Canada offers UN helicopters, planes, trainers; no decision on where

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Trudeau government is formally offering helicopters, transport aircraft and a 200-strong rapid-response team of soldiers for UN peacekeeping — though it will be months before Canadians know when and where they will go.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is unveiling the planned contributions at a high-level summit today in Vancouver today, including millions of dollars to increase the role of women in peacekeeping.

He says the Canadian commitment to the peacekeeping effort will endure.

“We believe in peacekeeping. We have seen its power to transform and we know that there is no greater gift that we can leave our children and grandchildren than true and lasting peace.”

The moment marks Canada’s most tangible step back into peacekeeping — long the country’s traditional military role — since the Liberals promised last year to provide the UN with up to 600 troops and 150 police officers.

Trudeau says the traditional approach to peacekeeping has focused on where to deploy troops and equipment. But he says the emphasis now is on how, not where, Canada is engaged.

“By better aligning what is offered with what is needed, by identifying up front when and how we can help, and by making sure that we get the right equipment and expertise into the right places at the right times — we can collectively ensure that every UN mission has what it needs to succeed from beginning to end,” he says.

But government officials who briefed reporters on background prior to the announcement say Canada and the UN have only just started what could be six to nine months of discussions about when and where those capabilities are needed.

That’s because Canada is offering the troops and equipment without dictating where they must go — an approach a senior UN official praised this week for giving the organization more flexibility in filling critical gaps in different missions.

Canada is offering a total of $21 million to help increase the number of women in peacekeeping.

“For our part, Canada is working hard to increase the number of women who serve in our armed forces and we are equally committed to increasing the number of women we deploy as a part of the UN peace operations,” says Trudeau.

Dozens of military trainers are also being offered to help other countries become better at doing the job themselves.

The number of Canadian blue helmets and blue berets in the field sank to just 62 last month, a new low down from 68 in September.

Former Canadian soldier slams new peacekeeping plan

A former Canadian soldier who commanded two UN peacekeeping missions is publicly criticizing the Trudeau government’s new plan. Retired Major General Lewis Mackenzie is not holding back.

“It’s a dog’s breakfast. There’s no doubt about it,” he says.

Mackenzie tells us the plan to spread Canada’s resources through smaller efforts in multiple missions will have little impact, and leaves other countries to do the heavy lifting in conflict zones.

“It’s almost a degree of arrogance — We’re not going to do any of the heavy lifting, but we’ll show other people how to do it better. I just shake my head.”

Mackenzie commanded UN missions in Central America and the former Yugoslavia. He says the commitments from Canada are not unique and are already being offered or could easily be provided by many others.

Mackenzie believes the government wants a lot of credit for not really don’t much. “That’s going to win you brownie points for this useless seeking of a non-voting seat on the security council in 2020.”

On the other hand, UN officials are applauding the announcement, saying Canada’s equipment and personnel are needed in many current missions.

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