A Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet takes off from Edmonton, Canada, on July 22, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Ulan
April 23, 2014 - 1:20 PM
OTTAWA - Both federal opposition parties are demanding to know where the country's CF-18s are headed in eastern Europe and what they'll be doing as tension rises throughout the region.
Russia threatened on Wednesday to attack Ukraine if its "legitimate interests" were threatened during security operations ordered by Kyiv to root out anti-government protesters, and Moscow called snap military exercises in response to a U.S.-led series of troop-training exercises in the region.
Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada would contribute six jetfighters to a NATO plan to reassure jittery allies in Poland and the Baltic states, but did not include detail on when the aircraft would be going, where they would be based and what mission they would undertake.
New Democrat defence critic Jack Harris says the public deserves to know that kind of basic information given the gravity of events overseas.
The leading elements of a U.S. paratrooper brigade — roughly 150 soldiers — began arriving in Poland on Wednesday to take part in military exercises, which according to American media will involve live ammunition.
Canada has committed to take part — along with other allies — in a military training exercise in Ukraine itself this summer, but the government has refused to spell out the size and scope of the commitment.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014