The Honourable Peter MacKay

February 3, 2012 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, speaks with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and with Afghanistan's Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak at the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers at NATO headquartes in Brussels, Belgium.

February 2, 2012 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, speaks with United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta at the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers at NATO headquartes in Brussels, Belgium.

January 24, 2012 - Minister MacKay delivers the keynote address at the Permanent Joint Board on Defence, the highest-level bilateral defence and security forum between the United States and Canada, which serves as a strategic-level consultative body on defence and security issues facing our two countries.

January 17, 2012 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence, announce Canada's Commitment to the Wideband Global Satellite Communications System. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding will fill the strategic satellite communications requirement of the Canadian Forces over the next 20 years.

January 12, 2012 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, joined Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Halifax to announce the Government of Canada and Irving Shipbuilding Inc. reached an agreement in principle, paving the way for a new federal fleet of ships.

December 26, 2011 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, visits with members of the Canadian Forces deployed overseas during the holidays.

December 22, 2011 - Port of Civitavecchia, Italy - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence speaks with the crew of HMCS Vancouver.  HMCS Vancouver and her CH-124 Sea King Helicopter detachment have been in the Mediterranean Sea since August, when she joined the NATO fleet off Libya as part of Operation Unified Protector, the NATO-led mission to protect Libyan civilians from the Gadhafi regime. With the successful completion of NATO operations in Libya, HMCS Vancouver has been re-tasked to participate in Operation Active Endeavour, the NATO counter-terrorism effort in the Mediterranean.

December 21, 2011 - Rome, IT - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, meets with his counterpart, Minister Giampaolo Di Paola, in Rome, Italy. The two leaders spoke on various issues including: Warm bilateral defence relations between Italy and Canada; the F35 joint strike fighter program; the UN-mandated, NATO-led mission in Afghanistan; and, the upcoming NATO meeting in Chicago. Minister MacKay thanked his counterpart for hosting Canadian Forces members and aircraft during Op UNIFIED PROTECTOR.

November 12, 2011 - On 12 November, 2011, in the Afghan capital of Kabul, on behalf of the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, the Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak presents the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, the presitigious Ghazi Mir Masjedi Khan Medal. This medal is the second highest civil award in Afghanistan and only awarded to foreign dignitaries on rare occasions. Minister Wardak personally sought permission from President Karzai to present this medal to Minister MacKay for his outstanding leadership and his ongoing support to the people of Afghanistan. The medal is proudly displayed in the Office of the Minister of National Defence.

December 7, 2011 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the North Atlantic Council meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

HE GG Johnson presents the Meritorious Service Cross to LGen Bouchard. A Ceremony to mark the Completion of Operation Mobile in Libya takes place on Parliament Hill and in the Canadian Senate. Present are His Excellency Mr Johnson, Governor General of Canada, Hon S Harper PM of Canada, Hon P MacKay MND, Gen Natynczyk CDS and LGen Bouchard recipient of the Meritorious Service Cross.

November 24, 2011 - Senate Chamber, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, participates in the commemorative ceremony marking Canadian Forces efforts during Op MOBILE in Libya. Operation Mobile was our countrys participation in the NATO mission that saw protected Libyans from the brutality of the Gadhafi regime.

November 20, 2011 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, Canada, speaks to the media during the closing press conference, as Mr. Peter Van Praagh, President, Halifax International Security Forum looks on, for the third annual Halifax International Security Forum.

November 16, 2011 - The Honourabel Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, and Israel’s Minister of Defence and Deputy Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, hold a joint media availability at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

November 11 - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, reads the names of the fallen during the final Remembrance Day ceremony at the Kandahar Airfield, as Major-General Jonathan Vance and Associate Deputy Minister Matthew King place poppies on the each plaques of the memorial.