{"id":685117,"date":"2026-05-21T23:05:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T23:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/685117\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T23:05:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T23:05:16","slug":"politics-insider-canadian-forces-requesting-personnel-to-return-some-field-gear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/685117\/","title":{"rendered":"Politics Insider: Canadian Forces requesting personnel to return some field gear"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let\u2019s look at what happened today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/topics\/canadian-armed-forces\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/topics\/canadian-armed-forces\/\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Armed Forces<\/a> are asking military personnel in the National Capital Region to return some field gear, including vests to hold body armour, to address what it describes as \u201ccritical equipment shortages\u201d for deployed operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Steven Chase reports that a May 13 e-mail from National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, obtained by The Globe and Mail, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/article-military-asks-personnel-in-capital-region-to-return-field-gear-citing\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/article-military-asks-personnel-in-capital-region-to-return-field-gear-citing\/\">cites this inventory shortfall.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">It directs all Canadian Armed Forces members in the region, if they are not assigned to a \u201cdeployable unit,\u201d to hand in several pieces of personal kit, including backpacks and fragmentation vests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">\u201cYour co-operation is essential to the success of this effort,\u201d the e-mail says, including photos of the requested gear, which members of the Forces would have acquired over the course of their duties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">The message says it was sent on behalf of Colonel Jeff Toope, commander of Canadian Forces Support Group Ottawa-Gatineau and commander of an area Forces base.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Department of National Defence spokesperson Daniel Blouin confirmed the e-mail in response to questions from The Globe. He estimated the message was sent to roughly 10,000 people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">In other news, Alberta Premier <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/topics\/danielle-smith\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/topics\/danielle-smith\/\" target=\"_blank\">Danielle Smith<\/a> is scheduled to give a televised address to the province at 8:45 p.m. ET., after a cabinet shuffle today that saw her name a new finance minister.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Matthew Scace and Carrie Tait report that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/alberta\/article-alberta-premier-danielle-smith-shuffles-cabinet\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/alberta\/article-alberta-premier-danielle-smith-shuffles-cabinet\/\">Jason Nixon takes over from Nate Horner,<\/a> who announced Wednesday he would not run in the next election. Nixon previously oversaw assisted living and social services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">The cabinet shuffle is a substantial overhaul of the provincial government\u2019s leadership in several key portfolios, and it is the start of what will be a busy day in Alberta politics. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Nixon\u2019s old job will now be filled by Nathan Neudorf, a cabinet veteran. Smith, when she took over as United Conservative Party Leader and Premier in the fall of 2022, excluded Nixon from her first cabinet. He had previously served in Jason Kenney\u2019s cabinet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Horner said he intends to stay in caucus until the next election, tentatively scheduled for 2027.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Smith\u2019s changes to her front bench unfolded today as a legislative committee is scheduled to reconvene later in the afternoon, when they will likely vote on UCP MLA Nate Glubish\u2019s motion to get a question about provincial secession on this fall\u2019s referendum ballot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">On Wednesday, a premature statement sent by the UCP caucus bungled Glubish\u2019s first attempt to hold a vote on recommending that cabinet proceed with an independence referendum.<\/p>\n<p><a style=\"display:block\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/resizer\/v2\/4B6PX4UPXJEG5F6KBDNI3YQ73M.JPG?auth=18017ced9bba6b22f0f609986766d21b5e8ff36c2cf02c82764f27d28d29fc88&amp;width=600&amp;height=400&amp;quality=80&amp;focal=2581%2C1279\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" data-photo-viewer-index=\"0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Open this photo in gallery:<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"figcap-text\">An e-mail from National Defence Headquarters directed CAF members to hand in several pieces of personal kit if they are not assigned to a &#8216;deployable unit.&#8217;Carlos Osorio\/Reuters<\/p>\n<p>This is the daily Politics Insider newsletter, curated by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/authors\/ian-bailey\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ian Bailey<\/a>. It is available exclusively to our digital subscribers. You can sign up for more than 20 other newsletters on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/newsletters\/?utm_source=Arcnewsletter&amp;utm_medium=onsite&amp;utm_campaign=fixed_positions&amp;utm_term=signuppage&amp;utm_content=politics_promo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">our signup page<\/a>.What else is going on<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">CRTC issues <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/business\/article-crtc-canadian-content-rules-streamers-programming-funding-requirement\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/business\/article-crtc-canadian-content-rules-streamers-programming-funding-requirement\/\">formal Canadian content rules<\/a> for streamers: The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has formalized new rules for streamers that will force them to promote Canadian and Indigenous content and contribute more to a $2-billion system of supports for domestic programming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Supreme Court will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-supreme-court-indigenous-rights-declaration-case-bc\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-supreme-court-indigenous-rights-declaration-case-bc\/\">hear Indigenous rights declaration case<\/a> from B.C.: The court said it will be hearing the case on the legal breadth of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in domestic laws.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-rcmp-watchdog-police-handling-sexual-assault-case-nova-scotia-woman\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-rcmp-watchdog-police-handling-sexual-assault-case-nova-scotia-woman\/\">Serious RCMP failures<\/a> in N.S sex-assault case before woman\u2019s murder, watchdog finds: Susan Butlin was shot and killed by Ernie Duggan in September, 2017 \u2013 six weeks after the RCMP dismissed her report that he had sexually assaulted her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">B.C. to rename Site C hydro dam <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-site-c-dam-premier-john-horgan\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-site-c-dam-premier-john-horgan\/\">after deceased premier John Horgan: <\/a>Premier David Eby, while announcing the plan in Victoria, said if Horgan were alive today he wouldn\u2019t have allowed anything to be renamed after him, joking that Horgan would have used much rougher language than dam.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Carney cautions B.C. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-carney-cautions-bc-not-to-stall-on-pipeline\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-carney-cautions-bc-not-to-stall-on-pipeline\/\">not to drag out pipeline debate:<\/a> As Prime Minister Mark Carney heads into negotiations with B.C. Premier Eby over the province\u2019s economic priorities, he cautioned that debate over a contentious new pipeline cannot go on indefinitely.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Canadian aid workers head to Congo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-canadian-aid-workers-congo-ebola-outbreak\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-canadian-aid-workers-congo-ebola-outbreak\/\">as part of Ebola outbreak response:<\/a> Chiran Livera, operations lead of the Canadian Red Cross, says he\u2019s hoping to arrive in the next few days, while a team of public health and logistics experts are already on their way.<\/p>\n<p>On our radar<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Commons on a break: The Commons is on a break until May 25. The Senate is also on a break, until May 26.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Prime Minister\u2019s Day: Carney did not have any public events today. However, he did speak with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Norway\u2019s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Party Leaders: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a news conference on property rights in North Vancouver. In her riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May attended a municipal policy and planning conference in North Saanich, and a reception on plans for a clinic focused on research and support for women\u2019s health during menopause and midlife. No schedules released for other party leaders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Ministers on the Road: In the Estonian city of Tallinn, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with her Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna, on the margins of the Canada-Baltics \u201c3+1\u201d Foreign Ministers\u2019 meeting. Anand also travelled to a NATO foreign ministers\u2019 meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">In the Nova Scotia village of Port Mouton, Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson highlighted the $957.8-million program to invest in small craft harbours from the spring economic update.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">In Winnipeg, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty announced $1.8-million in funding to support First Nations in Northern Manitoba and British Columbia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">In the Saskatchewan municipality of Sherwood, Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski announced federal funding in support of Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">In Vancouver and Burnaby, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald met with key stakeholders from the agriculture and agri-food industry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">In Iqaluit, Industry Minister M\u00e9lanie Joly announced $1.5-million in funding over three years to support workers and employers in tariff-affected sectors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">In Whitehorse, Housing Minister Gregor Robertson made an infrastructure announcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Interim NDP national director: Former NDP MP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourcommons.ca\/Members\/en\/matthew-green(93023)\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ourcommons.ca\/Members\/en\/matthew-green(93023)\">Matthew Green<\/a> is the party\u2019s new interim national director, succeeding Lucy Watson, who departed earlier this month. Green will hold the post for three months and the permanent position will be filled through a hiring process. The party announced the appointment today. The former Hamilton city councillor was an MP in the area from 2019 until 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Quote of the Day<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">\u201cI will be campaigning across the province of Alberta, encouraging Albertans to stay as part of the Canadian family, and encouraging nation-wide unity for all Canadians.\u201d \u2013 Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, at a news conference in North Vancouver today, says he and all federal Conservatives will campaign for Canadian unity in Alberta and Quebec, if sovereigntists win an October election in the latter province. <\/p>\n<p>Question period<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">The current iconic building of the National Gallery of Canada, the national art museum, was opened on this day in 1988. How much did the complex, designed by Moshe Safdie, cost?<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.<\/p>\n<p>Perspectives<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Danielle Smith is not a separatist. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/opinion\/article-danielle-smith-alberta-separatism-independence-referendum\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/opinion\/article-danielle-smith-alberta-separatism-independence-referendum\/\">She\u2019s an opportunist who got in <\/a>over her head<\/p>\n<p class=\"ma-0\">Ms. Smith didn\u2019t create the separatist monster, but she fed it and nurtured it \u2013 and at this point, she has lost control of it.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Robyn Urback, columnist <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Mr. Positive says yes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/opinion\/article-mark-carney-major-projects-infrastructure-pipeline-eby\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/opinion\/article-mark-carney-major-projects-infrastructure-pipeline-eby\/\">all the premiers\u2019 projects<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"ma-0\">Mr. Carney doesn\u2019t want to address those questions, either \u2013 not in public. He wants to talk about what will be built, not what might get in the way. But the risks are still there, somewhere in the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Campbell Clark, chief political writer <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Newfoundland and Labrador <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/opinion\/article-newfoundland-churchill-falls-quebec-energy-wakeham\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/opinion\/article-newfoundland-churchill-falls-quebec-energy-wakeham\/\">rolls the dice<\/a> with demands for major changes to Churchill Falls deal<\/p>\n<p class=\"ma-0\">With goodwill and hard work, an amended deal is possible. But the history of negotiations between these two provinces also suggests that a lot could go wrong.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Konrad Yakabuski, columnist Go deeper<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">Got a news tip that you\u2019d like us to look into? E-mail us at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/politics\/article-politics-insider-canadian-forces-requesting-personnel-to-return-some\/mailto:tips@globeandmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">tips@globeandmail.com<\/a>. Need to share documents securely? Reach out via <a href=\"https:\/\/sec.theglobeandmail.com\/securedrop\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">SecureDrop<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-article-body__text text-pr-5\">The answer to today\u2019s question: $122-million. Groundbreaking for the building took place in December, 1983, and the work was completed in April, 1988. The building, with 12,400 square metres of exhibition space, was inaugurated in May, 1988.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let\u2019s look at what happened today. The Canadian Armed Forces are asking military&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":685118,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[49,48,44,1412,2922,1398],"class_list":["post-685117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-canada","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-news","tag-newsletter","tag-noastack","tag-nodelphi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}