Quotulatiousness

November 6, 2018

Fly the “Party Flight” with Canadian (Forces) Airways!

Filed under: Cancon, Government, Military — Tags: , , , , — Nicholas @ 05:00

In the Ottawa Citizen, David Pugliese reminds us that not all is right with the higher-ups of the Canadian military, based on what was allowed to occur — and at least partly covered-up — on a VIP flight last year:

The December 2017 “Team Canada” tour – now more popularly known in some quarters in the military as “the party flight” – has without a doubt been a major public relations black eye for the Canadian Forces.

The tour, with VIPs who were supposed to boost the morale of military personnel deployed overseas, turned into a fiasco. Some VIPs on the RCAF flight to Greece and Latvia were drunk and abusive to the crew, in particular the military flight attendants. The VIP civilian passengers, including former NHL player Dave “Tiger” Williams were exempt from security screening before the flight, and some — already drunk — walked on to the Canadian Forces aircraft with open alcoholic drinks in their hands.

Two individuals were so drunk they were reported to have urinated themselves. Video taken aboard the plane showed people — including a staff member from Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance’s office — dancing in the aisles of the aircraft with their drinks as a rock band played at the back of the plane. Others chewed tobacco, in violation of Canadian Forces rules, spitting the slimy juice into cups for flight attendants to clean up.

The military flight crew was prohibited from approaching the VIPs except to provide them with service. The crew felt they couldn’t do anything to put a halt to the antics as these very important people were Vance’s guests.

Williams has been charged with sex assault and assault. He denies the charges.

The $337,000 taxpayer-funded trip was planned by Vance’s office. Vance okayed the booze on the RCAF aircraft.

We know all of this now.

But almost right from the beginning, the Canadian Forces/Department of National Defence Staff Public Affairs branch appeared to try its best to mislead journalists – and ultimately the public – on what actually took place on that flight.

2 Comments

  1. I always question the timing of stories and leaks. Who or what is to gain from them. I don’t like the mainstream media, nor do I trust them when it comes to unbiased coverage of the CF. Yup, there seems to be a lot wrong in the story, but drunk and stupid isn’t a crime. And as time goes by “sexual misconduct” can be virtually anything that a person decides is offensive if it is unwanted. Like anything in life, it is better wait for the full story, and even court testimony, before jumping to any conclusions where the media is concerned.

    Comment by Dwayne — November 6, 2018 @ 15:58

  2. Commenting on the same article by David Pugliese, Ted Campbell suggested:

    The solution, it seems to me is simple: stop annoying the soldiers and sailors with costly visits by second rate, minor league celebrities. If the CBC wants to send some semi-professional singers and dancers on a tour of Europe or the Middle East then let the CBC foot the bill … that is what the Montreal Canadiens did in the 1960s. These VIP trips looks more like welfare for washed-up or never was ‘celebrities‘ than entertainment or morale boosting for our sailors, soldiers and air force members.

    As scandals go this is a small one, but it is damaging to the reputation of the leadership of the Canadian Forces. It makes it look as though the admirals and generals put the interests of the cultural elites and the Ottawa cocktail circuit ahead of the good of the service and the needs of the men and women who serve overseas.

    I certainly agree with his solution, but where he says “It makes it look …”, I have to say it looks that way because it is that way.

    Comment by Nicholas — November 8, 2018 @ 21:43

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