurement fiasco which many confidently expect to be even more
costly than that of the fighter debacle.
In a country without naval shipyards, Ottawa chose to try to create an industry, massively
increasing costs and greatly increasing the risks that nothing of use will emerge for years, even
decades.
Britain's Royal Navy is buying supply ships from South Korea at a cost of about one-seventh of
the Canadian estimates for roughly similar vessels. The Royal Canadian Navy's requirement to
replace its aging frigates and destroyer escorts is caught up in mind-boggling process and
bureaucratic procedure. It will be years before steel is cut, and optimists believe it will be 2025
before a ship hits the water. Pessimists predict that 2030 is a better guesstimate.
And it's not only the big ticket items like fighters and ships. Consider trucks - the army uses
them, Canadian companies build them, and it ought to be a relatively simple matter to get
purchases done. Not in Canada, unfortunately, where political
considerations overrule costs every time. Could it really be that the Finance Department enjoys
saving money by putting off defence purchases to never-never land? The services developed
their fighting edge in Afghanistan, in the Arabian Sea, and over Libya, but that combat capability
is eroding quickly because of obsolescent equipment, budget cutbacks, and the difficulty of
retaining experienced middle rank officers and warrants.
The booming Alberta oilpatch sucks up skilled workers (and that hurts the B.C. and Nova Scotia
shipyards as well as the CF), and the promised boost in military numbers keeps being put off.
The army reserve is once again unhappy with the regulars, and the troops' overall dissatisfaction
is not assuaged by new shoulder flashes featuring the "Royal" designations and new/old rank
badges.
Unfortunately, this government that started well on defence has completely lost its way. The
prime minister looks out of touch, the outgoing defence minister was distracted by minor
scandals and personal issues, and the new minister knows nothing of the military. Put bluntly,
there is no vision in the government on defence questions - there is none in sight on the
Opposition front benches, either - and the reality is that no progress will be made until a direction
is set with a white paper.
Unfortunately this government chooses not to listen to advice from inside or outside the
government. It apparently believes that it is better to allow the 20-somethings in the Prime
Minister's Office to make policy, even a non-policy of drift. Rob Nicholson will need very good
luck to rescue the sinking ship(s) at DND.
J.L. Granatstein is a senior fellow of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.
Back to Top
Section: News
Lead: A London Conservative MP says she was surprised to read in The Free Press about plans
to demolish much of Wolseley Barracks, and she wants answers from her own government about
it.
Headline: MP vows to look into barracks cuts
Page: A2
Byline: RANDY RICHMOND, THE LONDON FREE PRESS
Outlet: The London Free Press
Illustrations:
 CRAIG GLOVER The London Free Press Newsthat some buildings at Wolseley Barracks are
to be demolished came as a surprise to London Conservative MP Susan Truppe, who says she'll
be looking for answers from her own government.
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
A London Conservative MP says she was surprised to read in The Free Press about plans to
demolish much of Wolseley Barracks, and she wants answers from her own government about it.
"To be quite honest, the first I knew of this was when I read the article," Susan Truppe (London
North Centre) said Tuesday.
With recent changes in cabinet, she's not even sure new Defence Minister Robert Nicholson is
aware of the plans, she said.
"I have put a call in to the new minister's office to make them aware of what is going on and to
find out more about it, and if this is in fact so and where did it come from," she said. "I am
normally notified ahead of time, at least a heads-up this is going to be happening, and I knew
nothing about this at all."
Without knowing more about the issue, she couldn't determine if the plan was a good one,
Truppe added.
"We do have a lot of history here but if the buildings aren't being used, maybe there is a reason
for doing it."
But Truppe said she has several questions about the plan that must be answered before she can
determine her next move.
"Can we put a hold on it. Can we look into it?"
Mayor Joe Fontana weighed in as well on the plans, issuing a news release late Tuesday saying
he had contacted three London MPs to discuss the downsizing of the barracks and the potential
use of the land.
"Perhaps, now that the government has made this regrettable decision to cut our military
presence even more, it will again work with us to see what current and future possibilities there
may be, before buildings are demolished," Fontana said in a statement.
In 2002, the federal government and city agreed on a deal transferring about nine hectares of
former military land to the city for community use, he noted.
Veterans and others with connections to the barracks had mixed reactions to the report Tuesday
that three mess buildings, two barracks, and two blocks of buildings' including one designated as
historic by the federal government itself -- at Wolseley Barracks were to be demolished or
"divested."
"There are a lot of memories that are going to be gone," said Duncan McMillan, who has deep
roots with the site.
In the 1970s, he bunked in the barracks while going to the University of Western Ontario. He
was married at the Protestant chapel on base in 1978 and had his wedding reception in the
officers' mess.
After spending 31 years in the service, he's now on the executive of the Royal Canadian
Regiment association's London branch and still visits the mess.
"I hope the people making the decisions are not cutting too close to the bone," McMillan said.
"It's pretty radical."
London's Garrison Community Council, a liaison between the military and community, had
heard there were going to be buildings cleared out, but wasn't aware of the extent of the
demolition, said president Heather Broadhead.
"To some respect it's sad to see the buildings going because they are very much a part of the
history of London, but some of them are long past their due dates."
It only makes sense that the military reduces its numbers in times of peace, Broadhead said. "A
reduced military presence is, let's face it, good for all our sons and daughters because it means
they're not needed."
randy.richmond@sunmedia.ca
--The plan
* First phase (2013): Two barracks, one office building to be demolished, at a cost of $249,000.
* Second phase (no timeline): Warrant officers and sergeants' mess to be demolished; junior
ranks and officers messes to be demolished or divested.
* Third phase (no timeline):
'O' block (military police and 32 Canadian Brigade Group battle school) to be demolished; 'P'
block (4th Battalion RCR, vehicles, equipment) to be demolished
Back to Top
Section: Business
Byline: Joann Alberstat Business Reporter
Outlet: The Chronicle-Herald
Illustrations:
 Getting shipbuilding contracts was a subject at a trade conference in Halifax on Tuesday.
 Adrien Veczan Staff
Headline: Trade panel eyes ship program; Canada-U.S. session seeks coast guard, navy work
Page: B2
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
The federal shipbuilding program was clearly on the minds of delegates at a Canada-U.S.
regional trade conference Tuesday in Halifax.
What was supposed to be a panel about innovation in the marine, defence and technology sectors
turned into a discussion instead about ways of landing work related to new coast guard and navy
ships.
Panel moderator Glenn Copeland said any discussion these days about those industries is going
to focus on the shipbuilding program.
"You have to take a look at who you have in the audience," he said in an interview.
"Predominantly, you have people who want to do business in Nova Scotia."
Copeland, a project manager at Lockheed Martin Canada's Dartmouth facility, said the program
is designed to be a made-in-Canada one but at the same time, much of the expertise and
technology that is needed doesn't exist within our borders.
"You've got an interesting conundrum," he told the Southeastern United States-Canadian
Provinces Alliance conference.
Lockheed Martin is a subcontractor on the first phase of the shipbuilding plan, involving
building Arctic offshore patrol ships. Alan Parslow, chief executive officer of Deep Vision Inc.,
said partnering is essential for companies wanting to get on board in the high-tech sector.
"You have to find those partners who have a supplementary capability that you don't have," said
Parslow, whose Dartmouth firm specializes in detection technology.
Panellist Keith Donaldson, with Moncton manufacturing firm Apex Industries Inc., said Europe
and the United States are the best place to look for help.
"Our aim, as a small business, was to team up with companies that have existing technologies
that want to come into Canada," said the director of sales and business development.
Leo Gaessler told the forum that companies should be proactive in helping would-be customers
define their needs in rapidly changing industries.
Gaessler said his firm, Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems Inc., is involved in supporting
university research in the modelling of sonar and acoustics, its field of expertise. The company,
based in Woodside Industrial Park, is also working on plans that involve simulation programs.
"We can create a vision for them of how the system would work, based on the physics, based on
what we can deliver," said Gaessler, Ultra Electronics' vice-president of sales and marketing.
"We're trying to create an environment where the customer can visualize what they can achieve
for X amount of dollars before they actually write the specs."
The company will soon announce details of its investment in various initiatives, he said.
A Mississippi shipyard official said firms in Canada and the U.S. should jointly look for
opportun-ities overseas as governments tighten their belts at home.
"I think there's an openness there and a willingness, and there's not a real big fear of taking jobs
away," said Christie Thomas, director of business development with Ingalls Shipbuilding of
Pascagoula, Miss.
Back to Top
Section: Special Section
Byline: David Pugliese
Outlet: Edmonton Journal
Illustrations:
 Adrian Wyld, The Canadian Press Files / The military has grounded its Sea King helicopter
fleet after an aircraft tipped after landing in Nova Scotia Monday.
Headline: All sea king helicopters grounded after accident; Military's cautionary decision raises
questions about delayed replacements
Page: A14
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Source: Postmedia News
Military investigators were trying to determine Tuesday whether an accident involving a Sea
King helicopter in Nova Scotia was caused by a fleet-wide problem or an isolated incident.
In the meantime, all the military's Sea Kings have been grounded as a precaution. That
grounding - what the Royal Canadian Air Force is calling an "operational pause" - also affects
the two helicopters being used on board HMCS Toronto and HMCS Ottawa, both at sea.
"It's precautionary until they can determine if this is a systemic issue with the Sea Kings or is
something that is isolated," said Royal Canadian Navy Lt. Len Hickey, the public affairs officer
at 12 Wing Shearwater.
Investigators from the air force's flight safety directorate from Ottawa are on the scene of the
accident which took place at the base near Halifax.
"It's hard to determine how long it's going to be," Hickey said of the grounding. "It could be
something that happens overnight and we're back to flying tomorrow or it could be something
that takes a little bit longer."
The aircraft had landed Monday night after a routine training mission and tipped forward while
its rotors were spinning. None of the four crew members on board were injured.
"The aircraft was actually at a stop," Hickey explained. "The tail of the aircraft shifted up and the
helicopter rolled and the main rotors made contact with the ground."
The RCAF has 25 Sea Kings. Of those, two are in storage and two are used for maintenance
training, Hickey added.
The incident comes almost four months after the head of Canada's air force expressed his utmost
confidence in the Sea King helicopter.
On March 25 air force chief Lt.-Gen.
Yvan Blondin told senators he wasn't worried about ongoing delays of the arrival of the Cyclone
maritime helicopter, the chopper that is to replace the Sea Kings.
"It is not like I am planning to park the Sea King in July and I have a problem," he explained to
the senate defence committee. "I am comfortable in flying the Sea King for the next five years."
The grounding of the Sea Kings will raise further questions about the problem-plagued program
to replace those helicopters. Canada has ordered 28 Cyclone helicopters from U.S. aerospace
giant Sikorsky.
The original contract called for the first Cyclone to be delivered in November 2008, with
deliveries of all 28 helicopters completed by early 2011. But Sikorsky has yet to turn over a
single helicopter to Canada under the $5.7-billion program.
The Conservatives have laid blame on the Liberals for the program because Paul Martin's
government awarded the contract to Sikorsky in 2004. Liberals have countered that the
mismanagement has occurred under Conservative watch. Liberals have pointed out that the
government has made changes to the original contract contributing to the delays. Last year, then
Defence Minister Peter MacKay acknowledged the ongoing problems with the program and said
he hoped "we will be back on track in the fall and taking regular delivery of Cyclone helicopters
from Sikorsky." That never happened.
Sikorsky is the prime contractor for the maritime helicopter project, while General Dynamics
Canada Ltd. Ottawa, and L-3 MAS, Mirabel Quebec are principal sub-contractors.
In its attempts to help Sikorsky along, DND officials reduced the criteria for an interim aircraft a basic Cyclone - to receive a military airworthiness certification. But even with that, Sikorsky
failed to meet its delivery timetable, according to a November 2010 briefing note .
Back to Top
Section: National News
Outlet: The Globe And Mail
Byline: GLORIA GALLOWAY
Headline: Sea King helicopter fleet grounded after Nova Scotia accident
Page: A17
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Canada's tired fleet of Sea King helicopters has been grounded after one of the choppers toppled
over at a Nova Scotia Air Force base with four people on board.
It is unknown whether the incident late Monday evening at 12 Wing Shearwater is related to the
age of the helicopter. Investigators from the military's Directorate of Flight Safety were called to
determine what happened and whether the rest of the fleet could experience the same problem.
But as the Sea Kings approach their 50th anniversary being used for air support to the Canadian
Navy - a milestone that will be marked on Aug. 1 - there are plenty of questions about the length
of time it is taking to replace them.
The issue is about to fall onto the plate of Diane Finley, the new Public Works Minister, who
takes over what former defence minister Peter MacKay once called the worst procurement in
Canada's history.
``The sad fact of the matter is that these aircraft are now a half a century old, and our pilots are
having to use them because the navy needs maritime helicopters for various purposes, essential
purposes,'' said Michael Byers, a defence policy expert at the University of British Columbia.
``These brave men and women go into the air and over the ocean in aircraft that are, in many
cases, twice as old as they are,'' he said. ``And that's simply not safe.''
On Monday, the helicopter had taxied safely back to the ramp at Shearwater after a routine flight.
But then the tail rotor lifted and the main rotor tipped and hit the ground, crashing into some
neighbouring buildings. The people on the helicopter were uninjured.
The Department of National Defence is waiting on 28 new Sikorsky Cyclone helicopters to
replace the Sea Kings, a $5.7-billion purchase that was made in 2004 by the Liberal government
of Paul Martin. That was after former prime minister Jean Chrétien cancelled an order for 50
replacement helicopters that Brian Mulroney had placed in 1992.
The Cyclones were supposed to have arrived in 2008. But, in 2004, they were were still in the
design stage, and technological hurdles have delayed the development and production. Sikorsky
has also incurred tens of millions of dollars in penalties for late delivery of the Canadian
contract.
``We are involved in ongoing, confidential discussions with the government regarding
contractual matters impacting the delivery schedules. Sikorsky is committed to completing the
program as quickly as possible, and continues to make steady progress,'' company spokesman
Paul Jackson said in an e-mail. ``All 28 aircraft are either completed and in basic flight-ready
configuration, including four in Shearwater, or are in final test and assembly as we continue to
work on the mission system completion.''
But Dr. Byers points out that the Cyclones on the ground at Shearwater are just that - on the
ground. They are meant for training mechanics and ground crews, but are not ready for flight.
Back to Top
Section: Front
Byline: The The Chronicle-herald
Outlet: The Chronicle-Herald
Illustrations:
 Lt.-Col. James Hawthorne, commander of 12 Wing Shearwater, says that because of an
accident Monday, the military's fleet of Sea King helicopters has been grounded, pending
investigation.
 Eric Wynne Staff
Headline: Mishap grounds Sea King choppers; No one hurt as aircraft tips
Page: A1
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
All of Canada's Sea King helicopters have been grounded indefinitely after one of the aging
aircraft tipped over after landing at 12 Wing Shearwater late Monday night.
No one was injured when the helicopter fell over and the five main rotor blades smashed into the
ground, spewing pieces of the blades throughout the area and damaging nearby buildings.
Lt.-Col. James Hawthorne, the wing commander at the base, said three military investigators,
including the director of flight safety, were expected to arrive from Ottawa on Tuesday afternoon
to begin exploring the cause of the incident, which happened around 11:45 p.m.
"They're trying to determine exactly what occurred last night and ensure that we don't have other
occurrences like this in the Sea King fleet," he said.
In the meantime, all Canadian Sea King flight operations have been suspended, though
Hawthorne couldn't confirm whether that includes two on deployment.
The helicopter had just finished a training exercise and landed at the airbase's fuelling location
before moving over to a parking spot. It had been parked for a short while when the tail lifted
and the main rotors hit the ground.
Four flight crew, including two pilots, an air combat systems operator and an airborne electronics
sensor operator, were on board when the incident happened, and the ground crew ran for cover as
the helicopter tipped.
Hawthorne said he spoke with the pilot after the incident, who told him "it's the fastest thing he'd
ever seen occur in a helicopter."
"I wouldn't say it was a question of luck," Hawthorne said of the fact that no one was injured.
"I'd say it was that they were trained well and had the foreknowledge and thought that when they
saw something going wrong to get out of the way."
A source who works at the base told The Chronicle Herald it was "a miracle" no one was injured,
since the helicopter is "a write-off." He said the crew hadn't reported any difficulty until the
landing, just as two ground crew members were about to put wood chocks behind and in front of
its wheels to prevent it from rolling.
"That's when everything went haywire," he said.
The Sea King wasn't far from a hangar at the time.
"It even sent shrapnel through one of the doors of the hangar, piercing a pipe on the opposite side
of the hangar," the source said.
Hawthorne said shrapnel didn't drive through the walls of the hangar, but that there were some
dents and broken glass on surrounding buildings.
He described the damage to the helicopter as extensive. Although the body of the aircraft is
"fairly intact," the rotor blades, which are each about nine metres long, are no longer usable.
"It'll take some time for us to determine how we're going to proceed forward with this aircraft,
whether it'll continue flying in the future or if it's no longer flyable," Hawthorne said.
It is unclear when Sea King flights will resume.
The 50-year-old helicopters have been awaiting replacement for decades.
Delivery of the replacements for the CH-124 helicopters was expected to begin in 2008 but has
been repeatedly delayed.
Hawthorne said he doesn't believe the age of the aircraft was a factor in Monday night's incident.
"It could happen to a brand new helicopter just like it could happen to a brand new car," he said.
"The Sea King has provided incredible service for the last 50 years coming off the end of this
month. It will provide incredible service for us in the future."
Hawthorne said he believes the Sea Kings are safe.
"Absolutely. If I could be flying a Sea King today, I'd be out flying it. I have no worries about
the aircraft whatsoever."
In November, a Sea King was forced to land at a Bedford shopping centre. The five-member
crew had been flying for about five hours when they detected a hydraulic leak. No one was
injured.
August marks the 50th anniversary of the Sea King helicopter and there have been plans for a
Golden Jubilee celebration.
With Frances Willick,
Patricia Brooks Arenburg and Kelly Shiers, Staff Reporters
Back to Top
Section: News
Lead: HALIFAX -- The Sea King helicopter fleet at 12 Wing Shearwater in Nova Scotia is
grounded after one of the choppers tipped over Monday and sheered off its blades, tearing up the
landing strip.
Headline: SEEKING ANSWERS Incident at 12 Wing Shearwater grounds aging helicopters as
military awaits replacements
Page: 26
Byline: KRIS SIMS, QMI AGENCY
Outlet: The Edmonton Sun
Illustrations:
 photo by Rick Ayer, Qmi Agency The Sea King helicopter fleet at 12 Wing Shearwater in
Nova Scotia is grounded after one of the choppers tipped over and tore up the landing strip with
its blades.
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
HALIFAX -- The Sea King helicopter fleet at 12 Wing Shearwater in Nova Scotia is grounded
after one of the choppers tipped over Monday and sheered off its blades, tearing up the landing
strip.
It landed safely just before midnight with a crew of four on board, taxied and stopped.
According to officials, it then tipped forward, the tail lifted, the nose went down and the main
rotor blades carved into the ground, flinging debris into nearby buildings and seriously damaging
the aircraft.
The crew was uninjured.
"The directorate of flight safety are here from Ottawa and they are conducting the investigation,"
said Lt. Len Hickey, base spokesman.
The grounding only applies to Sea Kings based at 12 Wing Shearwater, he said.
The Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King 'shipboard' helicopters are 50 years old, first purchased under the
reign of late prime minister John Diefenbaker to specialize in hunting for submarines. They now
need 30 hours of maintenance for every hour in the air, and they are in the sick bay hangar 40%
of the time.
Plans to replace the flying museum pieces have had trouble getting off the ground. In 2004, the
Chretien government announced a $1.8-billion contract to helicopter- maker Sikorsky to produce
28 Cyclone choppers, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2009.
But four years later, the Forces have yet to receive the aircraft and now the feds are looking for
an independent investigator to see if the company is capable of building the Sea King
replacements.
Back to Top
Section: Actualités
Outlet: La Presse
Headline: Les Sea King cloués au sol après un accident à Halifax
Page: A12
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Dateline: SHEARWATER, N.-É.
Source: Presse Canadienne
Les Forces armées canadiennes ont décidé de clouer au sol ses hélicoptères Sea King après que l'un de
ces appareils eut basculé vers l'avant et brisé cinq de ses pales sur la piste de la base Shearwater à
Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse.
Le lieutenant-colonel James Hawthorne, commandant de la 12e escadre Shearwater, a affirmé hier que
les quatre occupants de l'appareil n'avaient pas été blessés lors de l'accident, qui s'est produit lundi soir.
Il a indiqué que l'hélicoptère avait atterri après une mission d'entraînement de cinq heures et qu'il s'était
renversé alors que ses rotors tournaient encore.
Le lieutenant-colonel Hawthorne a précisé que les pales s'étaient brisées en petits morceaux et avaient
endommagé les murs d'un hangar.
Les tentatives du gouvernement fédéral pour remplacer les vieux Sea King, en service depuis 50 ans, ont
été retardées à plusieurs reprises. L'armée attend toujours ses nouveaux hélicoptères construits par
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., qui a été choisi il y a neuf ans pour livrer 28 appareils.
Back to Top
Section: Actualités
Outlet: Le Quotidien
Headline: L'armée subit un autre échec
Page: 40
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Dateline: OTTAWA
Source: La Presse Canadienne
Les Forces armées canadiennes ont une fois de plus échoué à obtenir la mise en place de tests de
dépistage de drogues plus sévères pour leurs troupes, au grand dam du commandant de l'armée
canadienne, le lieutenant-général Peter Devlin.
Celui-ci avait recommandé à la fin de 2012 que les soldats susceptibles d'être déployés à la dernière
minute passent des tests plus stricts.
L'armée teste régulièrement ses membres, mais ceux dont les résultats sont positifs ne font l'objet
d'aucune sanction disciplinaire.
Certains soldats, comme ceux qui peuvent être envoyés outre-mer, sont soumis à des tests plus
rigoureux, une mesure que les Forces souhaiteraient appliquer à tous les militaires en attente de
déploiement.
Mais le lieutenant-général Devlin a révélé que la proposition avait été bloquée par les avocats du
ministère de la Défense, qui craignaient qu'elle n'enfreigne la Charte des droits et libertés et ne mène
l'Armée dans une bataille juridique perdue d'avance.
"Les soldats veulent cela, a affirmé M. Delvin, lors d'une récente entrevue avec La Presse Canadienne.
Ils veulent tous passer les tests. Je ne comprends pas pourquoi c'est si difficile."
L'idée d'une vérification accrue a été proposée pour la première fois en 2007, en pleine période de guerre
en Afghanistan.
En 2011, la Défense nationale s'est penchée sur l'idée de soumettre davantage de postes à des normes
de sécurité, dans le but de prendre les soldats qui consomment illégalement de la drogue et de les punir.
Cette proposition considérable a été rejetée pour des raisons juridiques, selon des documents internes.
Notamment, cela pourrait constituer une atteinte injustifiée à la vie privée.
Pour le lieutenant-général, qui part à la retraite jeudi, "c'est une question de sécurité, et non de droits",
d'autant plus que des armes et de l'équipement lourd peuvent être utilisés.
"Les soldats veulent savoir que le gars qui conduit leur véhicule dans les aires d'entraînement n'est pas
sous l'effet de drogues et n'a pas une dépendance qui le rend moins alerte qu'il devrait être", poursuit-il.
Des experts juridiques ont affirmé que l'armée pourrait tout à fait imposer des tests de dépistage plus
sévères, tant et aussi longtemps que cela ne devienne pas une mesure de discipline sur des cas isolés.
Dans un sondage mené il y a quatre ans, 1327 échantillons d'urine ont révélé que 4,7% des soldats
avaient récemment consommé de la drogue et que la marijuana était la substance la plus populaire au
sein des troupes.
Des statistiques démontrent aussi qu'il y a beaucoup moins d'incidents liés à l'abus de substances au
sein des Forces armées que dans le reste de la population.
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Section: C
Headline: RCMP memo sheds light on federal torture directive
Page: C4
Outlet: Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Byline: THE CANADIAN PRESS ?
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
OTTAWA - Canada's highly secretive electronic eavesdropping agency helped develop a federal
directive that lets government agencies use and share information that was likely extracted
through torture, a newly obtained document says.
Communications Security Establishment Canada, known as CSEC, and its parent department,
National Defence, were among several federal agencies that contributed to the informationsharing policy, says an RCMP memo disclosed to The Canadian Press under the Access to
Information Act.
The memo, prepared in November 2011, notes the federal framework - spearheaded by the
Public Safety Department - was intended to "establish a consistent approach across departments
and agencies" when the exchange of national security-related information puts someone at
serious risk of being tortured.
The federal policy has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates and opposition MPs,
who say it effectively condones torture, contrary to international law and Canada's United
Nations commitments.
CSEC spokesman Ryan Foreman had no comment yesterday.
Ottawa-based CSEC monitors foreign communications - from email and phone calls to faxes and
satellite transmissions - for intelligence of interest to Canada. Its staff of more than 2,000
includes experts in code breaking, rare languages and data analysis.
The agency, with an annual budget of about $400 million, is a key component of the intelligencesharing network known as the Five Eyes - Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia and New
Zealand.
The National Security Agency, CSEC's American counterpart, is at the centre of a storm of leaks
from former contractor Edward Snowden that document the U.S. agency's vast reach into
cyberspace.
He recently revealed the NSA runs a top-secret data-mining program known as Prism that
provides the U.S. government access to a huge volume of emails, chat logs and other information
from Internet companies including Google, Microsoft and Apple.
Other documents obtained by Snowden suggest CSEC helped the United States and Britain spy
on participants at the London G20 summit four years ago.
The RCMP says Public Safety began work on the federal information-sharing framework in
January 2009 "in consultation with representatives" from the Mounties, CSEC, Defence, the
Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canada Border Services Agency, Justice, Foreign
Affairs and the Privy Council Office.
The four-page framework document, previously released under the access law, says when there
is a "substantial risk" that sending information to - or soliciting information from - a foreign
agency would result in torture, the matter should be referred to the responsible deputy minister or
agency head.
In deciding what to do, the agency head will consider factors including:
? the threat to Canada's national security and the nature and immanence of the threat;
? the status of Canada's relationship with - and the human rights record of - the foreign agency;
? the rationale for believing that sharing the information would lead to torture;
? the proposed measures to lessen the risk, and the likelihood they will be successful - for
instance, the agency's track record in complying with past assurances;
? the views of Foreign Affairs and other agencies.
In 2011 former public safety minister Vic Toews issued directives to the RCMP, CSIS and the
federal border agency that closely followed the wording of the government-wide framework.
Back to Top
Section: Comment
Byline: Peter Mackay
Outlet: Times Colonist (Victoria)
Headline: Mackay: uniform changes will add maple leaves
Page: A7
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Dateline: Peter MacKay Former minister of national defence Ottawa Former minister of national
defence Ottawa
Source: Times Colonist
Re: "Return to pips sparks war of words," July 11.
Let me be clear: The distinctive Canadian symbol of the maple leaf, will be more prominent on
military uniforms than before.
Before last week's announcement, the only Canadian Army officers whose uniforms included the
maple leaf as part of their rank insignia were the 58 general officers. All other officers had bars
on their
shoulders to denote rank. While the announcement did include the exchange of general officers'
rank insignia with the restoration of the secondary badge worn by Canadian Army members that
was used during and after the Second World War, this reinstated badge features three maple
leaves, ultimately adding more maple leaves to the military uniform.
The restoration of the secondary badge will affect approximately 50,000 regular and reserve
members, resulting in an additional 100,000 maple leaves on Canadian Army uniforms. I have
heard from many soldiers that wearing this new badge will make them proud - and I am already
being asked how soon can members get them.
Another issue is that reinstating the stars-and-crown ranking system corresponds to "British
symbols and traditions." While we are proud of our British links in history, this convention,
which is more than 100 years old, is used by armies all over the world.
Soldiers are proud of their identity as Canadians and of their military's past. Symbols like these
badges play a central role in military culture, and soldiers take pleasure in wearing symbols that
connect them with their history.
Peter MacKay Peter MacKay Former minister of national defence Ottawa Former minister of
national defence Ottawa
Back to Top
Section: Editorial
Outlet: Hamilton Spectator
Headline: Military changes will recognize heritage; Viewpoint: Guelph Mercury (excerpt)
Page: A12
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
It's amazing how the sensibilities of some Canadian nationalists can be so easily bruised.
The latest upset has come with Defence Minister Peter MacKay's announcement that world warera British-style ranks, titles and insignia are returning to the Canadian Army. He has signalled
the same is likely for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Critics rail this is a reversion to Canada's colonial past. It's yet another manifestation of the prime
minister's apparent fetish with British heritage, they charge.
These moves to reconnect Canada's Armed Forces to the British roots that were in place during
the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War are a welcome corrective to the 1960s
decision by Lester Pearson's Liberal government to unify the forces. As MacKay rightly points
out, the Australians - no strangers to republican, anti-monarchist sentiments - have always
retained the British roots of their military. That doesn't make their military a colonial throwback.
One interesting element of the recent reaction is how relatively muted it has been. That stands in
stark contrast to the sound and fury that greeted the unification decision 45 years ago, which is
understandable. When the unification legislation, which came into effect in February 1968, was
introduced in 1966, the Second World War was still very much part of the national
consciousness. Veterans of that era were in their 40s and very present in the Canadian landscape.
Canada was in the throes of a vibrant new nationalism. We had just adopted a new flag. We
celebrated our nation's centennial in 1967 with great fanfare.
Today, surviving Second World War veterans are in their 80s and 90s, the separatist movement
is all but dead, and national pride among Canadians is taken for granted. That's even more reason
to be knowledgeable of our past, particularly our military heritage.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield, a retired colonel, said in 2011: "In our military, it is often tradition and
a sense of place in history that sustains us, especially when life is under threat." That tradition
contains a strong British element. It's good that it is being restored.
Back to Top
Section: C
Headline: Nobody loves tradition like the Armed Forces
Page: C7
Outlet: The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton)
Byline: Michael Staples Military Matters
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
The past can be a powerful lure - hooking and pulling at a person's soul.
And while there's nothing wrong with maintaining a link to days gone by, the secret is not to
overdose, otherwise you can fall into an abyss where you're trapped in yesteryear and unable to
see the direction ahead.
This is the situation the Canadian military currently finds itself in as it walks a tightrope between
the way things were and how it feels it should look as we move forward.
Earlier this month then-Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced the government's intention to
restore Canadian Army rank insignia, names and badges to their traditional forms.
The changes include the reintroduction of divisional nomenclature and patches for the current
Land Force Areas; traditional rank insignia for officers; corps shoulder titles from the restoration
of Royal titles to a number of Canadian Army corps in April 2013; and the Canadian Army's
secondary badge.
"The restoration of these historical features will encourage the esprit de corps of our soldiers and
reinforce a rich military tradition that will continue to develop as they serve their country,"
Minister MacKay said in a news release. "Wherever I travel in Canada, these changes continue to
be cherished in the hearts of our veterans."
In 2011, the historical name of the Canadian Army was reclaimed.
Few people could argue with that move.
But just how far do we go in embracing tradition? At what point do we move forward?
These are tough questions.
Lt.-Gen. Peter Devlin, Commander of the Canadian Army, believes the restoration of these
features is a significant step in returning the Canadian Army's traditions.
"Symbols and traditions establish links to soldiers' heritage, and are important," Lt.-Gen. Devlin
said. "It is very significant that our non-commissioned members have the prospect of being able
to bear the same ranks as their forebearers, and our officers will proudly wear the same insignia
worn by Canadians who fought in the First and Second World Wars and Korea."
The military views these revivals as the next step in a phased approach that began when the
historical name of the Canadian Army was restored.
Stemming from this initial restoration, and in line with historical lineage, the Canadian Army's
secondary badge will also be reinstated, the military said, and the Land Force Areas will be
renamed under division names, with appropriate patches introduced accordingly.
An example of this will see Land Force Atlantic Area referred to as the "5th Canadian Division."
"Additionally, following from the restoration of traditional titles to a number of Canadian Army
corps, shoulder titles for members of these corps will be restored," the military said. "The intent
is also to restore historical rank names for non-commissioned members, the traditional and
internationally recognized convention of army insignia of stars and crowns for officers, and
gorget patches for colonels and general officers."
According to the Armed Forces, the historical rank names for non-commissioned members,
which have long been used informally, are being considered for formalization at which point
they would change.
Ranks such as trooper, bombardier, sapper, signaller, fusilier, rifleman or guardsman and
craftsman will become the norm, depending, of course, on which unit you're with.
No organization on Earth is more into tradition and history than the Armed Forces.
You see it every day in the hats and badges of those in uniform, or it's reflected with pride by our
veterans as they parade.
The argument could easily be made that the service has long since moved from the past and is
well entrenched in the present, where traditions of another kind are being established as it further
forges its identity as an Army.
There's nothing wrong in embracing the past, but let's be careful we don't become drowned in the
progression.
American humorist and journalist Finley Peter Dunne once said: "The past always looks better
than it was because it isn't here."
Not only is Mr. Dunne's line a catchy one, it's also food for thought.
Michael Staples covers the military for The Daily Gleaner. He can be reached at
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com.
Back to Top
Section: Opinion
Outlet: The Guardian (Charlottetown)
Headline: Frozen out by high living costs at CFB Cold Lake
Page: A7
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Source: Halifax Chronicle Herald; The Canadian Press
When Canadian Forces members living on one of Canada's military bases report having to take
second jobs, sell possessions, raid RRSPs and keep their kids out of sports like hockey - just to
make ends meet - something is drastically wrong.
But that's what military ombudsman Pierre Daigle found after he investigated more than 50
complaints from Canadian Forces members and their families posted to CFB Cold Lake (4
Wing) in Alberta.
His report this month rightly calls for immediate steps to level out a cost of living imbalance that,
Mr. Daigle said, has prompted significant numbers of Canadian Forces members to retire or
leave the military rather than report to Cold Lake. At the same time, attrition rates among those
based in Cold Lake - where the cost of living has soared in recent years due to a local boom in
oil and gas development - are expected to hit 12 to 13 per cent this year.
Members of the military are paid, reasonably enough, based on rank, not where they're posted.
But cost of living varies among the Canadian Forces' 32 domestic bases, including rents for onbase housing, which are set based on CMHC recommendations to reflect local housing prices.
On-base housing in Cold Lake is twice that of Greenwood, for example.
Since CF members don't always choose where they're sent, in 2000 the military set up an
allowance, the Post Living Differential, to lessen disparities in cost of living for its members
across Canada. The problem, Mr. Daigle's report said, is that PLD rates have been frozen at 2009
levels for more than three years. Meanwhile, the cost of living at some bases, like Cold Lake, has
soared.
Other problems with the PLD include a lack of understanding among the ranks as to how it's set
or works. Inexplicably, higher allowances are sometimes paid in places with lower costs, Mr.
Daigle said.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay has acknowledged the problems. He's already announced
projects to build more affordable on-base military housing, which, as Mr. Daigle has noted,
should help long-term.
Mr. MacKay has also said his department and Treasury Board are working on a solution in line
with the ombudsman's recommendation that PLDs more closely reflect the local cost of living.
Those commitments are welcome. But, as the ombudsman himself has said in response, there is
an "immediate" need for relief for those serving this country in Cold Lake, especially among the
junior ranks.
This problem has festered for far too long already. When some Forces members at Cold Lake
have, according to Mr. Daigle's report, resorted to declaring bankruptcy, an order to "stand by"
doesn't cut it.
Back to Top
Section: News
Lead: KOWAL NEW RMC PRINCIPAL
Headline: News Briefs
Page: 3
Outlet: The Kingston Whig-Standard
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
KOWAL NEW RMC PRINCIPAL
Dr. Harry Kowal has been appointed as the 13th principal of the Royal Military College of
Canada (RMC).
Peter Mackay, minister of national defence and chancellor of RMC, announced the retired
brigadier-general's appointment to principal on Monday. Kowal will replace Dr. Joel Sokolsky in
the role come August.
Kowal, who graduated from RMC in 1984, holds three master's degrees in aerospace
engineering, defence studies and strategic studies. He received a PhD from the University of
Tennessee Space Institute, and is a Royal Canadian Air Force engineer.
Prior to his appointment, Kowal taught mechanical engineering as an assistant professor at RMC,
and held the position of commandant of the School of Aerospace Engineering and Technology at
Canadian Forces Base Borden. He had also been appointed as director general military careers at
National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
The principal is responsible for defining academic policy, the operation of all academic and
second-language activities, and also represents RMC nationally and internationally.
THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE
The people have spoken and their choice for favourite performers at the Buskers Rendezvous is
The LOL Brothers.
The 25th edition of the event finished Sunday evening with an entertaining grand finale and the
duo from Montreal was announced the People's Choice Winner.
This was the LOL Brothers' first year at the festival. After the announcement of the award, the
hat was passed--this time for a local charity instead of the buskers themselves-- and almost
$2,000 was raised for the United Way's Success by Six program.
RECYCLING CENTRE TOUR
Ever wonder where the items picked up from your blue and grey boxes go?
Well you can find out what happens if you drop by for a tour of the Kingston Area Recycling
Centre (KARC) at 196 Lappan's Lane from 10 a.m. to noon this Saturday.
"If a thing can be reused or recycled, it has value and is not garbage. A visit to KARC really
drives this message home," said Derek Ochej, public education co-ordinator.
Ochej said visitors can also bring their household hazardous waste items for drop-off when they
come for the tour.
According to a release, the KARC tour offers visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how
recyclables are sorted and prepared for market and explains why residents are asked to sort
recyclables, what happens to them after they leave the facility, and what they become.
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
A little bit of murder mystery always helps liven things up.
Residents and tourists will be able to take part in a new murder mystery dinner theatre that brings
together a wacky cast of characters in a locally flavoured "who dunnit." Presented by Mr. Spot
Mysteries, the "Mega-Park Murder Mystery" takes place in the Old Stones Dining Room at the
Four Points by Sheraton Hotel (285 King St. E.), on weekends in August.
The mystery, a Toronto-based venture capital company plans to build a theme park featuring a
Sir John A. mascot, a mini Buckingham Palace and of course, a roller coaster. Business interests
will conflict with environmental champions as they come together to make a case for the new
theme park. Each side is committed to win...at whatever cost.
The show runs evenings on Aug. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24.The mystery begins during
cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available to purchase online at www.mrspotmysteries.ca.The
three-course dinner and theatre package costs $68 + HST.
Back to Top
Section: News
Byline: Cindy E. Harnett And Sarah Petrescu
Outlet: Times Colonist (Victoria)
Illustrations:
 Mike Riggs /
 Darren StoneTimes Colonist / Esquimalt fire department members look at the remains of the
Tudor House Pub, the building in which the township was incorporated in 1912. When
firefighters arrived about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, the solid-wood structure was already engulfed by
flames.
Headline: Esquimalt loses the place where township began; Amid rubble of 1902 pub,
investigators seek clues to fire's cause
Page: A1 / Front
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Source: Times Colonist
Investigators are hunting for clues to what caused a fire that engulfed the Tudor House Pub on
Tuesday, leaving a charred shell and fond memories of its pivotal role in Equimalt's political and
social life.
The landmark, home to soldiers and sailors over two world wars - and the birthplace of
Esquimalt township - was reduced to teetering walls and ashes as flames swallowed the
woodframe building.
No one was injured, but about two dozen people lost their jobs and the municipality lost a setting
that was a rite of passage for military recruits, a meeting place for locals, a post-shift hangout for
dockyard workers and a stage for bands. The building at Esquimalt and Admirals roads was built
in 1902 and opened May 5, 1904. Eight
years later, in 1912, the municipality was incorporated in its dining hall. "Before Esquimalt,
there was the Tudor House Pub," said Mike Holmes, who was the operating partner of Tudor
House for 14 years until 2008, when he sold his interest to business partner Greg Dumas. His
nephew, Tim Dumas, was the general manager. The Dumas family did not return calls.
B.C. government documents show the property is jointly owned by Dirty Digger Holdings Ltd.
(formerly known as Jadwiga Holdings) and Rambo Management Ltd. The assessed value of the
building is $2.588 million, B.C. Assessment records say. The property covers 45,813 square feet.
Holmes said there were no fires when he owned the property, but he knew that if the building did
spark, it would likely be devastating.
"Fire inspectors always said it's a solid-wood structure and when this thing
goes up, it will be a surround-and-drown," said Holmes, referring to the way firefighters would
have to deal with a fire.
Built with old-growth fir, the building had six storeys with multiple half-levels including a
basement, numerous nooks and crannies, a turret and wooden stairs. During the fire, the pub's
distinctive tower served as a chimney for smoke. "There were too many cavities for fire to lurk
in," Holmes said.
There was no sprinkler system, he said. However, there were heat sensors and smoke alarms in
every room wired into a fire panel at the front of the building that was linked to the fire
department, he said. Still, the building could not be saved.
Daylen Cossette-Bourassa, 25, who lives in a thirdfloor condo across the street, heard fire trucks
about 2:30 a.m. "I went on my balcony to film it and, at one point, the fire was so intense I felt
my
skin was burning."
Firefighters and cleanup crews were on the scene most of the day, and some adjacent streets
were closed until about 6:30 p.m. as hazardous remnants of the structure were torn down.
Esquimalt Fire Rescue Chief Dave Ward said the fire likely started in the front and spread. The
building was engulfed in flames when Esquimalt firefighters arrived. They were assisted by the
Department of National Defence. Heavy smoke blanketed the neighbourhood, and nearby
buildings were evacuated for several hours.
"It was free burning. The older materials had a lot to do with the speed of the fire," Ward said.
Firefighters were also called to the pub in mid-June because of reports of smoke, but they did not
find anything, Ward said.
For Kathy Hanlon, who has lived in Esquimalt since 1985, Tudor House was more than a bar and
restaurant. She met her late husband there.
"It's a meeting place for all sorts of people, where you'd come to catch up on latest news from the
sailors and meet old friends," Hanlon said. "We had a lot of good times there."
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins said the loss of Tudor House is being felt throughout the
township. It held council meetings before becoming a pub, she said.
"Our thoughts are with those owners. At this point they are probably numb, and rightly so, so the
community will be supportive in any way we can be and in time, once the fire investigation has
occurred and they start to clean up, then I think people will see the other side, which is the
opportunity," Desjardins said. spetrescu@timescolonist.com charnett@timescolonist.com
Back to Top
Section: News
Lead: The whereabouts of a man whose empty sailboat washed up onto the shores of Prince
Edward County on Sunday remains a mystery.
Headline: Man's whereabouts remain a mystery
Page: 5
Byline: BRUCE BELL, QMI - BELLEVILLE
Outlet: The Kingston Whig-Standard
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
The whereabouts of a man whose empty sailboat washed up onto the shores of Prince Edward
County on Sunday remains a mystery.
After almost two full days of searching the waters of Lake Ontario, water and air searches by
Canadian authorities have been called off.
Marine controller Chris Armour at the CFB Trenton-based Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre
(JRCC) said aircraft and the Canadian Coast Guard vessel returned home Tuesday.
"The planes completed their final search a couple of hours ago (approximately noon on Tuesday)
and have returned home now," he said from the JRCC office at 8 Wing. "The (Canadian) Coast
Guard cutter is completing one final search right now and after fuelling up, will head back to
Kingston."
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the man's disappearance, but still have no answers.
Sgt. Darren Britton of the Prince Edward OPP said the investigation is ongoing because the
man's sailboat was found washed up on the south shore of Prince Edward County.
On Sunday, a C-130 Hercules from 424 Transport Search and Rescue Squadron, as well as a CH146 Griffon helicopter and their search and rescue (SAR) crews were dispatched from Trenton,
to comb the area around Point Petre, where the boat was located by a passerby. United States and
Canadian Coast Guard vessels also joined in the efforts to find the missing man.
The boat was towed to the Wellington Harbour where OPP continued to inspect the vessel.
Monday morning an identification van arrived at the harbour to look for clues.
Shortly after the boat was discovered on Sunday, an official at the JRCC said they were treating
the man's disappearance as a missing person and not a fatality.
Back to Top
Section: C
Headline: Fire department needs water, but someone wants to stop us
Page: C6
Outlet: The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton)
Date: Wednesday 17 July 2013
Re: Public safety
At this time I would like to inform the people of Cumberland Bay that their safety is in danger.
This is due to the actions of a person or persons who are trying to keep the Cumberland Bay Fire
Department from having access to water at the Old Range Wharf.
We have few places that we can get water to fill our fire trucks and the wharf is one of our better
spots. Not only is this person putting the public in danger, but they are also putting themselves in
danger.
We have put up signs and they were taken down, so we painted this on the old pier: "Do not
park. Fire lane."
Now they have placed cement barriers there blocking it.
We want to let these person know that the RCMP has been informed of both actions.
I'm really not sure why they do not want us there.
Something for them to think about: it may be them or one of their loved ones that needs us to get
water there. Joseph Branscombe
Deputy chief
Cumberland Bay Fire Department
Queens County, N.B.
Only the best care for our soldiers
Re: Mental health issues among soldiers
There has been widespread discussion about the recently published Canadian Armed Forces
study entitled Deployment-Related Mental Disorders Among Canadian Forces Personnel
Deployed in Support of the Mission in Afghanistan, 2001-2008.
This scientifically-rigorous study is the most comprehensive and accurate to date in helping
guide mental health program enhancements. As in civilian society, however, we know that not
all our colleagues suffering mental disorders have yet sought care.
This is why the Defence Department invests so heavily in health surveillance and in measures to
reduce stigma. The result has been stigma reduction among CAF members to a level below that
of our closest allies, and much lower than among Canadians generally.
The Canadian Forces Health Services are also conducting several complementary studies to
better understand the mental health impact of military operations. These include a large survey
with Statistics Canada to assess illness among those who have not yet sought care.
One of the CAF's many leading-edge initiatives launched in 2009 is the 'Road to Mental
Readiness' mental health education, awareness and skills training program. It was specifically
designed with the collaboration of serving operational personnel, veterans, and family members
to increase mental resilience, enhance the ability of CAF members and their families to
recognize distress in themselves and others, and assist them in accessing care.
These investments reflect the very high priority placed on mental health by the government and
CAF leaders. Last year, then-Defence Minister Peter MacKay increased the CAF mental health
budget by $11.4 million, bringing it to $50 million a year. These resources permit us to further
enhance our comprehensive multi-disciplinary mental health system, which is already considered
a model by Canadian and allied health authorities and has had the highest ratio of mental health
workers to population in NATO.
The Canadian Forces Health Services will continue to apply the best scientific methods to
optimize CAF programs and to provide our members the best possible health care.
Brigadier-General Jean-Robert Bernier MD
Surgeon General
Ottawa, Ont.
Anglophones should speak up
Re: French school
I read in your Daily Gleaner that a new francophone school is to be built on the north side.
Why should anglophone people have the burden of paying higher taxes for something we don't
want? If this school is built, it should also have English classes to be fair to the anglophone
people.
Most of our doctors, restaurants, hospitals, radio stations, TV stations and so on are English
speaking. How are these French people going to get a job if you have to be bilingual?
The way I see it, if you're French you can get a job, but if you're English you have to be
bilingual. Come on anglophones - speak out before it's too late.
Earl J. LeBlanc
Maugerville, N.B.
Inspirational teenage heroine
Re: Malala Yousafzai
In October 2012 Malala Yousafzai, was shot in the head. The 15-year-old Pakistani girl was
targeted for execution by Taliban terrorists because she dared to champion the cause of
education.
My initial reaction was divided between admiration and loathing. Admiration because Malala
demonstrated incredible courage: risking her life on a daily basis to promote education for girls
in her country; and loathing because her would-be assassins demonstrated the lowest form of
cowardice: attempting to murder a young girl in order to impose their barbaric interpretation of a
religious text on females of all ages.
The use of terror to suppress liberty, equality and justice is outrageous. Evoking the name of any
god to justifying cold-blooded murder is contemptible.
On July 12, her 16th birthday, Malala spoke at the United Nations Youth Assembly. Her
insightful message about the value of freedom, justice and education for women and children
ricocheted around the world.
May the light radiating from her courageous spirit disperse the dark shadows of ignorance. Long
live Malala Yousafzai!
Lloyd Atkins
Vernon, B.C.
Bravo! Malala for your wisdom and bravery
Re: Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai, a global symbol of youth, gave an inspirational speech at the United Nations
to hundreds of children from around the world and UN members, including Secretary Ban Kimoon.
She acknowledged this opportunity as a great defining moment in her life and thanked God,
before whom we are all equal, and the world community for their prayers and love.
She was influenced by the many heroes of non-violence such as Jesus, Mandela, Gandhi and
Mother Teresa. Her parents promoted the importance of caring.
This powerful message to the United Nations was about world peace, stability and love,
protecting children's and women's rights while encouraging all governments to ensure
compulsory education for all.
She presented a petition to this world community signed by over four million citizens in support
of the 57 million boys and girls who are denied educational opportunities.
This inequality has created serious economic repercussions.
Bravo! Malala for your wisdom, determination and bravery in promoting the equality of children
to play, sing, speak up and be educated while not be silenced by the cowardly Taliban thugs.
Harold Phalen
Fredericton
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