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91-672: This idea came about as part of the development of the Joint Support Ship Project of the Royal Canadian Navy and the need to improve the strategic sealift and amphibious assault capability of the Canadian Forces. Many of the capabilities required for strategic sealift were to be included in the Joint Support Ship Project, however, a dedicated amphibious assault ship was favoured by some, such as then Chief of

182-570: A Canadian Alliance candidate and then was re-elected five times as a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada . Following the Conservative victory in the 2006 federal election , Kenney was appointed parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Harper. In January 2007, he was sworn into the Privy Council as the secretary of state for multiculturalism and Canadian identity. Kenney held

273-403: A 2025 delivery. Preserver is expected to follow in 2027, though the dates for the operational service entry of both ships remain "under review". Given delays and in an effort to try to speed up the process of building the ships, steel was cut for the ships in 2018 during a lull in the construction of two Canadian Coast Guard science vessels at the yard. On 5 February 2019, it was announced that

364-484: A Conservative campaign promise from the 2011 Canadian federal election , Kenney initiated the creation of the Office of Religious Freedom , an agency of Foreign Affairs Canada , to monitor religious oppression domestically and promote religious freedom internationally. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair endorsed the office in a visit to Canada in 2013, saying, "I think it shows leadership from Canada. And Canada, by

455-704: A contract for the construction of these ships was planned to be signed in 2009, with the first vessel available for operational service in 2012. In 2010, the federal government incorporated the project into the National Shipbuilding Strategy . On 2 June 2013, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada's Berlin -class replenishment ship was selected. The Canadian vessels will be a variant of the Berlin class, built at Seaspan's yard in North Vancouver, British Columbia . Initial construction work began in 2018, but

546-562: A contract to convert the container ship MV  Asterix for the replenishment role until the joint support ships were delivered. The contract is known as Project Resolve . The vessel was built in 2010 in Germany and was converted for use by the RCN. Construction of the first JSS had been scheduled to begin at the Seaspan Yard in late 2017, following the construction of two other classes of ships for

637-729: A dock. The actual capabilities have been listed as being able to carry 64 twenty-foot equivalent units of shipping containers , which can be used to store food, water, vehicles, and other specialized equipment to support land or sea-based operations, including humanitarian aid or disaster relief. Additionally, these containers can house special mission fit cargo, such as mobile hospitals and portable communication centers, which could be offloaded or airlifted ashore. Holds up to 6,875 tons of F76 marine fuel, 1,037 tons of F44 aviation fuel, an onboard hospital with surgical and dental facilities. The Berlin -class design ultimately selected incorporated somewhat modified components: The Canadian variant of

728-720: A formal contract for the construction of both ships was only signed in June 2020. In order to speed construction of the Protecteur -class naval auxiliaries, the delivery of the first of the new class of polar icebreakers, CCGS  Arpatuuq , will be delayed until at least 2030. On 25 October 2013, the Minister of National Defence named the JSS the Queenston class with two ships named, HMCS Queenston and Châteauguay . Their namesakes were battles of

819-416: A hard-line approach to national security, saying that it was necessary for Canada to fight against Islamic State militants to prevent them from becoming a threat to the country. In March 2015, Kenney claimed that Russian warships had confronted Royal Canadian Navy craft, and that Russian fighters had buzzed HMCS  Fredericton at low altitude while it participated in a NATO maritime task force off

910-501: A large hospital on board designed for treating combat casualties. The ship will be able to carry a battalion-size able to conduct noncombatant evacuation operation around the world. The Canadian Alliance Party had issued a call for procuring four "support / amphibious ships, at least one dedicated helicopter / light carrier". First considered in the year 2000, whether the Amphibious Assault Ship Project ever made it to

1001-467: A lawsuit by the deleted applicants failed to preserve the applications. There was significant criticism of the institution of a Designated Country of Origin (DCO) list, which attributes countries as being unlikely to persecute. Therefore, refugee claimants coming from these countries—including Hungary , Mexico , and Israel —will undergo a different refugee claimant process than those from non-DCO countries. Furthermore, refugee claimants from countries on

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1092-436: A multi-purpose covered deck with the ability to carry up to 10,000 tonnes of ship fuel, 1,300 tonnes of aviation fuel, 1,100 tonnes of ammunition as well as 1,000–1,500 lane metres of deck space for carrying vehicles and containerized cargo. The vessels were also to have hospital facilities as well as a large helicopter deck with two landing spots, hangar space for four helicopters, and a roll-on/roll-off deck for vehicles onto

1183-559: A speech at an Army of the Republic of Vietnam rally, lending support to the program. That same month, Kenney launched the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), which established $ 13.5 million CAD in funding over five years for commemorative projects by ethno-cultural communities that had been subject to discriminatory Canadian immigration and wartime policies. By the project's conclusion in 2013, all of

1274-401: A spouse or partner had to live as husband and wife for a minimum of two years with their Canadian sponsor, or else they would have their status revoked. As part of Kenney's Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act , introduced in June 2012, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism would have the ability to deny entry to Canada based on "public policy considerations." Kenney

1365-585: A terrorist group in Canada. Galloway pursued the matter in the Canadian court system, where it was revealed that Kenney's office had emailed the CBSA on the matter. The Federal Court found that Kenney's office had used "a flawed and overreaching interpretation of the standards under Canadian law for labeling someone as engaging in terrorism or being a member of a terrorist organization." The presiding judge also determined that

1456-491: The Amphibious Assault Ship Project , which was a proposed separate procurement project that never advanced beyond the concept stage. As of 2010 , the Joint Support Ship Project envisioned several multi-role vessels capable of supporting the Royal Canadian Navy's warships at sea, as well as providing strategic sealift and some airlift for naval task groups or army operations. The vessels were envisaged as having

1547-639: The Berlin class may incorporate additional modifications from the original design. Vessels will be designed with double hulls for storage of petroleum products, unlike the former Protecteur -class single-hull vessels. In 2004, the federal government started the Joint Support Ship Project. Four consortiums sought the contract, led by Irving Shipbuilding , BAE Systems , ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada , and SNC-Lavalin ProFac . Two design finalists were selected in November 2006: ThyssenKrupp and SNC-Lavalin ProFac with

1638-569: The Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security disability appeals, which had become backlogged under the previous tribunal process. In January 2014, Kenney reached an agreement with all provincial and territorial counterparts, except Quebec, to implement the Canada Job Grant , which aimed to train unemployed workers who did not qualify for unemployment insurance over a period of four years. The final agreement provided more flexibility for

1729-701: The Canadian Armed Forces would be sent to Ukraine as trainers for Ukrainian forces as part of Operation UNIFIER. The soldiers, who arrived in September 2015, were from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) and were stationed in at the Ukrainian Armed Forces International Peacekeeping and Security Centre near the Polish–Ukrainian border at Yavoriv . In May 2015, after a report was published on sexual misconduct in

1820-469: The Canadian Coast Guard . In 2020, project costs had escalated significantly with an estimated $ 4.1 billion being required to complete the project. In 2022, delivery of the first ship was delayed until 2025, followed by the second ship in 2027. This updated delivery schedule was uncertain and the entire project budget was again under "review". The first of class, Protecteur , is scheduled for

1911-699: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation , a self-described taxpayer's advocacy group that scrutinizes governmental expenditure from a conservative perspective. Kenney was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1997, at the age of 29. He was elected as a member of the Reform Party of Canada , which later became the Canadian Alliance . While a member of the House of Commons, Kenney was co-chair of

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2002-649: The Canadian refugee system . The reform package committed to allowing the resettlement of 2,500 more refugees living in United Nations refugee camps and urban slums. The plan also included expansion of the Government-Assisted Refugees Program to 500 places, while a further 2,000 resettlement places were added to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program . In total, the new plan would lead to

2093-559: The Dalai Lama in 2010. On February 6, 2006, Kenney and Sylvie Boucher were appointed as parliamentary secretaries to the prime minister , Stephen Harper . That August, when two opposition MPs suggested removing Hezbollah from Canada's list of terrorist organizations, Kenney came under fire for comparing the organization to the Nazi Party . Later, he rebuked Prime Minister of Lebanon Fuad Saniora for his criticisms of Canada, invoking

2184-583: The Department of National Defence and Department of Fisheries and Oceans . In July 2010, Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced an initial purchase of two joint support ships (at a cost of $ 2.6 billion) with options for a third. On 11 October 2010, the Government of Canada invited five shipbuilding companies "to participate in a request for proposals" for the NSPS. On 19 October 2011, the Government of Canada announced

2275-612: The Queenston class) of naval auxiliaries for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) began as the Joint Support Ship Project , a Government of Canada procurement project for the RCN that is part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy . It will see the RCN acquire two multi-role vessels to replace the earlier Protecteur -class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels. The project has suffered from considerable delays. Originally announced in 2004,

2366-625: The Quran from the Netherlands . Wilders spoke in Toronto and Ottawa, generating further controversy. A new law amending the Citizenship Act came into effect on April 17, 2009. One of the changes instituted by the Government of Canada is the "first generation limitation", considered a punitive measure by some against naturalized citizens who reside abroad for lengthy periods of time. Minister Kenney said

2457-562: The Saskatchewan Liberal Party . He was "very involved in the young Liberals" as a young man, and in 1988 was executive assistant to Ralph Goodale , the leader of the provincial party at the time. Not long after, in 1989, Kenney was hired as the first executive director of the Alberta Taxpayers Association, which advocated for fiscal responsibility. In 1990, Kenney was named president and chief executive officer of

2548-773: The United Alternative Task Force, national co-chairman of Stockwell Day 's campaign for leadership of the Alliance, and national co-chair of the Canadian Alliance's 2000 election campaign . While on the Opposition benches between 1997 and 2006, Kenney served in several prominent shadow cabinet roles, including deputy House leader for the Official Opposition , critic for Canada–United States relations , critic for national revenue , and critic for finance . He

2639-508: The University of San Francisco , but returned to Canada without completing his degree. In 1989, he was hired as the first executive director of the Alberta Taxpayers Association before becoming the president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation . Kenney was elected to the House of Commons in the 1997 federal election for the Reform Party . In 2000 , he was re-elected as

2730-614: The War of 1812 , Queenston Heights and Châteauguay . A name was also chosen for a possible third ship in the class, HMCS Crysler's Farm , named after the Battle of Crysler's Farm . The option for the third vessel was dropped due to budget constraints. On 12 September 2017, the Canadian government renamed the vessels, taking the names of the ships of the class that they are to replace. Queenston became Protecteur and Châteauguay became Preserver . According to Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd , commander of

2821-476: The $ 25 million CAD that the country received from Canada in reconstructive assistance during the 2006 Lebanon War . On January 4, 2007, Kenney was sworn in as the secretary of state for multiculturalism and Canadian identity and as a Privy Councillor . In this capacity, Kenney was the Harper government's representative to ethnic communities in Canada, and made frequent appearances at ethnic community events across

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2912-554: The 520 described in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). A cap of 20,000 applications per year for the skilled workers class was also introduced. As of July 1, 2011, a maximum of 10,000 Federal Skilled Worker applications will be considered for processing in the subsequent 12 months. Within the 10,000 cap, a maximum of 500 federal skilled worker applications per eligible occupation will be considered for processing each year. Kenney said that his reform of

3003-434: The CBSA had produced its assessment of Galloway on scant evidence after receiving instructions from Kenney's staff, who attempted to bar Galloway because "they disagreed with his political views". The Globe and Mail later pointed out that, while Kenney was quick to refuse Galloway entry into Canada, his department gave entry to controversial politician Geert Wilders , who compared Islam to fascism and campaigned to ban

3094-533: The Canadian Forces to face armed opposition ashore. As conceived, the Amphibious Assault Ship Project envisioned a ship that could carry personnel and equipment that could rapidly disembark in waves using landing craft and/or helicopters such as the CH-47 Chinook . The ship would be able to disembark personnel and equipment, and support to them in the face of armed opposition. The warship could also be used in support of humanitarian operations since it would have

3185-493: The Citizenship and Immigration study guide for immigrants applying for citizenship, although a sentence was included in a 2011 revision. The revised edition also added information about arts and culture, the War of 1812 , and an admonition against importing "violent, extreme or hateful prejudices" to Canada. Kenney took steps to restore full citizenship status to the " Lost Canadians ", Canadian nationals who had "fallen through

3276-509: The DCO no longer receive emergency healthcare coverage. In 2011, Kenney imposed a ban on niqab face veils for those taking the oath of citizenship. In his appeal on behalf of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration in Citizenship and Immigration v Ishaq , 2015 FCA 194, the three justices ruled in favour of Zunera Ishaq and her right to wear the niqab, confirming that the federal requirement

3367-595: The Defence Staff Rick Hillier . By late 2008, the project appeared to have been placed on hold, if not cancelled. By 2013 the project was again being discussed as the result of a proposal made by the Thales ( DCNS ) to provide the Mistral -class amphibious assault ship design. In mid-2014, both DCNS and SNC Lavalin offered three ships at a cost CAD$ 2.6 billion (2 billion euro ). SNC Lavalin proposed to construct

3458-623: The Department of Defence say that Lawson had been pressured into releasing the inaccurate statement by Kenney's office. Also in March, Kenney faced criticism for tweeting photos purporting to be of ISIS enslaving young girls. One of the images was taken years before ISIS came into existence and appeared to be from an Ashura procession, while another turned out to be a picture staged by actors in London, England. In April 2015, Kenney announced that troops from

3549-487: The Joint Support Ship Project so that it could be completed. However, there was no extra money for the Joint Support Ship Project and the stimulus package did not address MARCOM's vessel procurement programs. Vice-Admiral Denis Rouleau, spoke to the Standing Committee on National Defence in the House of Commons and indicated that the Department of National Defence would know by summer 2009 how it would move ahead with

3640-457: The Joint Support Ship Project. In June 2009, officials with the Joint Support Ship Project began re-evaluating the type of ship they wished to purchase since the original concept could not be funded. In September 2009, the Joint Support Ship Project received a new design. Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden , Chief of the Maritime Staff , said that he was ready to submit design and cost estimates to

3731-769: The NDP criticized this component of the bill, arguing it gives too much power to the minister. Earlier, in March 2009, the CBSA prevented British politician George Galloway from entering Canada, where he had planned to give a series of speeches against the War in Afghanistan . The Office of the Immigration Minister stated that the Canada Border Services Agency deemed Galloway as inadmissible to Canada due to national security concerns. Galloway had openly given what he called "financial support" to Hamas , classified as

Amphibious Assault Ship Project - Misplaced Pages Continue

3822-569: The RCN, this was due to the ties both serving and former navy personnel had with the names. The Joint Support Ship Project consists of two multi-role vessels that will replace the former underway replenishment capability of the earlier Protecteur -class auxiliary vessel, as well as provide basic sealift for the Canadian Army , support to forces ashore, and command facilities for a Canadian Forces "joint force" or "naval task group". The Joint Support Ship Project should not be confused with

3913-423: The Standing Committee on National Defence in the House of Commons that the Canadian Forces required strategic sealift capacity for operations in the 21st century. The Minister of National Defence at that time, David Pratt , was directly involved in several major procurement projects totaling $ 7.0 billion including the Joint Support Ship Project and what became the Amphibious Assault Ship Project, declaring that in

4004-720: The United Conservative Party to a majority government in the 2019 Alberta general election , defeating incumbent Premier Rachel Notley of the New Democratic Party . Kenney came under criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic from members within the UCP and the general public, triggering a leadership review in May 2022. On May 18, 2022, Kenney narrowly won the leadership review 51.4% to 48.6%, but announced that this support

4095-823: The United States had aircraft capable of using precision guided munitions . In fact, Arab allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had won praise from general Martin Dempsey , the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, for their use of precision guided munitions. General Tom Lawson , then the Chief of Canada's Defence Staff, issued a statement defending Kenney, but later retracted his statement and apologized, saying that its contents were incorrect. Sources within

4186-496: The asylum seekers as a form of interference in the asylum process. Kenney believed that Kimberly Rivera , an American soldier seeking refuge, was not a legitimate refugee. "Military deserters from the United States are not genuine refugees under the internationally accepted meaning of the term," said Alexis Pavlich, the minister's press secretary. In 2012, Kenney took steps in 2012 to find and combat marriage fraud . His efforts were primarily focused on marriages in which one party

4277-530: The award of the $ 8 billion non-combat ship package, including the Joint Support Ship Project, to Seaspan Marine Corporation in Vancouver, British Columbia . On 2 June 2013, the Government of Canada selected ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada's Berlin -class AOR as the design for the joint support ship. On 11 October 2013, the NSPS Secretariat announced that Vancouver Shipyards would commence construction on

4368-506: The basis of facing threats from insurgents, were denied visas. Kenney backed this decision. Kenney promised that Canada would resettle more refugees from 2011 to 2012 than in previous years. Instead, there was a 26% drop in refugee resettlement in Canada during that period, hitting a 30-year low. Loly Rico , president of the Canadian Council for Refugees , criticized Kenney for not following through on his promise. Following through on

4459-424: The coast of Ukraine as part of a mission against Russian intervention in the country. NATO officials later stated that Russian ships could be seen on the horizon, but never approached the fleet, and that all flyovers had been at high altitudes. Later that month, Kenney defended the Canadian airstrike campaign against ISIS being extended into Syria , claiming that, among the coalition air forces, only Canada and

4550-790: The conclusion of the program. In 2013, Kenney said in his remarks on the end of the CHRP program that the government was "committed to recognizing and educating Canadians about the experiences of those pioneers who overcame such heavy burdens. Their experiences mark an unfortunate period in our nation's history. We must ensure that they are never forgotten." In 2008, Kenney became Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet shuffle of October 30, while retaining responsibility for multiculturalism, which he had been given in 2007. In April 2009, Kenney officially launched Asian Heritage Month to "better understand

4641-409: The construction of both ships was awarded in June 2020. In March 2021, Seaspan shipyard reported that over 90 percent of the ship blocks for Protecteur were in production. As of December 2021, the assembly of the ship was reported to be complete. Near the end of August 2022, construction was halted by a strike by Seaspan tugboat workers which ended in October, as the shipyard staff would not cross

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4732-410: The construction of the first vessel in the class would be advanced and the ship would be completed at the Seaspan yard ahead of the construction of the planned Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) for the Canadian Coast Guard. The second vessel would be completed only after the OOSV entered service. The first ship, Protecteur , was formally laid down on 16 January 2020. The formal contract for

4823-412: The country. In early 2008, Kenney posted an announcement on his website, declaring that the Canadian government recognized the flag of the Republic of Vietnam as the symbol of the Vietnamese-Canadian community. Further, he declared that "attempts to disparage [the flag] are a deeply troubling attack on one of Canada's ethnic communities and on the principles of multiculturalism." In May 2008, he made

4914-500: The cracks". Bill C-37 corrected the citizenship issues for 95% of "Lost Canadians," and special grants were to be made to resolve the remaining 5%. Kenney says the Lost Canadians group should not be politicizing their plight, but they should be making a "solid application and a strong case". Kenney's predecessor, Diane Finley , had authorized a special grant of citizenship to Guy Valliere, although he died prior to receiving citizenship. On March 29, 2010, Kenney announced an overhaul of

5005-399: The current asylum seekers were neither " draft dodgers " nor " resisters ", but rather "people who volunteer to serve in the armed forces of a democratic country and simply change their mind to desert. And that's fine, that's the decision they have made, but they are not refugees." He also referred to the asylum seekers as "bogus refugee claimants". These remarks were seen by some supporters of

5096-432: The delivery was halted following the illegal annexation and occupation of Crimea by Russia. As a result France began looking for other potential buyers including Canada and Egypt. After an examination process and several training cruises on the vessels, in 2015 the Deputy Defence Minister John Forster advised Defence Minister Jason Kenney not to go ahead with the purchase. Forster cited how the purchase and operating costs of

5187-426: The design stage is still unclear. The Royal Canadian Military Institute had proposed to obtain four ships similar to the British Bay-class landing ship dock . As with any amphibious assault ship, a possible Canadian amphibious assault ship would be expected to carry a number of transport helicopters as well as aircraft for possible offensive and defensive roles. The staff of the Canadian Forces had requested that

5278-424: The details of the federal-provincial agreements were finalized or approved, which prompted Advertising Standards Canada to label them as "misleading." After a February 2015 cabinet shuffle in which Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird left federal politics, with former Defence minister Rob Nicholson taking his place, Kenney was promoted to Minister of Defence . While serving in this position, Kenney took

5369-449: The first replacement vessels in 2012. This news was met with criticism as it would leave MARCOM without an underway replenishment capability for two years. On 22 August 2008, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services , Christian Paradis terminated two procurement processes involving the shipbuilding industry. In December 2008, RCN officers and defence analysts hoped Budget 2009 would have up to $ 500 million in extra funding for

5460-547: The following in the House of Commons of Canada on June 10, 2010: "That's why we must protect the values of Canadian citizenship and must take steps against those who would cheapen it … We will strengthen the new limitation on the ability to acquire citizenship for the second generation born abroad." The new rules would not confer a Canadian citizenship on children born outside of Canada to parents who were also born outside of Canada. Thus, for children to obtain Canadian citizenship if born abroad, they would have to have one parent who

5551-402: The funds had been utilized, save for $ 500,000 that was earmarked for education about the Chinese head tax , and was left unspent when one Chinese community group failed to file the required paperwork. Because more than thirty other projects involving the Chinese-Canadian community had been funded through the CHRP, Kenney considered the project a success and declined to release the funding, citing

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5642-465: The government and to the Minister of National Defence. In June 2010, the Government of Canada announced that the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) would spend CA$ 35   billion over the next 30 years to purchase 28 new large ships and 116 small vessels for Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard . The NSPS was led by the Department of Public Works and Government Services , with support from Department of Industry , as well as

5733-434: The immigration point system fixed problems with the previous immigration system. He also said the new system was more efficient in accepting migrants who could make the best contributions to the Canadian economy. The Canadian Experience Class Program was created to attract more international students who qualify as a graduate in the program, with an increased focus on youth, job skills, and a fluency in English or French. And at

5824-402: The integrity of our immigration system." The CIC estimates that about 5,000 people with Canadian permanent resident status are outside of Canada, and implicated in residence fraud. In January 2009, Kenney made public statements critical of U.S. soldiers seeking asylum in Canada who were facing punishment for their refusal to participate in the Iraq War. Unlike in the Vietnam era, Kenney said,

5915-467: The joint support ships, followed by the Polar Icebreaker. It was expected that construction would begin in 2016–17. On 25 October 2013, the Government of Canada named the two ships HMCS Queenston and HMCS Châteauguay in recognition of the significant battles of Queenston Heights and Châteauguay during the War of 1812. However, these names were changed to Protecteur and Preserver respectively on 12 September 2017. In August 2015 Davie Shipyard signed

6006-449: The leadership of the Alberta PCs in that party's 2017 leadership election . Kenney resigned his seat in Parliament on September 23, after sitting in the House of Commons for over 19 years. He was elected party leader on March 18, 2017, on a platform of merging with the Wildrose Party. He was leader until the merger was effected on July 24. Kenney was then elected United Conservative Party leader on October 28 . On April 16, 2019, Kenney led

6097-492: The matter, "Canadian citizenship is not for sale and we are taking action to strip citizenship and permanent residence status from people who do not play by rules." CIC worked in tandem with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and various overseas Canadian offices to prevent citizenship fraud. Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Vic Toews said that "These efforts reinforce our government's commitment to protecting

6188-418: The member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Calgary-Lougheed from 2017 until 2022. Kenney was the last leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party) before the party merged with the Wildrose Party to form the UCP. Prior to entering Alberta provincial politics, he served in various cabinet posts under Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2006 to 2015. Kenney studied philosophy at

6279-490: The next decade the Canadian Forces must expect to engage in the sort of operations it has experienced over the past decade. According to the Direction générale de l'Armement (DGA), as well as the French newspaper La Tribune , the Royal Canadian Navy had shown "strong interest" in purchasing two Mistral -class amphibious assault ships from France . A Mistral -class ship can carry a significantly large military force with equipment and vehicles in "fighting order", enabling

6370-420: The picket lines that had been set up. The second ship in the class began construction in 2022 with her keel being formally laid down in October 2023. Jason Kenney Jason Thomas Kenney (born May 30, 1968) is a former Canadian politician who served as the 18th premier of Alberta from 2019 until 2022, and the leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) from 2017 until 2022. He also served as

6461-480: The post of minister for citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism from October 2008 to July 2013, when he became minister of employment and social development and minister for multiculturalism. In February 2015, he was named minister of national defence . Kenney was considered a potential party leader following the defeat of the Conservative government in October 2015 and resignation of Harper as leader. In July 2016, Kenney announced his intention to run for

6552-464: The provinces and territories than the initial 2013 proposal, which had been rejected by Kenney's counterparts for its "take it or leave it" nature, which potentially forced the provinces and territories to forgo $ 300 million of the $ 500 million in federal funding provided to them by Labour Market Agreements if they did not accept the plan. $ 2.5 million were spent on advertising for the program during Stanley Cup playoffs spots in 2013 and 2014, even before

6643-537: The purpose of this university." In the student newspaper, the San Francisco Foghorn , he suggested that giving a platform to pro-choice groups would mean the school had no basis to refuse a similar platform to pedophiles or to the Church of Satan . The Archbishop rejected Kenney's petition that summer, and he never returned to complete his undergraduate degree. Instead, Kenney returned to Canada to begin work for

6734-442: The resettlement of 14,500 UN-selected refugees from refugee camps and urban slums to Canada. The Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act was introduced on February 16, 2012, and received Royal Assent on June 28, 2012. It was broadly criticized as it "gives Ministers broad, unfettered and unprecedented powers" among other new powers. It was sponsored by Kenney. There was controversy around changes to Interim Federal Health,

6825-586: The rich diversity the Asian Canadian community brings to Canada". While speaking in Jerusalem in December 2009 about Canadian government funding of human rights organizations , Kenney said, "We have de-funded organizations, most recently, like KAIROS who are taking a leadership role in the boycott [of Israel]. We're receiving a lot of criticism for these decisions ... but we believe we have done these things for

6916-733: The right reasons, and we stand by these decisions." He later added in a letter to the Toronto Star that, "While I disagree with the nature of KAIROS's militant stance toward the Jewish homeland , that is not the reason their request for taxpayer funding was denied." On June 26, 2010, Kenney announced changes to the Skilled Worker Immigration Program. For their applications to be processed, skilled worker applicants were thereafter required to either have an offer of arranged employment or be qualified in one of 29 eligible occupations out of

7007-480: The same time, the immigration department imposed a new language requirement for the Federal Skilled Workers (FSW) program. Many of these changes were made to reduce the processing times for immigration applications. Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland said that these changes would guarantee "no more backlogs." Kenney, however, decided to delete the backlog of 280,000 skilled worker applications, and

7098-571: The ship be capable of carrying a minimum of six attack helicopters along with seventeen medium helicopters or 12 heavy-lift helicopters. In 2003, Major General (ret.) Lewis MacKenzie declared that Canada must consider buying the aircraft carrier -capable version of the F-35 Lightning II . In 2014 the Department of Defence looked at the possibility of acquiring two already complete Mistral -class amphibious assault ships from France. These vessels had been originally ordered by Russia in 2010 but

7189-401: The ships built in either Marystown, Newfoundland or North Vancouver, British Columbia , respectively. A contract for final design and construction was expected in 2008, with the first ship of the class entering service in 2012. In January 2007, Canadian media reported that defence planners were considering the retirement of the existing Protecteur -class ships by 2010, prior to the delivery of

7280-544: The social assistance program for refugee claimants. Physicians and allied health professionals opposed these cuts through national protests in all major cities in Canada. Physicians opposing the cuts to refugee health care include Vincent Lam , who stated that Canada is a country known for its tolerance and diversity, but healthcare professionals are "dismayed and ashamed at the cuts for healthcare for refugees." Afghan interpreters who served alongside Canadian troops in southern Afghanistan, and who applied for Canadian visas on

7371-633: The vessels would stress resources on the already over budget $ 39 billion National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy . Due to the negative impact it would have on the construction on other vessels needed to replace Canada's aging surface combat fleet, the Department of National Defence withdrew interest in purchasing the vessels. The two Mistral vessels would end up being sold to the Egyptian Navy in 2015 becoming ENS  Anwar El Sadat and ENS  Gamal Abdel Nasser . Joint Support Ship Project The Protecteur class (formerly known as

7462-452: The vessels, while DCNS would design them and STX France would consolidate the hulls for arctic operations. The Royal Canadian Navy also trained with the French Navy on a Thales-built amphibious assault ship. However, the project was abandoned due to budget constraints. In 2005 Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier and Director of Maritime Requirements, Captain (N) Peter Ellis told

7553-459: The way, in many ways is a perfect place from which to promote this ideal because of the complexion of the country." The Liberal government which formed after the 2015 Canadian federal election closed the office in 2016. As part of the July 2013 cabinet reorganization, Kenney was named Minister of Employment and Social Development . While in this position, he focused on expanding the review process for

7644-423: Was a Canadian citizen and the other, an immigrant, was using marriage to facilitate their entry into Canada, at which point they would leave their sponsor's home and declare the marriage to be a lie. In response, Kenney instituted a five-year prohibition on spousal sponsorship for those who had already been sponsored by a spouse into Canada. He also implemented a "conditional" permanent residency status, to ensure that

7735-624: Was a member of a group of Reform Party MPs that were known as the Snack Pack due to their habit of eating greasy food and ridiculing the ruling Liberals. Kenney supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq and suggested that the Chrétien government's refusal to support the war would damage Canada's relationship with the United States . Kenney was a member of the Canada Tibet Committee and hosted

7826-514: Was born in Canada. Another effect of this law was to abolish automatic citizenship by birth for the children of parents in Canada in the service of a foreign government. Children born to foreign diplomats in Canada would only become Canadian if at least one parent was either a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident. In 2010, Kenney introduced Discover Canada , a new citizenship guide for prospective citizens. The Canadian Press reported that Kenney blocked information about same-sex marriage from

7917-528: Was insufficient and that he would step down as UCP leader. Kenney remained premier until October 11, 2022. Danielle Smith was chosen to succeed him by the United Conservative Party on October 6, 2022. Jason Thomas Kenney was born on May 30, 1968, in Oakville, Ontario , the son of Lynne (Tunbridge) and Robert Martin Kenney. His father was a teacher at Appleby College and was of Irish heritage. Kenney's grandfather

8008-661: Was jazz musician and big band leader Mart Kenney . Kenney attended the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan , a private Catholic high school of which his father was president. Kenney may have been inspired to enter politics following a brief discussion with former prime minister John Diefenbaker . Kenney studied philosophy at the University of San Francisco , a Jesuit university in San Francisco , California , but failed to complete his coursework. It

8099-449: Was quoted in The Globe and Mail as saying that present immigration laws do not allow someone to be kept out if they are seeking to promote violence. The previous year, both the official opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) and Quebec's National Assembly had asked Kenney to exercise negative discretion, but no such ability existed under Canadian law. During debate in the House of Commons,

8190-462: Was there that he discovered conservatism. During his time in California, Kenney was interviewed by CNN for a segment exploring religious values. In the segment, where he was credited as "Jason Kenny – Anti-abortion Activist," he argued against Jesuit professors who declared free speech as essential to a university. Allowing pro-choice activists on campus, Kenney argued, was "destroying the mission and

8281-655: Was unlawful. On July 19, 2011, Kenney announced that the government intended to revoke the citizenship of 1,800 people it believes obtained their status through fraudulent means. The decision to revoke Canadian citizenship was rare, and a large-scale proposed crackdown had no precedent. At the time of his announcement, fewer than 70 citizenships had been revoked since the Citizenship Act, 1946 . An investigation into residence fraud continued to grow, and almost 11,000 cases were being reviewed in September 2012. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) revoked up to 3,100 citizens' citizenship, citing cheating or lies. Kenney said of

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