I was fortunate recently to take part in the Canadian Forces Liaison Council’s (CFLC) ‘ExecuTrek’ to see Exercise Maple Resolve in Wainwright, AB. There were about 80 of us; business leaders from the region, some of my fellow Honorary Colonels from across the west, and a group of International Studies students from Simon Fraser University in BC. We travelled in a Hercules aircraft from Edmonton International. From there, buses took us to see everything from battles to briefings.
The scale of Maple Resolve is quite extraordinary. Approximately 5,500 soldiers, 250 actors, contractors and consultants are on site at the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre at Wainwright, AB. Every asset in the field, from tank to LAV to every weapon, every soldier, has sensors attached. Every metric is captured on each and every asset; if a gun is only accurate at 300 metres, then a shot from 400 metres will fail, etc. etc. If wounded, a soldier is assessed a 3 hour window in which to get medical attention. If they don’t receive it, they become a casualty. Computer modelling allows every activity in the operation to be easily recreated and reviewed in real time.
Canadian Army soldiers serving with 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (CMBG) based at the Edmonton Garrison and in Shilo, Manitoba will train with elements of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the British Army, the French Army, the United States (U.S.) Army, U.S. National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, and U.S. Marine Corps. There are more than 900 soldiers from the U.S. Armed Forces, about 150 soldiers from the British Army, and 40 soldiers from the French Army. There are a number of US Blackhawk helicopters from the Colorado National Guard being used for medical air support.
As the premier Canadian Army training event of the year, Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 19 is a proving ground for soldiers in the contemporary operating environment.
During the exercise, soldiers will test their ability to integrate with Allies, non-governmental organizations, and host nation forces as they hone their skills within a realistic, complex and challenging environment. The exercise, designed and developed by the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre, provides Canadian Army soldiers, leaders, and other Canadian Armed Forces personnel a unique opportunity to enhance their combat readiness.
A wide variety of tactics, weapons, simulation technology, armoured fighting vehicles, and aircraft are used within a realistic, evolving and challenging operating environment. This exercise puts elements of our Canadian Armed Forces and our allies together in the most realistic setting possible short of an actual deployment.
CMTC’s mission is to design and deliver full-spectrum, immersive, joint and collective training events for the Canadian Armed Forces in a complex Contemporary Operating Environment in order to certify High-Readiness forces. In conjunction with the Royal Canadian Air Force, CMTC is a focal point in the Air Land Integration of the CAF. While major exercises are conducted within the Wainwright training area, support to exercises and training is exportable to any location, and CMTC frequently deploys in support of exercises around Canada and the world.
CFLC ExecuTrek program brings together business leaders to experience, firsthand, Reservists training for domestic and international response. The Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC) mandate is to build diverse relationships that promote the value of reservists to Canadian communities and to improve understanding and support for the military.
“As Alberta Chair for Canadian Forces Liaison Council it was a privilege to host business leaders at our CFLC ExecTrek Maple Resolve, says Carolyn Patton.” Alberta Chair of Canadian Forces Liaison Council.
“It was an exceptional day to experience, firsthand, CAF members training for domestic and international support. Reservists are an incredible resource of talent and bring a wealth of experience, professionalism, and leadership to many organizations. Our guests truly got to see them in action, up close and personal. Our community, workplaces and country are the beneficiaries of their well respected training. Many thanks to 3rd Canadian Division and the staff and leadership at CMTC Wainwright. I mentioned to the business leaders, when you see a Reservist thank them for their service. Better yet, hire them!”
Carolyn Patton – AB Chair CFLC
There is more information about Exercise Maple Resolve here.
For more information about the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, click here.
Here are links to several videos from Exercise.
Here are a few photos from the day.
Major Tim Day
Captain “Kate” Platoon Commander PPCLI
Rick More CEO Red Deer Chamber and Brad Dufresne, Pres Phone Experts
The Group travelled by Hercules
We learned a ton!
We ate army rations
HLCol Nick Twyman
Lloyd Lewis is Honorary Lt. Colonel of 41 Signal Regiment and serves on the Board of the AB Chapter of the CFLC. He is President of Todayville, a digital media company based in Alberta.
President Todayville Inc., Honorary Colonel 41 Signal Regiment, Board Member Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Award Foundation, Director Canadian Forces Liaison Council (Alberta) musician, photographer, former VP/GM CTV Edmonton.
Pushing back the date would preserve the pensions of some of the MPs who could be voted out of office in October 2025.
Aides to the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that MPs from the Liberal and New Democratic Party (NDP) did indeed hold closed-door “briefings” to rewrite Canada’s elections laws so that they could push back the date of the next election.
The closed-door talks between the NDP and Liberals confirmed the aides included a revision that would guarantee some of its 28 MPs, including three of Trudeau’s cabinet members, would get a pension.
Allen Sutherland, who serves as the assistant cabinet secretary, testified before the House of Commons affairs committee that the changes to the Elections Act were discussed in the meetings.
“We attended a meeting where the substance of that proposal was discussed,” he said, adding that his “understanding is the briefing was primarily oral.”
According to Sutherland, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, it was only NDP and Liberal MPs who attended the secret meetings regarding changes to Canada’s Elections Act via Bill C-65, An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act before the bill was introduced in March.
As reported by LifeSiteNews before, the Liberals were hoping to delay the 2025 federal election by a few days in what many see as a stunt to secure pensions for MPs who are projected to lose their seats. Approximately 80 MPs would qualify for pensions should they sit as MPs until at least October 27, 2025, which is the newly proposed election date. The election date is currently set for October 20, 2025.
Sutherland noted when asked by Conservative MP Luc Berthold that he recalled little from the meetings, but he did confirm he attended “two meetings of that kind.”
“Didn’t you find it unusual that a discussion about amending the Elections Act included only two political parties and excluded the others?” Berthold asked.
Sutherland responded, “It’s important to understand what my role was in those meetings which was simply to provide background information.”
Berthold then asked, “You nevertheless suggested amendments to the legislation including a change of dates?”
“My role was to provide information,” replied Sutherland, who added he could not provide the exact dates of the meetings.
MPs must serve at least six years to qualify for a pension that pays $77,900 a year. Should an election be called today, many MPs would fall short of reaching the six years, hence Bill C-65 was introduced by the Liberals and NDP.
The Liberals have claimed that pushing back the next election date is not over pensions but due to “trying to observe religious holidays,” as noted by Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen.
“Conservatives voted against this bill,” Berthold said, as they are “confident of winning re-election. We don’t need this change.”
Trudeau’s popularity is at a all-time low, but he has refused to step down as PM, call an early election, or even step aside as Liberal Party leader.
As for the amendments to elections laws, they come after months of polling in favour of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre.
A recent poll found that 70 percent of Canadians believe the country is “broken” as Trudeau focuses on less critical issues. Similarly, in January, most Canadians reported that they are worse off financially since Trudeau took office.
Additionally, a January poll showed that 46 percent of Canadians expressed a desire for the federal election to take place sooner rather than the latest mandated date in the fall of 2025.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, Trump leads Harris by 184,935 in a 53%-46% split.
Former President Donald Trump was declared the winner Saturday night in Arizona, marking the final swing state for the Republican to collect in his landslide victory.
Arizona was the seventh and final swing state to be decided, securing Trump 312 Electoral College votes.
All but Coconino, Apache, Santa Cruz, and Pima counties favored Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris. Maricopa County, the source of dozens of electoral challenges including a partisan ballot review of the 2020 election, is currently favoring Trump by more than 78,000 votes. Trump lost the state to President Joe Biden in 2020 by little more than 10,000 votes.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, Trump leads Harris by 184,935 in a 53%-46% split.
Complete election results aren’t expected for at least another week, which is no different from previous cycles. Two-page ballots with dozens of judicial retention races and ballot propositions led to slower results in the days after polls closed. A new election integrity law enacted this year requiring polling stations to count envelopes before they can send off ballots added to the lag in results.
Both the Trump and Harris campaigns made Arizona a priority throughout the election cycle, either hosting rallies themselves or sending big-name surrogates.
Campaign volunteers descended on Maricopa County to join local activists who knocked on thousands of doors in the days before the election. Many residents complained about the barrage of phone calls, texts, emails, and flyers from numerous organizations.
