NATIONAL NEWS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY / SOMMAIRE DES NOUVELLES NATIONALES
ADM(PA) / SMA(AP)
July 08 2015 / le 08 juillet 2015
MINISTER / LE MINISTRE
Forest fires
All available crews have been committed to fight against British Columbia's burning forests, a situation
that has forced officials to triage call in reinforcements from as far away as Australia. On Tuesday, 184
fires were burning across B.C., engaging more than 1,000 personnel and triggering evacuation orders
and alerts, as well as air-quality advisories. Six hundred soldiers from Edmonton have joined the fire fight
in Saskatchewan. Of those, 360 were to complete a condensed day of training before going to work on
fire lines Wednesday. Another 500 troops from Shilo, Man., were ready to be called in if needed. "They're
just getting this one day quick refresher course to make sure when they're out and in the fire zone they
are operating safely," Defence Minister Jason Kenney said (CP: TStar A6, HCH A9, CG B4, HS A14,
SJT D3).
Langridge’s medals not deserved
Canada's top general has personally written to the parents of a dead soldier to tell them their loved one's
suicide wasn't the result of his military service and to suggest medals issued in the aftermath of the death
weren't deserved. Shaun and Sheila Fynes of Victoria said they were stunned when they received the
letter on Monday from Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson. Lawson told the couple that a
military board of inquiry concluded the suicide of their son, Cpl. Stuart Langridge, in the barracks at CFB
Edmonton was not related to his service. In addition, because of that determination, Lawson raised the
issue in the June 22 letter about whether medals should have been awarded to the parents. The couple
received Memorial Crosses and the Sacrifice Medal. In March 2015, the Military Police Complaints
Commission released a scathing report outlining details of the bungled investigation into Langridge's
death. Defence Minister Jason Kenney said at the time the report clearly showed "wrongdoing and
incompetence" by military police. In his letter to the couple Lawson pointed to the conclusion from the
military's board of inquiry, or BOI, that Langridge's death "was not attributed to military service." DND
spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said in an email: "The Canadian Armed Forces are not seeking to recover
this medal" (D. Pugliese: NP A4, Ctz A1, EJ A9, VSun B3, CH A10, SSP C8, LFP B1).
Victoria lawyer appointed to MPCC
A Victoria lawyer and former Conservative candidate has been appointed to the Military Police
Complaints Commission, the civilian body that investigates allegations of wrongdoing against military
police. Troy DeSouza will serve on the quasi-judicial panel for the next four years, Minister of National
Defence Jason Kenney said in an announcement. DeSouza is a partner at Dominion GovLaw and
specializes in legal advice to municipalities (No byline: VTC S20).
Chantier Davie
Le chantier naval Davie a obtenu un contrat de 16 millions$ du gouvernement fédéral pour moderniser un
navire de la Garde côtière canadienne (GCC). L'octroi de ce contrat permettra «d'appuyer la création de
100 emplois» dans le secteur de la construction navale dans la région, a déclaré hier le député de la
circonscription dans laquelle se trouve le chantier, Steven Blaney. Le président du regroupement de
travailleurs, Jean Blanchette a indiqué que ce que Chantier Davie Canada veut vraiment obtenir comme
contrat, c'est celui du ravitailleur de la Défense nationale. Le ministre de la Défense, Jason Kenney, a
affirmé que la proposition actuelle du Chantier Davie était incomplète, mais il a plaidé que le début des
négociations était «une indication de l'intention du gouvernement de signer un contrat potentiel» (Qt 31).
ASSOCIATE MINISTER / MINISTRE ASSOCIÉ
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
CDS / CEM
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
CAF OPERATIONS / OPÉRATIONS FAC
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
IRAQ/SYRIA / IRAK/SYRIE
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
COMMEMORATION / COMMÉMORATION
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
PROCUREMENT / APPROVISIONNEMENT
No related coverage. / Aucune couverture pertinente.
OTHERS / AUTRES
Forest fires
About 600 Edmonton-based soldiers have joined battle-weary Saskatchewan firefighters trying to contain
blazes that have forced hundreds of people to flee their homes. Brigadier-general Wayne Eyre, who grew
up in Saskatchewan and is commander of Joint Task Force West in Edmonton, said the Canadian
Forces haven't pitched in with forest fires since 2003, when blazes ravaged B.C. The last time the military
helped fight forest fires in Saskatchewan was about 40 years ago. Eyre expects to have troops in the field
after extra training from Saskatchewan's firefighting experts. "We're not going to put any soldier in harm's
way before they receive a fairly detailed training package," he said. Eyre said the province of
Saskatchewan is training soldiers to assist with fire lines and other logistical tasks. The soldiers will be
split into companies and sent to four locations: two south of Lac La Ronge and two near Montreal Lake.
Eyre said the military is using approximately 30 lightarmoured vehicles and two CH 146 Griffon
helicopters. Eyre said another 500 soldiers are on standby in Shilo, Man., and can be dispatched if the
fire situation worsens in Saskatchewan (P. Parsons: EJ A1; J. Kerr: RLP A1, SSP A4; T. Hopper: NP A1,
VSun B1, CH A7, Ctz C1, Gaz A11, WStar C6, VProv A20; No byline: cbcnews.ca).
Duane McKay, commissioner of emergency management and fire safety, said the situation in La Ronge
remains "dire," but the imminent arrival of 500 soldiers to help battle the blaze will hopefully help stabilize
the situation. The soldiers from across Canada were trained in Prince Albert overnight Monday and are
expected to be on the fire line in La Ronge by Wednesday morning. An influx of equipment - including
North America's largest firefighting helicopter, which was flown up from Montana earlier this week - is also
helping bolster firefighting operations (A. Hill: SSP A1, RLP A4).
Feux de forêt
Environ 450 soldats ont reçu une formation de base sur la lutte contre les incendies et seront déployés
dès ce matin dans les zones d'incendies en Saskatchewan. Davantage de militaires pourraient être
appelés en renfort si nécessaire. Les autorités d'urgence de la Saskatchewan craignent que les vents ne
viennent attiser un important incendie de forêt jugé stable, au nord de La Ronge. La fumée causée par
les incendies a forcé l'évacuation de 9000 personnes, jusqu'à maintenant, dans plus de 50 communautés
du nord de la Saskatchewan (Qt 19, Dr 13, Le Téléjournal 22h).
Sea King emergency landing
A Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopter made an emergency landing Tuesday on Gammon Lake Drive in
Lawrencetown. Sea King helicopters are designed for anti-submarine warfare and other tactical
operations. The Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Navy have been using them since
1963. Dwight Elliott, who lives on Gammon Lake Drive, said he saw the aircraft flying low over the trees
before landing at the end of the road. Elliott said an emergency vehicle arrived at about 11:45 a.m. to give
the crew a ride back to 12 Wing Shearwater, where the helicopter is stationed. "There was no smoke;
nothing looked obviously wrong with the helicopter," he said. "The crew was very calm." Lt. Len Hickey, a
public affairs officer with 12 Wing Shearwater, said the helicopter was forced to land due to a hydraulics
issue (HCH A5).
Veterans affairs
Natasha Mohr's husband died on Christmas Day in 2008, just two months after he was diagnosed with an
advanced, aggressive brain tumour. The cause, according to an oncologist with more than 20 years of
experience dealing with brain tumours, was exposure to carcinogens during his service with the Canadian
military. In early December 2008, Natasha Mohr, a Lower Sackville mother of two, applied to Veterans
Affairs Canada for compensation on behalf of her dying husband. It was denied for lack of evidence in
January. In July of that year, she appealed the decision with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. She
went to the hearing with evidence provided by her late husband's oncologist, as well as further evidence
collected by her pension advocate of his exposure to chemicals. But her claim was again denied, the
oncologist's evidence overturned in favour of the opinion of a military doctor who was assigned to
investigate her husband's death. Mohr writes first-hand about her experience dealing with the Veterans
Review and Appeal Board in the final chapter of veteran David MacLeod's book A Dirty Little Skirmish.
Mohr said that while revisiting her pain has been difficult, writing the chapter has been therapeutic for her.
But, she said, she's still angry about her experiences with Veterans Affairs. Mohr said she plans to
continue to share her husband's story and fight for better care for veterans and their families (A. Gunn:
HCH A3).
Retirement of Chief Warrant Officer Mark Baisley
It's been an interesting 35 years for Chief Warrant Officer Mark Baisley. The native of Newcastle enrolled
in the Canadian Armed Forces in June 1980 and the adventure has been ongoing ever since. But when
the last day of this month rolls around, the veteran soldier with strong ties to Base Gagetown will be
putting on his uniform for the final time. On that day, he plans to retire (FDG A7).
Page: A6
Byline: The Canadian Press
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: News
Illustrations:
 A wildfire blazes beyond a tree line in the La Ronge, Sask., area on Sunday. Fires and smoke have forced about
9,000 people from their homes in more than 50 communities in the northern part of the province. Corey
Hardcastle/Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment
Outlet: Toronto Star
Headline: Australians, New Zealanders join B.C. fire fight; More than 1,000 battle blazes as government
predicts conditions will worsen
All available crews have been committed to fight against British Columbia's burning forests, a situation
that has forced officials to triage call in reinforcements from as far away as Australia.
On Tuesday, 184 fires were burning across B.C., engaging more than 1,000 personnel and triggering
evacuation orders and alerts, as well as air-quality advisories.
Kurtis Isfeld of the B.C. Wildfire Service said 23 of those fires had broken out Monday and the ministry
predicts 30 new wildfires will start every day as dry conditions grow more acute.
"The availability of resources is at a critical level, and any significant increase in fire load will be difficult
for us to manage," he said.
"As such, we've begun prioritizing fires based on human life and safety, property, critical values, critical
habitat and timber, and before any of those the safety of our responders will come first and foremost."
He said all the service's available crews are engaged around the province, including 622 contractors.
The government had already spent more than $90 million this season fighting the fires, well over the $63
million set aside in the budget.
Forests Minister Steve Thomson said 70 firefighters from Ontario were expected to arrive in B.C. on
Tuesday, and the province will be getting help from Australian crews, while firefighters from New Zealand
will likely head to Alberta.
Thomson said he didn't have specific numbers of how many firefighters would be coming from Australia
and New Zealand.
"Western Canada is incredibly active right now and we've certainly got a pretty dynamic situation here but
it pales in comparison to what's going on in Saskatchewan in terms of their evacuations," said fire
information officer Kevin Skrepnek.
About 9,000 people have been forced from their homes in more than 50 communities in the northern part
of that province.
Emergency officials say a large wildfire threatening one of the biggest communities in the north was
stable Tuesday, but they feared a shift in wind could change the situation.
The blaze, which had come within two kilometres of La Ronge, a town of 2,700 people, was one of
hundreds burning across Western Canada.
Six hundred soldiers from Edmonton have joined the fire fight in Saskatchewan. Of those, 360 were to
complete a condensed day of training before going to work on fire lines Wednesday.
Another 500 troops from Shilo, Man., were ready to be called in if needed.
"They're just getting this one day quick refresher course to make sure when they're out and in the fire
zone they are operating safely," Defence Minister Jason Kenney said.
Smoke from two wildfires near Whistler, B.C., is contributing to very poor air quality in the town renowned
for its outdoor activities.
Environment Canada's air quality health index lists the risk for Whistler at 10, and everyone, especially
people with respiratory problems or related concerns, is being warned to stay indoors if possible.
Dr. James Lu of Vancouver Coastal Health said air-quality advisories are also still in place in the Sea-toSky corridor, the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley because of air pollution from
the smoke.
He said the advisories will remain in effect, even though the air quality has improved.
Back to Top
Source: Ottawa Citizen
Page: A4
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: Canada
Dateline: OTTAWA
Outlet: National Post
Byline: David Pugliese
Illustrations:
 Handout / Stuart Langridge serving in Afghanistan. Langridge committed suicide in barracks in 2008.
Headline: Medals not deserved: general; Veteran suicide
Canada's top general has personally written to the parents of a dead soldier to tell them their loved one's
suicide wasn't the result of his military service and to suggest medals issued in the aftermath of the death
weren't deserved.
Shaun and Sheila Fynes of Victoria said they were stunned when they received the letter on Monday from
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson.
Lawson told the couple that a military board of inquiry concluded the suicide of their son, Cpl. Stuart
Langridge, in the barracks at CFB Edmonton was not related to his service. In addition, because of that
determination, Lawson raised the issue in the June 22 letter about whether medals should have been
awarded to the parents. The couple received Memorial Crosses and the Sacrifice Medal.
"Those medals were the only tiny bit of honour we had left from the military," explained Sheila Fynes in an
interview Tuesday. "Now they've said Stuart wasn't worthy and we shouldn't have the medals."
Langridge, a model soldier and veteran of Bosnia and Afghanistan, was suffering from post-traumatic
stress disorder when he killed himself in 2008. The death of the 28-year-old set off a sequence of military
bungling; paperwork naming Shaun as the executor of the estate was eventually found behind a filing
cabinet at CFB Edmonton, but in the meantime the military allowed another person to assume that role.
Documents clearly naming Sheila and Shaun as primary and secondary next of kin were ignored by the
Canadian Forces.
Military police investigators withheld Langridge's suicide note from his family for almost 15 months. The
letter had been specifically addressed to them.
An officer assigned to help Sheila and Shaun acknowledged in an email the family had been "deceived,
misled, and intentionally marginalized (at) various points" by National Defence and the Canadian Forces.
The Forces had also sent Sheila Fynes a legal letter forbidding her from contacting the military as she
tried to sort out her son's estate.
In March 2015, the Military Police Complaints Commission released a scathing report outlining details of
the bungled investigation into Langridge's death. Defence Minister Jason Kenney said at the time the
report clearly showed "wrongdoing and incompetence" by military police. In his letter to the couple
Lawson pointed to the conclusion from the military's board of inquiry, or BOI, that Langridge's death "was
not attributed to military service."
DND spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said in an email: "The Canadian Armed Forces are not seeking to
recover this medal."
Back to Top
Source: - Times Colonist
Page: S20
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: News
Outlet: Times Colonist (Victoria)
Headline: Lawyer who ran for Tories appointed to military board
A Victoria lawyer and former Conservative candidate has been appointed to the Military Police
Complaints Commission, the civilian body that investigates allegations of wrongdoing against military
police.
Troy DeSouza will serve on the quasi-judicial panel for the next four years, Minister of National Defence
Jason Kenney said in an announcement.
DeSouza is a partner at Dominion GovLaw and specializes in legal advice to municipalities.
In addition to his 17 years as a lawyer, DeSouza served with the Canadian Forces reserves for seven
years. He worked as an assisting officer, acting as a representative to military personnel who have been
charged with summary, or less serious, offences. It was this experience, he said, that prompted him to
become a lawyer.
The appointment, which includes a paid stipend, means DeSouza is not able to run for political office for
the next four years.
DeSouza ran for the Conservatives in Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections,
narrowly losing both times. The complaints commission reports to the minister of national defence and is
independent from the Canadian Armed Forces.
Back to Top
Source: Edmonton Journal
Page: A1 / Front
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: News
Outlet: Edmonton Journal
Byline: Paige Parsons
Illustrations:
 Supplied / Labatt is sending thousands of cans of water to Cold Lake for people who have been displaced by
forest fires.
Headline: Edmonton troops join forest-fire battle; Saskatchewan blazes threaten communities
About 600 Edmonton-based soldiers have joined battleweary Saskatchewan firefighters trying to contain
blazes that have forced hundreds of people to flee their homes.
Brigadier-general Wayne Eyre, who grew up in Saskatchewan and is commander of Joint Task Force
West in Edmonton, said the Canadian Forces haven't pitched in with forest fires since 2003, when blazes
ravaged B.C. The last time the military helped fight forest fires in Saskatchewan was about 40 years ago.
The Government of Saskatchewan reported 112 wildfires burning in the province Tuesday. Fifty-four
communities are under full or partial evacuation.
Eyre expects to have troops in the field after extra training from Saskatchewan's firefighting experts.
"We're not going to put any soldier in harm's way before they receive a fairly detailed training package,"
he said.
Eyre said the province of Saskatchewan is training soldiers to assist with fire lines and other logistical
tasks.
The soldiers will be split into companies and sent to four locations: two south of Lac La Ronge and two
near Montreal Lake.
Eyre said the military is using approximately 30 lightarmoured vehicles and two CH 146 Griffon
helicopters.
Eyre said another 500 soldiers are on standby in Shilo, Man., and can be dispatched if the fire situation
worsens in Saskatchewan.
Wildfires still plague Alberta, with 100 burning Tuesday, 37 out of control.
An evacuation order for North Tallcree First Nation has been lifted, though a fire is within three kilometres
of the community and is still classified as out of control. It has burned 5,800 hectares. On Tuesday, 165
residents returned to the community. The decision to lift the evacuation order was made by the
municipality.
On July 2, 200 people were evacuated from the small community near High Level in northern Alberta.
Residents of North Tallcree were moved to High Level, 100 kilometres southeast of High Level.
Geoffrey Driscoll, wildfire information officer with the province, said the recommendation the government
made for North Tallcree to evacuate is still in place, but said his department has been providing the
municipality with information about the
fire to inform its decisionmaking. Firefighting crews have been able to construct a 20-kilometre-long
fireguard around the blaze, separating it from the community.
"The recommendation hasn't changed, but we're not saying, 'Hey, get out' anymore," Driscoll said.
Two fires previously causing concern near the community of Meander River near the Alberta border with
the Northwest Territories appear stable. The 118 residents who were under a precautionary evacuation
order have returned home.
Alberta is aiding Saskatchewan, which has seen emergency centres packed with people who fled
northern fires.
The City of Cold Lake is providing refuge to 750 people evacuated from the La Ronge area of
Saskatchewan.
Labatt, a company better known for its beer, is sending thousands of cans of water to Cold Lake for
people displaced by forest fires.
The first trucks carrying 48,000 cans of Labattbranded purified and filtered water are scheduled to arrive
Wednesday. They will be donated to hundreds of residents of northern Saskatchewan taking refuge from
the fires.
Jeff Ryan, senior director of corporate affairs for Labatt, said the shipment is part of a stockpile of about
150,000 cans of water the company sets aside for civil emergencies in its Canadian Disaster Relief
Program.
"It's a program we've had in place since 2012 where we suspend our normal beer brewing production. We
can safe drinking water and store it and are ready to rapidly deploy that water when there is a need,"
Ryan said.
Later this week, 48,000 cans of water will be trucked to its brewery in Creston, B.C. Another 48,000 cans
of water are heading to Labatt's Edmonton brewery, in anticipation of future need throughout Alberta
during the dry, hot summer, he said.
The water is canned at Labatt's London, Ont., brewery, which is producing another batch starting this
week to replenish the stockpile for future use.
pparsons@edmontonjournal.com twitter.com/paigeeparsons
Back to Top
Source: Prince Albert Daily Herald
Page: A1 / Front
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: News
Dateline: PRINCE ALBERT
Outlet: The Leader-Post (Regina)
Byline: Jason Kerr
Illustrations:
 Jason Kerr, Prince Albert Daily Herald / Joint Task Force West will deploy roughly 30 Light Armoured Vehicle's
along withsoldiers to help navigate backwoods terrain in the fight against northern forest fires.
 Jason Kerr, Prince Albert Daily Herald / Joint Task Force West commander Brig.-Gen Wayne Eyre speaks with
Steve Roberts, executive director of wildfire management.
Headline: Battle on to save the North; Troops 'proud to serve' Saskatchewan
The first wave of troops from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry have finished training and
should be fighting fires today.
"We anticipate by the first thing tomorrow morning, we'll have the bulk of our troops out there, moving to
their base camp locations," Brig.-Gen Wayne Eyre, Joint Task Force West commander, said on Tuesday.
"Then, based on the tasks we receive from the Wildfire Management Centre, we'll push forward from
there."
As of Monday night, 220 soldiers from Joint Task Force West were trained and ready to fight fires. After
being joined by another 140 who went through training Tuesday, they will be deployed to the areas
around La Ronge and Montreal Lake.
"For me, it's a bit of excitement, to get to try something like this," said Cpl. Eric Olsen, one of the 140
soldiers who went through training on Tuesday.
"I'm definitely proud to serve the people of Saskatchewan and be here doing, hopefully, a good job for
them," added another trainee, Cpt. Elijah Macaluso. Forest firefighters normally go through five days of
training. The broad training base given to Canadian soldiers means they will only go through seven to
eight hours of training before heading out.
The additional training focuses on fire safety and management techniques.
Once trained, they'll patrol the fire line, identify and put out hot spots and help move equipment.
Eyre said he's confident the training will be enough.
"We haven't skimped on it, because risk management is a key component, understanding what risks our
soldiers are going into and making sure they've got the necessary tools to deal with those risks."
Reconnaissance teams are currently scouting four areas in the north for suitable base camp locations.
The deployment will start once they've found a suitable location, but it can't come soon enough for the
troops.
If all goes well, the province won't need to call on the 500-member reserve waiting in Shilo, Man.
Eyre said it would be a few days until they know if those troops are needed.
"Over the course of the next few days, once we get on the ground and we have a better appreciation of
how much ground we can cover, the effect that we deliver, that will determine if we're going to bring
additional troops forward or not."
Back to Top
Source: National Post
Page: A1 / Front
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: News
Outlet: National Post
Byline: Tristin Hopper
Illustrations:
 Kamika Riese / Top: Flames surround a home in La Ronge, Sask. The town and surrounding communities have
turned into ghost towns after being subject to an evacuation orderover the weekend.
 Melanie Ferguson , Canadian Army Public Affairs / Middle: Members of the Immediate Response Unit (West)
arrive at the Prince Albert Armoury, ready to fight fires with picks and shovels.
 Corey Hardcastle , Saskatchewan Ministry Of Environment / Bottom: A burned-out treeline.
 Twitter / A wave of wildfires sweeping much of Western Canada left Vancouver, Victoria and communities
throughout B.C., and the prairies, shrouded in smoke Tuesday. Some 5,000 residents ofNorthern Saskatchewan have
been evacuated to safer locales in the province and Alberta.
Headline: The battle for La Ronge; Soldiers join fight as flames hit airport, threaten homes
The fire has jumped highways, streams and even a bulldozed no-man's-land slashed through the woods
by firefighters. By Tuesday night, it surrounded La Ronge airport on three sides.
"Oh man, the fire jumped so fast and so quick," read an online update by Jack Charles, one of the
emergency personnel on the scene.
As thousands of La Ronge evacuees across the central Prairies watch with anxious anticipation, the
battle to save their town is reaching its climax.
Walls of orange flame had been seen lapping at the chain-link fences along the airport's borders. Just to
the north, ski trails and campgrounds have gone up in smoke. And the flames need only to advance a
two-minute drive to the south before they would start tearing through subdivisions.
As La Ronge gets caught in the eye of one of the worst fires in Saskatchewan history, exhausted
firefighters, overworked pilots and a deployment of Canadian soldiers are all that separates this remote
community from becoming the next Slave Lake.
"Houses stand but still in a full swing battle out there," wrote a firefighter from La Ronge in an update to
friends and family.
Cheers and honks greeted soldiers as they streamed into Prince Albert in a long convoy of olive green
pickup trucks, G wagons and armoured personnel carriers.
Like virtually every Saskatchewan city this week, Prince Albert is packed with evacuees from the north,
many of whom were more than happy to turn out to greet the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group as
liberators.
"Help is on the way!" declared a Facebook post of the vehicles kicking up dust as they pulled into Prince
Albert.
More than 500 soldiers from the Edmonton Garrison had been called into service as muscle for the
gruelling task of fighting fires with picks and shovels. "Our soldiers, by virtue of their preparation for
general war-fighting, are very well prepared for this," Brigadier-General Wayne Eyre, commander of Joint
Task Force West, assured reporters on Tuesday.
While Northern Saskatchewan is currently bearing the brunt of the 2015 fire season, it is just the
beginning of a wave of wildfires that has already swept much of Western Canada. Vancouver, Victoria
and communities throughout B.C., and the prairies, remained shrouded in smoke Tuesday.
La Ronge and surrounding communities have been turned into ghost towns after a mandatory evacuation
order over the weekend. The operation was not always easy. Residents, some of whom have never left
Saskatchewan, resisted being forced to abandon their pets or demanded that they be left behind to mount
their own last stand against the fire.
The fear, of course, is that La Ronge could become the next Slave Lake. It was only four years ago that
high winds pushed flames deep into the centre of the Alberta town, roaring over firebreaks with ease.
Within hours, more than one-third of the community was gone.
While no houses had fallen as of Tuesday night, officials were quick to warn that the slightest change
could bring a sudden Armageddon.
"The situation is dangerous, and wildfire situations can change dramatically in a very short time," read an
alert from emergency coordinator Scott Boyes, after being bombarded with requests to return.
On Tuesday, just as the first soldiers began to filter in, the smoky town of 2,500 was occupied only by
firefighters fresh from the front lines, water trucks dousing the surrounding brushland, and municipal fire
trucks cruising the streets looking for spot fires that may have drifted in on floating embers.
The trucks - which have all been scrambled to La Ronge in the past few days - come from a who's who of
smalltown Saskatchewan fire departments: Warman, Osler, Outlook and Carrot River.
The embattled airport, meanwhile, swirled with aircraft cutting through the smoke to hit advancing flames
with water. Among them - as officials were quick to remind worried residents - was a Sikorsky S-64
Skycrane from Montana, the world's largest firefighting helicopter.
"This big beast is getting ready to kick some ass today," read a Facebook post from an air traffic controller
on the scene.
Meanwhile, at evacuation centres scattered across the central prairies, more than 5,000 people slept on
cots or joined in hastily assembled activities to try to distract them from the threat and home. But many
more remained hunched over their phones, desperate for updates.
"It's getting bad here ... stuff have been getting stolen from kids while we are sleeping," wrote Tracey
Tkach in a latenight post from Cold Lake, Alta., one of the main gathering points for evacuees from the La
Ronge area.
"WE NEED TO BE BACK IN OUR HOME PROVINCE WHERE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT US!!!!
thopper@nationalpost.com
Back to Top
Source: The Starphoenix
Page: A1 / Front
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: Local
Outlet: The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)
Byline: Andrea Hill
Illustrations:
 Photo Courtesy Corey Hardcastle / P ilot Corey Hardcastle, a bird dog pilot for the Ministry of Environment out
of La Ronge, took this photo of a plane helpingto ght a re in northern Saskatchewan.
 Photo Courtesy Corey Hardcastle / A forest fire burns in northern Saskatchewan. The situation in La Ronge
remains dire, but the arrival of soldiers to help battle the blaze should help stabilize the situation.
Headline: Battle on to save the north; All homes in La Ronge, Pinehouse standing despite blazes on their
doorsteps
Fires around the northern Saskatchewan town of La Ronge are growing, but have not crept closer to
homes or other community infrastructure.
"To be honest, we were expecting a heck of a battle today and so far - so far - I haven't heard a lot of bad
news," La Ronge resident Scott Boyes said late Tuesday. He's among those remaining in town to assist
with emergency operations.
Of the 113 active fires in the province, the one posing the most threat to infrastructure continues to be
north of La Ronge. A mandatory evacuation order was issued there during the weekend and flames have
been within two kilometres of people's homes since Monday.
Boyes said fire crews have bulldozed ground in front of infrastructure deemed to be at risk of burning
down, so fires that push closer to the community will be slowed down and firefighters will have better
access to fight them. Small fires have been starting up near the bulldozer lines all week, but local
firefighters are patrolling the town at all hours and extinguishing them immediately, Boyes said.
Duane McKay, commissioner of emergency management and fire safety, said the situation in La Ronge
remains "dire," but the imminent arrival of 500 soldiers to help battle the blaze will hopefully help stabilize
the situation.
The soldiers from across Canada were trained in Prince Albert overnight Monday and are expected to be
on the fire line in La Ronge by Wednesday morning.
An influx of equipment - including North America's largest firefighting helicopter, which was flown up from
Montana earlier this week - is also helping bolster firefighting operations.
Power out in Pinehouse
Military members could eventually be deployed to Pinehouse, about 200 kilometres northwest of La
Ronge, where a second massive fire is threatening the community, which has been without power for
more than a week.
Most of the 1,500 people in Pinehouse have fled south, but roughly 60 residents are still there,
maintaining infrastructure and manning the emergency command centre.
Steve Roberts, the province's executive director of wildfire management, said crews have put guards in
place to prevent the fire from entering the town's boundaries and no structures have yet been lost.
The looming 85,000 hectare fire - roughly the size of 45,000 football fields - is two kilometres outside of
town.
"It is of a concern to us to hold that fire stable," Roberts said.
Three kilometres of power lines outside Pinehouse burned down more than a week ago, forcing residents
to rely on generators to keep food refrigerated and the command centre operational.
Workers have been toiling to rebuild the power lines so power and phone service can be restored to the
area.
Tyler Hopson, a spokesperson for SaskPower, said crews could have this done as early as Tuesday night
if weather conditions remain favourable.
McKay said the residents left behind "seem to be doing well" despite the lack of power and imminent
threat of fire.
Back to Top
Page: A5
Outlet: The Chronicle-Herald
Byline: Evan Webster
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Headline: Chopper puts down on road; No crew members injured when Sea King has hydraulics problem
Section: News
Illustrations:
 A Canadian Forces Sea King helicopter made an emergency landing on Gammon Lake Drive near Lawrencetown
on Tuesday.
 Christian Laforce Staff
A Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopter made an emergency landing Tuesday on Gammon Lake Drive in
Lawrencetown.
Sea King helicopters are designed for anti-submarine warfare and other tactical operations. The
Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Navy have been using them since 1963.
Dwight Elliott, who lives on Gammon Lake Drive, said he saw the aircraft flying low over the trees before
landing at the end of the road.
"I was out getting a load of mulch for the garden," said Elliott, 46. "I saw the chopper get put down there
at the cul-de-sac at the end of the road. I heard the rotor stop, so I went over to see if everything was
OK."
Elliott said an emergency vehicle arrived at about 11:45 a.m. to give the crew a ride back to 12 Wing
Shearwater, where the helicopter is stationed.
"There was no smoke; nothing looked obviously wrong with the helicopter," he said. "The crew was very
calm."
Lt. Len Hickey, a public affairs officer with 12 Wing Shearwater, said the helicopter was forced to land due
to a hydraulics issue.
"During routine training south of Halifax, one of the Sea Kings experienced a drop in hydraulic pressure in
the flight control system. As per standard operating procedure, the helicopter conducted a precautionary
landing in the vicinity."
Hickey said none of the crew members on board were injured. Mechanics were on the scene, and they
expected to repair the helicopter without any issues.
"The aircraft landed safely and shut down without incident," he said Tuesday. "Flight safety technicians
have been dispatched from 12 Wing to investigate the issue. They're pretty confident they can get it
sorted out and have the aircraft repaired later this afternoon."
Back to Top
Page: A3
Outlet: The Chronicle-Herald
Byline: Andrea Gunn
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Headline: Navy widow says Veterans Affairs 'cold', 'arrogant'
Section: News
Natasha Mohr's husband died on Christmas Day in 2008, just two months after he was diagnosed with an
advanced, aggressive brain tumour.
The cause, according to an oncologist with more than 20 years of experience dealing with brain tumours,
was exposure to carcinogens during his service with the Canadian military.
Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Mohr, a naval communications technician, spent time serving in the
Persian Gulf and was involved in the Swissair Flight 111 recovery effort, both of which involved exposure
to dangerous chemicals. He was also exposed to asbestos during his service.
In early December 2008, Natasha Mohr, a Lower Sackville mother of two, applied to Veterans Affairs
Canada for compensation on behalf of her dying husband. It was denied for lack of evidence in January.
In July of that year, she appealed the decision with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. She went to
the hearing with evidence provided by her late husband's oncologist, as well as further evidence collected
by her pension advocate of his exposure to chemicals. But her claim was again denied, the oncologist's
evidence overturned in favour of the opinion of a military doctor who was assigned to investigate her
husband's death.
"This was just a base doctor,
a general practitioner with no experience dealing with cancer," she said.
In fact, Mohr said, when her husband was diagnosed with cancer, he was immediately released from
military care into the hands of a civilian hospital because the military hospital was not capable of dealing
with cancer.
"Why would they assign a base doctor to investigate my husband's passing?" she still wonders, nearly
seven years after his death.
Mohr writes first-hand about her experience dealing with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board in the
final chapter of veteran David MacLeod's book A Dirty Little Skirmish.
"By including this chapter, we acknowledge the ones who bear the brunt of political and VAC bureaucratic
failure: the families of veterans," MacLeod writes in the book's introduction.
Mohr said that while revisiting her pain has been difficult, writing the chapter has been therapeutic for her.
But, she said, she's still angry about her experiences with Veterans Affairs.
"It was emotional rape," she said. "When I watched (my husband) suffer and all I could think was 'this
man died in service to his country.' How could they dismiss that? How could they be so cold? How could
they have the arrogance to dismiss what was presented before them?"
Mohr said she plans to continue to share her husband's story and fight for better care for veterans and
their families. "It's for (my children), it's for their dad, and every other Canadian soldier who this has
happened to and to whom it will happen."
Back to Top
Page: A7
Byline: Michael Staples
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: Opinion
Outlet: The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton)
Headline: Baisley has a plan for life after the Canadian Forces
It's been an interesting 35 years for Chief Warrant Officer Mark Baisley.
The native of Newcastle enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in June 1980 and the adventure has
been ongoing ever since.
But when the last day of this month rolls around, the veteran soldier with strong ties to Base Gagetown
will be putting on his uniform for the final time. On that day, he plans to retire.
"I've been extremely lucky," said Baisley, who holds the position of regimental sergeant-major with 5th
Canadian Division, the Army in Atlantic Canada. "I joined in 1980 and I was fortunate enough to stay
pretty much in line units my whole career, where I was with the troops."
As a senior non-commissioned officer, Baisley has used his role over the years to address the concerns
and issues of enlisted soldiers, making him a popular person among the rank and file.
"It's kind of strange," Baisley said in describing his upcoming retirement. "I'm not nervous. I am not
apprehensive; I guess it's just another step for me. I said I'd do 35 years and it's coming up. I guess I was
able to prepare myself a few years back."
Baisley, who has had a varied and active military career, is probably best known at Base Gagetown
because of his time with The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR), the province's
regular force infantry unit.
He was initially posted to the battalion in 1981, where he was employed in a variety of jobs - including
rifleman, a member of the Pioneer Platoon, Rifle Section Commander, and Reconnaissance Section
Commander - leaving in 1988.
He returned six years later where he served as Platoon 2I/C in Golf Company and Company
Quartermaster for both India and Kilo companies.
He also spent time with 1RCR and 3RCR.
Upon promotion to chief warrant officer, Baisley returned to Gagetown and worked with the Land Forces
Trials and Evaluation Unit.
In June 2006, he was appointed regimental sergeant-major of 2RCR.
From January to August 2007, he deployed to Kandahar Province in Afghanistan as the RSM of the
2RCR Battle Group.
That, Baisley said, was the highlight of his career.
"I think any soldier that joins, especially the combat arms, it's like a dream to become the RSM," Baisley
said. "I was just fortunate the army saw fit to appoint me and then I got to deploy with the battalion."
The commander of the battle group in 2007 was Lt.-Col. Rob Walker, now a full colonel.
Baisley said he was with Walker when he came under attack in Afghanistan, something that served to
bond the two of them.
"We were hit a total of five times while we were over there," he said. "Nothing really serious. He had a
minor injury, but we definitely had a bond. I think from the point of view as a command team with the
battalion they understood that Col. Walker would never ask them to for anything that he wouldn't do. We
travelled the roads more than most of the troops and I think that's where the bond formed, not only
between us, but with the members of the battalion."
Baisley said it was a tough mission in many ways, especially with the lives lost.
"That was the low point when you think back, the soldiers that we lost," Baisley said. "Every time you
used to hear a nine-liner come in, your heart would stop because you were hoping against all that it
wasn't going to be as bad as sometimes it turned out to be. That I won't forget."
Eighteen soldiers were lost in the battle group during that 2007 mission, he said.
Now that retirement is getting closer by the day, the 53-year-old Baisley said the biggest plan at the
moment is to relax.
He and his wife will be staying in Halifax for the first year and then moving to the Shediac area where they
intend to build a house.
After that, Baisley said he intends to go to the New Brunswick Community College and take a course in
motorcycle and snowmobile engine repair.
"I own an ATV and I plan to get a snowmobile so I may as well learn how to take care of it," he said. "If
the wife thinks I am getting bored, I might just have to go work somewhere."
Baisley said he has no intention at this time to join the reserves.
"The reason for that is the position I am leaving from, it's like being a principal and all of a sudden you are
going back into a job where you are sort of like a substitute teacher," he said. "There are commanding
officers from reserve units that have asked me to be RSM of their unit. But I just look into their unit and
they've got some young, keen guys coming up and I don't just think it would be fair for me to step in. I
think they need the opportunity to step up. It's not in the equation right now, but I can't say never."
But, Baisley said, he will be on the supplementary reserve list, a roster of honourably released personnel
who agree to be part of a pool of trained men and women.
The idea is for them to be available if and when the need comes.
Baisley said the message he wants to leave the many friends and acquaintances he's made over the
years as he prepares to retire is a simple one.
"A big thank you for all their support. I have been blessed. No matter who I worked with, it seemed that
everybody supported me. It's a thank you to all of them."
And what if a comrade shows up on his doorstep one night in the months ahead with a six pack?
"I'd have no problem sitting down and drinking that with them," he concluded. "That will be my biggest
challenge, missing that camaraderie."
Good luck in the future and thanks for serving your country in such a remarkable fashion.
Michael Staples covers the military for The Daily Gleaner. He can be reached at
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com.
Back to Top
Source: Presse Canadienne
Page: 31
Byline: Mélanie Marquis
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: Actualités
Dateline: OTTAWA
Outlet: Le Quotidien
Headline: 16 M$ pour moderniser un brise-glace
Le chantier naval Davie a obtenu un contrat de 16 millions$ du gouvernement fédéral pour moderniser un
navire de la Garde côtière canadienne (GCC).
L'octroi de ce contrat permettra «d'appuyer la création de 100 emplois» dans le secteur de la construction
navale dans la région, a déclaré mardi dans un communiqué le député de la circonscription dans laquelle
se trouve le chantier, Steven Blaney.
Les travaux qui seront effectués sur le brise-glace Henry-Larsen afin de prolonger sa durée de vie
devraient commencer en juillet 2015 et se terminer avant mai 2016, selon le gouvernement fédéral.
Ce projet est en partie financé par la Stratégie nationale d'approvisionnement en matière de construction
navale, qui vise à renouveler la flotte de la GCC.
Au Syndicat des travailleurs du chantier naval de Lauzon, on s'est réjoui d'avoir décroché ce quatrième
contrat de la Garde côtière en l'espace d'un peu moins d'un an.
«C'est une bonne nouvelle», a affirmé en entrevue téléphonique le président du regroupement de
travailleurs, Jean Blanchette.
Mais ce que Chantier Davie Canada veut «vraiment obtenir» comme contrat, c'est celui du ravitailleur de
la Défense nationale, a-t-il insisté.
«Ça va permettre de maintenir des emplois stables», et «tout le monde dit que Davie a la meilleure
proposition», a argué le leader syndical.
Le gouvernement fédéral a annoncé le 23 juin dernier qu'il entamait des pourparlers en ce sens avec le
chantier naval situé à Lévis.
Le ministre de la Défense, Jason Kenney, a affirmé que la proposition actuelle du chantier Davie était
incomplète, mais il a plaidé que le début des négociations était «une indication de l'intention du
gouvernement de signer un contrat potentiel»
En mai dernier, faute d'ouvrage, le chantier Davie a dû mettre à pied 234 de ses quelque 800 travailleurs,
selon Jean Blanchette.
Environ une centaine des employés qui avaient repris le chemin de la maison devraient donc être
rappelés pendant la période visée par les travaux, a-t-il évalué.
Back to Top
Source: Presse Canadienne
Page: 19
Date: Wednesday 08 July 2015
Section: Actualités
Illustrations:
 Les autorités d'urgence de la Saskatchewan craignent que les vents ne viennent attiser un
important incendie de forêt jugé stable, au nord de La Ronge.
Outlet: Le Quotidien
Headline: L'armée sera déployée en Saskatchewan
Environ 450 soldats ont reçu une formation de base sur la lutte contre les incendies et seront déployés
dès ce matin dans les zones d'incendies en Saskatchewan.
Davantage de militaires pourraient être appelés en renfort si nécessaire, ont indiqué les responsables.
Une héligrue du Montana aide aussi à combattre les flammes.
Les autorités d'urgence de la Saskatchewan craignent que les vents ne viennent attiser un important
incendie de forêt jugé stable, au nord de La Ronge. Les résidants de cette communauté, une des plus
grandes de la région, ont été évacués le week-end dernier.
La fumée causée par les incendies a forcé l'évacuation de 9000 personnes, jusqu'à maintenant, dans
plus de 50 communautés du nord de la Saskatchewan. Les 200 personnes évacuées de North Tallcree,
une Première Nation éloignée dans le nord de la province, jeudi, ont eu plus de chance: elles ont été
autorisées mardi à regagner leur demeure. Au pire de la situation, les flammes se sont approchées à trois
kilomètres du village.
En Alberta, les responsables comptaient mardi 93 incendies de forêt actifs, dont 37 non maîtrisés. Par
ailleurs, en Colombie-Britannique, la fumée émanant de deux feux près de Whistler continuait de
présenter un risque pour la qualité de l'air.
L'indice de qualité de l'air d'Environnement Canada pour Whistler était de 10+, soit «Risque très élevé».
En comparaison, toutes les autres régions avaient un indice situé entre 2 et 6. Selon l'agent d'information
sur les incendies Kevin Skrepnek, la fumée émanant des incendies de la vallée de la rivière Elaho et de
Boulder Creek a commencé à se déplacer vers Whistler.
M. Skrepnek a précisé que 182 incendies brûlaient à travers la Colombie-Britannique et que quatre
d'entre eux présentaient un défi particulier pour les équipes puisqu'ils étaient situés dans des régions
escarpées ou éloignées. Huit ordres d'évacuations ont été donnés.
Back to Top
MEDIA SOURCES AND ABBREVIATIONS
LES SOURCES MÉDIATIQUES ET ABRÉVIATIONS
AN (L’Acadie Nouvelle)
CG (Charlottetown Guardian)
CH (Calgary Herald)
CSun (Calgary Sun)
Ctz (Ottawa Citizen)
Dr (Le Droit)
Dv (Le Devoir)
EJ (Edmonton Journal)
ESun (Edmonton Sun)
FDG (Fredericton Daily Gleaner)
G&M (Globe and Mail)
Gaz (Montreal Gazette)
HCH (Halifax Chronicle-Herald)
HS (Hamilton Spectator)
JM (Le Journal de Montréal)
JQ (Le Journal de Québec)
KWS (Kingston Whig-Standard)
LFP (London Free Press)
LN (Le Nouvelliste - Trois Rivières)
MT&T (Moncton Times and Transcript)
NBTJ (New Brunswick Telegraph Journal)
NP (National Post)
OSun (Ottawa Sun)
Pr (La Presse)
RLP (Regina Leader-Post)
SJT (St. John’s Telegram)
Sol (Le Soleil)
SSP (Saskatoon Star-Phoenix)
TM (Télémédia)
TStar (Toronto Star)
TSun (Toronto Sun)
VSun (Vancouver Sun)
VE (Le Voix de L’Est, Granby)
VProv (Vancouver Province)
VSun (Vancouver Sun)
VTC (Victories Times-Colonist)
WFP (Winnipeg Free Press)
WStar (Windsor Star)
WSun (Winnipeg Sun)
Published by / Publié par
P&L Communications Inc.
95 Glebe Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 2C2
Inquiries: info@plcom.on.ca / Web Site: http://www.plcom.on.ca/