Latest news with #DepartmentofNationalDefence
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A Chinese research vessel returns to Arctic waters — and Canada is watching
The Canadian military and possibly the coast guard are keeping tabs on a Chinese research vessel as it returns to Arctic waters off Alaska for the second year in a row. Data compiled by an independent researcher and ship tracker, Steffan Watkins, shows a Canadian air force CP-140 surveillance plane was flying in the vicinity of the Xue Long (Snow Dragon) 2 as it exited the Bering Strait on Sunday. The aircraft, according to Watkins's research, relocated to Anchorage, Alaska, from its base in Comox, B.C., on July 9. It has conducted four patrols since then, including the most recent one involving the vessel, which is China's first domestically built polar research ship. Despite publicly available flight tracking showing the CP-140's patrol route, the Department of National Defence would not confirm on Monday the presence of the aircraft. On Tuesday, the military released a statement. "We will continue to conduct activities needed to detect, deter and defend against potential threats in, over and approaching Canada," said Maj. Alexander Naraine, a spokesperson for the military's joint operations centre. "The vessel, Xue Long 2, is not currently in Canadian territorial waters. The Canadian Joint Operations Command is actively monitoring the vessel Xue Long 2 with a CP-140 Aurora aircraft, based out of Alaska." He said that monitoring will continue "so long as it continues to operate near Canadian territorial waters." Naraine said competitor nations are exploring Arctic waters and the sea floor, "probing our infrastructure, and collecting intelligence using dual-purpose research vessels and surveillance platforms." Coast guard says it's monitoring illegal fishing The air force appears to have picked up where the Canadian Coast Guard left off. The Chinese ice ship left Shanghai on July 6 and passed close to Japan a few days later, before heading north into Russian waters. "Shadowing the Xue Long 2 all of the way from Japan was CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which unmistakably paralleled their transit, staying in international waters," Watkins wrote in his latest post, which included ship-tracking data. The coast guard ship, the data shows, stuck with the Xue Long 2 until it crossed into the Bering Strait, between Alaska and Russia. Asked about the mission of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the coast guard at first provided a circumspect response and pointed CBC News to a June 9 media release which said the ship would be conducting high seas patrols in the North Pacific to counter "illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing." Then late Monday, the agency denied it was shadowing the Xue Long 2. The stated mission of the coast guard ship was to focus on "migratory routes for key species like Pacific salmon," it said. However, when ship-tracking data is overlaid with publicly available data on salmon migration routes, only one-third of the recent voyage involved known salmon paths. The ship's helicopter was also slated to conduct patrols with Canadian fishery officers in Japan to "monitor fishing vessels and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law," according to the statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to expand the reach, security mandate and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard as part of the Liberal government's plan to beef up the country's defences. Eventually, the federal government intends to integrate the civilian agency, currently under the Fisheries Department, into Canada's NATO defence capabilities to, as Carney put it last June, "better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance." Last summer, the Royal Canadian Navy dispatched a frigate to monitor the Xue Long 2 during its voyage to the Arctic — a mission the Department of National Defence took more than a week to acknowledge. WATCH | Canada plots military expansion in the North: University of British Columbia Arctic expert Michael Byers said he believes Canadian officials need to be more forthcoming about the security threat they believe the vessel poses. "One has to actually do a proper threat assessment," Byers told CBC News in an interview. Military experts have described the Chinese ice research ship as a dual-use vessel — suggesting it has a military or defence capacity. Byers acknowledged the ship could be collecting data that's militarily relevant, but he questions if the term "dual-use" is relying on assumptions rather than evidence. Relations with China continue to be strained and Byers said statements that are "potentially escalatory" about what the Chinese are — and are not — doing in the Arctic need to be examined carefully. Having said that, he fully supports the military and coast guard's monitoring activities. "We're very concerned as a country about China as a rising military power, and obviously China is very strongly supporting Russia with regards to its invasion of Ukraine," Byers said. "So yes, if a Chinese government vessel is sailing anywhere close to the United States or to Canada, then yeah, we would be monitoring it."
18 hours ago
- Science
A Chinese research vessel returns to Arctic waters — and it appears Canada is watching
The Canadian military and possibly the coast guard appear to have been keeping tabs on a Chinese research vessel as it returns to Arctic waters off Alaska for the second year in a row. Data compiled by an independent researcher and ship tracker, Steffan Watkins, shows a Canadian air force CP-140 surveillance plane was flying in the vicinity of the Xue Long (Snow Dragon) 2 as it exited the Bering Strait on Sunday. The aircraft, according to Watkins's research, relocated to Anchorage, Alaska, from its base in Comox, B.C., on July 9. It has conducted four patrols since then, including the most recent one involving the vessel, which is China's first domestically built polar research ship. Despite publicly available flight tracking showing the CP-140's patrol route, the Department of National Defence would not confirm on Monday the presence of the aircraft and said it couldn't immediately answer questions on the deployment. The air force appears to have picked up where the Canadian Coast Guard left off. Coast guard says it's monitoring illegal fishing The Chinese ice ship left Shanghai on July 6 and passed close to Japan a few days later, before heading north into Russian waters. Shadowing the Xue Long 2 all of the way from Japan was CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier, which unmistakably paralleled their transit, staying in international waters, Watkins wrote in his latest post, which included ship-tracking data. The coast guard ship, the data shows, stuck with the Xue Long 2 until it crossed into the Bering Strait, between Alaska and Russia. Asked about the mission of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the coast guard at first provided a circumspect response and pointed CBC News to a June 9 media release which said the ship would be conducting high seas patrols in the North Pacific to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Then late Monday, the agency denied it was shadowing the Xue Long 2. The stated mission of the coast guard ship was to focus on migratory routes for key species like Pacific salmon, it said. Researcher Steffan Watkins analyzed maritime tracking data to uncover similar paths followed by the CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Xue Long 2. Photo: Steffan Watkins However, when ship-tracking data is overlaid with publicly available data on salmon migration routes, only one-third of the recent voyage involved known salmon paths. The ship's helicopter was also slated to conduct patrols with Canadian fishery officers in Japan to monitor fishing vessels and support partner countries to ensure compliance with international law, according to the statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to expand the reach, security mandate and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard as part of the Liberal government's plan to beef up the country's defences. Eventually, the federal government intends to integrate the civilian agency, currently under the Fisheries Department, into Canada's NATO defence capabilities to, as Carney put it last June, better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance. Last summer, the Royal Canadian Navy dispatched a frigate to monitor the Xue Long 2 (new window) during its voyage to the Arctic — a mission the Department of National Defence took more than a week to acknowledge. Military experts have described the Chinese ice research ship as a dual-use vessel — suggesting it has a military or defence capacity. WATCH | Canada plots military expansion in the North: University of British Columbia Arctic expert Michael Byers said he believes Canadian officials need to be more forthcoming about the security threat they believe the vessel poses. One has to actually do a proper threat assessment, Byers told CBC News in an interview. Byers acknowledged the Chinese ship could be collecting data that's militarily relevant, but he questions if the term dual-use is relying on assumptions rather than evidence. Relations with China continue to be strained and Byers said statements that are potentially escalatory about what the Chinese are — and are not — doing in the Arctic need to be examined carefully. Having said that, he fully supports the military and coast guard's monitoring activities. We're very concerned as a country about China as a rising military power, and obviously China is very strongly supporting Russia with regards to its invasion of Ukraine, Byers said. So yes, if a Chinese government vessel is sailing anywhere close to the United States or to Canada, then yeah, we would be monitoring it. Murray Brewster (new window) · CBC News · Senior reporter, defence and security Murray Brewster is senior defence writer for CBC News, based in Ottawa. He has covered the Canadian military and foreign policy from Parliament Hill for over a decade. Among other assignments, he spent a total of 15 months on the ground covering the Afghan war for The Canadian Press. Prior to that, he covered defence issues and politics for CP in Nova Scotia for 11 years and was bureau chief for Standard Broadcast News in Ottawa. Follow Murray Brewster on Twitter (new window)
Ottawa Citizen
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Meet the crew who always race to the front of Bluesfest's main stage
Article content Usain Bolt ran the 100-metre sprint in a record time of 9.58 seconds. To get front row seats for the main stage at Bluesfest, you'll only need one minute one second. Article content For decades, a group of hardcore music-lovers have been racing and perfecting their methods to catch one of the best views amongst the crowd. Article content Article content Donald Neville, a public servant with the Department of National Defence, has been going to Bluesfest for roughly 20 years. He started going to the festival on his own, but that changed after he began noticing the same people attending the same shows every year. Article content Article content 'Over the years, different people have joined our group and we've all just kind of morphed to each other,' Neville said. 'It developed friendships.' Article content Article content The core group has about 10 members, with a couple of others flock in and out during the festival. They're always together to catch the main headliner on the RBC Stage, and security guards exchange inside jokes with several of the group's veteran members. Article content The group is always there to catch the biggest names of the festival, such as Lainey Wilson, Shania Twain, Def Leppard and Sean Paul, which means they have to forego seeing other acts to secure their spots in front of the RBC Stage. 'In order to save your spot for the headliner, you have to be there for the first show,' Neville said. 'If you think you're going to show up at 8:30 p.m. and be front row, forget it, it's not going to happen.' Article content Neville arranges to start his work day start earlier so he can leave the office around 3 p.m. and drive straight to the Canadian War Museum to try to catch a parking spot there. Then he'll usually wait inside the museum, alongside other group members, until Bluesfest gates open at 5 p.m. Article content Article content He always aims to be one of the first to get through security. To facilitate entry, he doesn't bring a bag. Article content Some members of the group are already retired and can get right in front of the gates to begin the race to the RBC stage, a distance of about 250 metres. 'There's no real big secret behind it,' Neville said. 'Having a network of friends that (can) be there at one or two in the afternoon to make sure they're right at the front of the gate helps. Article content 'It always kind of works out that we have enough room for our gang right up front.' Article content Jennifer Diotte, 48, and Julie Hanes, 63, met at a Bluesfest concert around 12 years ago and have been close friends ever since. 'It was like, 'I'll meet you there tomorrow,' and it never stopped,' Hanes said. Article content Article content Wednesday evening marked Diotte's first Bluesfest concert this year. In April 2025, she was diagnosed with bone cancer in her spine, and she spent the past month in the hospital while recovering from surgery. She was previously diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021.
CBC
15-07-2025
- CBC
Kensington town hall reopens after old mortar shell and rocket fuel removed
Social Sharing Kensington's municipal building has reopened to the public, a day after a resident dropped off old military weapons on Monday evening. Two representatives from the Department of National Defence made a trip to the Island Tuesday morning, staying for less than an hour before removing the two items from the central P.E.I. town's police department and taking them back to 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in New Brunswick. A mortar shell from the Second World War was eventually identified as a dud, with no potential to explode, but a half canister containing rocket fuel could have had the power to cause damage. On Tuesday, police said they were not sure where the fuel had originally come from or what its intended use was. "The mortar looked like something you'd see off a movie," Kensington Police Chief Landon Yuill said. "The canister looked like a canister. Both of them were really rusty so you could tell they were old, but that's all we know about them." CBC News asked for images of the objects but the request was denied. Yuill said items like this have been surrendered to Kensington police before, unsurprisingly given how many Islanders served in overseas combat arenas. "Someone, at some point, would have taken them home with them, possibly from the war, and had it maybe as a keepsake," he said. "We've had things turned in before — normally something like a grenade that's hollowed out and you can tell it's a souvenir. But with this, you couldn't tell just by looking at it if it was spent or if it was charged or what it was." Yuill had told CBC News on Monday night that the municipal building was shut down as a precaution, causing a scheduled town council meeting to be delayed until Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Unstable objects The DND has guidelines on what to do if unexploded explosive ordinance (UXO) is discovered. Time and rust can make these items unstable, so people are urged to follow these steps if they discover any. "Do not touch it, move it, throw things at it or strike it with other objects," is the first recommendation, saying it could kill or injure someone if it blows up. Then people are advised to make a note of where they saw the object before leaving the location the same way they came to it, and try to prevent anyone else from approaching the object while they await help. "As soon as possible, call 911 or contact the local police," the DND post continues.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Police in Kensington, P.E.I., shut down municipal building over 'potentially hazardous object'
The municipal building in the central P.E.I. town of Kensington was shut as a precaution on Monday night after someone brought a "potentially hazardous object" to the police force headquartered there. The episode meant the town's planned council meeting had to be postponed for a day because of what a social media post called "unforeseen circumstances," with residents urged to avoid the area. "Kensington Police Service is currently managing a potentially hazardous item located inside the municipal building," at the corner of Victoria Avenue East and Woodleigh Drive, the force said on social media around 7 p.m. AT. The same post said officers blocked access to Woodleigh Drive, including a Tim Hortons drive-through, while they dealt with the situation. The council meeting for the town of 1,800 people will now be held Tuesday night at 6 p.m. Police Chief Landon Yuill later told CBC News that a local resident had brought in an old mortar, believed to be from the Second World War. He stressed that there was no risk to the public, but police shut down the area as a precaution because the mortar could have been a piece of live munition. Yuill said Kensington officials were talking to representatives of the federal Department of National Defence based in Gagetown, N.B., to figure out how to handle the object. On its website, DND has some advice for what to do if you find "something that looks like unexploded explosive ordnance," described as military explosives that did not explode or function as intended. "Do not touch it, move it, throw things at it or strike it with other objects," is the first recommendation, saying it could kill or injure someone if it blows up. Then people are advised to make a note of where they saw the object before leaving the location the same way they came to it, and try to prevent anyone else from approaching the object while they await help. "As soon as possible, call 911 or contact the local police," the DND post continues. "If you are working on the site, tell your manager what you found, where you found it and what you did."
