17 Oct 2026: Major fire at CFB Wainwright

[MilEME09]

Well, we could go on about Class A pay problems until Judgement Day or the problems are

Op nanook is class C, reg force pay system

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Moving off topic folks....

 

[brihard]

Any know if the Loyal Eddies (and other reservists?) were there as part of the 3 PPCLI task force workup, or were the Eddies also incidentally in the field at the same time? I’m guessing these were all reserve augmentees to 3 VP?

 

[armyvern]

Any know if the Loyal Eddies (and other reservists?) were there as part of the 3 PPCLI task force workup, or were the Eddies also incidentally in the field at the same time? I’m guessing these were all reserve augmentees to 3 VP?

Well, potential to be 3 (4?) distinctions of possibilities for Reservists, from any Unit from across Canada, impacted by the Wainwright MCI:

Class A: Any of them there just working a couple of Class A dates to support?
Class B: Contracted out with TC Wainwright itself or potentially Edmonton to support?
Class C: Potentially contracted with CAF for upcoming overseas deployment.

It's all well and good now with PM Carney adivsing Canadians that we will look after everyone and all of them. We know that any Regular Force members certainly will be (even if differently amongst them too) - 24/7 and all that heat and light on Wainwright MCI 17 Oct 2026.

I'm worried about long term for any reservists impacted --- and what VAC will rule years out from now when the heat and light is off about "your contract that day ....", "not Class C, Not an SDA" etc etc. Fuck even Regular Force are having to fight/fight/appeal/appeal.

SDB, SISIP, VAC ... take 'yer chances depending on your 'employment status' that day. For the immediate heat and light show we've got them. Canada's got them. The PM says so.

It's their future fights I'm worried about because precedents. Is the PM about to order VAC to treat any of the above classes exactly the same in the future for any/all benefits and entitlements because, by law right now, those are not the same. What about the next Class A soldier/sailor/aviator injured on a range or a normal Class A training day? Is the system going to treat the the same way? If not, I foresee a Class Action (another one!) in the future.

Hell - even for the Regular Force personnel involved their mileage may vary with VAC in the future: Were they tasked on DTG in question to upcoming deployment thus falling under "operational" ... or were they merely (sarcasm on) RegF personnel there supporting/reacting/assisting thus not "operational" ... because, frankly, that's where VAC distinguishes and discriminates.


Time to start treating every single soldier, sailor, aviator the same when they injured doing their damn jobs. Same troops side by side in same incident with same injuries are potentially NOT the same, nor entitled to same by VAC and the insurance agencies that decide ...

That sucks. That's the devil in the details of this MCI.

 

[Haggis]

Well, potential to be 3 (4?) distinctions of possibilities for Reservists, from any Unit from across Canada, impacted by the Wainwright MCI:

Class A: Any of them there just working a couple of Class A dates to support?
Class B: Contracted out with TC Wainwright itself or potentially Edmonton to support?
Class C: Potentially contracted with CAF for upcoming overseas deployment.

It's all well and good now with PM Carney adivsing Canadians that we will look after everyone and all of them. We know that any Regular Force members certainly will be (even if differently amongst them too) - 24/7 and all that heat and light on Wainwright MCI 17 Oct 2026.

I'm worried about long term for any reservists impacted --- and what VAC will rule years out from now when the heat and light is off about "your contract that day ....", "not Class C, Not an SDA" etc etc. Fuck even Regular Force are having to fight/fight/appeal/appeal.

SDB, SISIP, VAC ... take 'yer chances depending on your 'employment status' that day. For the immediate heat and light show we've got them. Canada's got them. The PM says so.

It's their future fights I'm worried about because precedents. Is the PM about to order VAC to treat any of the above classes exactly the same in the future for any/all benefits and entitlements because, by law right now, those are not the same. What about the next Class A soldier/sailor/aviator injured on a range or a normal Class A training day? Is the system going to treat the the same way? If not, I foresee a Class Action (another one!) in the future.

Hell - even for the Regular Force personnel involved their mileage may vary with VAC in the future: Were they tasked on DTG in question to upcoming deployment thus falling under "operational" ... or were they merely (sarcasm on) RegF personnel there supporting/reacting/assisting thus not "operational" ... because, frankly, that's where VAC distinguishes and discriminates.


Time to start treating every single soldier, sailor, aviator the same when they injured doing their damn jobs. Same troops side by side in same incident with same injuries are potentially NOT the same, nor entitled to same by VAC and the insurance agencies that decide ...

That sucks. That's the devil in the details of this MCI.

I think back to the days when we lost Reg F Lt (N) Chris Saunders aboard CHICOUTIMI and Class A Gunner Ariel Keyes- Oliver in a rollover in Pet (I was in a nearby training area that day) within a couple of days. The CDS at the time, Hillier, said they would both be treated equally. That we would do the right thing, not do things right. He did not have the authority to do that. Has anything changed and does Carney have any more authority today than Hillier had back then to do the right thing?

 

[The Bread Guy]

I cannot give great detail about internal VAC people & processes, but I know that lack of a CF98 or 663 will not be a show stopper in this case (for Res F Pte Bloggins who breaks a toe on a weekend Ex, it does complicate it). It is what is on a medical record (military and/or civilian) that can be the deciding factor. These troops are being tracked closely.

Here, we have received the bulk CASREP giving name/rank/SN for all of those killed and injured. Actions have been initiated, Designated Assistants are going out to all impacted families, briefings for the MND/CDS etc on benefits and services available to Reg F & Res F casualties are being prepped/delivered. At least in this case, as it is so high profile, they will not be overlooked.

P.S. -- take care of yourself, because I suspect the impact on you & the team will be more than zero, even for those "just handling the paperwork."

Also, this from Holland:

 

[medicineman]

I think back to the days when we lost Reg F Lt (N) Chris Saunders aboard CHICOUTIMI and Class A Gunner Ariel Keyes- Oliver in a rollover in Pet (I was in a nearby training area that day) within a couple of days. The CDS at the time, Hillier, said they would both be treated equally. That we would do the right thing, not do things right. He did not have the authority to do that. Has anything changed and does Carney have any more authority today than Hillier had back then to do the right thing?

I suppose one could say Rick Hillier had no clout over a Government Ministry beyond his position within DND, where as the PM, as the boss of the Cabinet, can look at the Minister responsible and direct them to sort their shit out and ensure legislation and directives are written or re-written or lose their position within the Cabinet. Most really Hillier would have been able to do is wag his finger and maybe embarrass them in public...assuming that the minister concerned was actually capable of feeling embarrassed about anything.

 

[FJAG]

where as the PM, as the boss of the Cabinet, can look at the Minister responsible and direct them to sort their shit out and ensure legislation and directives are written or re-written or lose their position within the Cabinet

All of that works well until the DM is told by his PS minions that there is very good reason for why things are the way that they are and in the result the status quo needle moves slightly if at all. The problem is that there are disconnects with politicians who skim the surface of issues because they do not have the depth of experience to understand when they are being managed and the civil service who believes any progress is an upset to the natural order of things.

"Yes, Minister," is not a comedy; it's a tragedy.

 

[Gordon Dundas/]

All of that works well until the DM is told by his PS minions that there is very good reason for why things are the way that they are and in the result the status quo needle moves slightly if at all. The problem is that there are disconnects with politicians who skim the surface of issues because they do not have the depth of experience to understand when they are being managed and the civil service who believes any progress is an upset to the natural order of things.

"Yes, Minister," is not a comedy; it's a tragedy.

Margaret Thatcher once described it as a documentary.

 

[childs56]

This incident is very sad and my thoughts are with all those killed, injured, their families, and friends.
I am really grateful that during emergencies everyone comes together to get things done. All the first responders, all the medical teams, the communities and people assisting to help is what makes us such a strong country.

Seeing two Griffons leaving Red Deer the other day from I assume 417 Sqn flying in line sent chills down my spine. Knowing they flew patients and or support teams here from the incident really makes one proud we have the ability to do this. Something we have taken for granted.

Lets hope a safe good speedy recovery for all those in hospital.
Lets hope the First responders and medical teams get the support they may need over the coming days, weeks, months and years dealing with the trauma they have witnessed.
Lets hope the families get the full services they need to help with dealing with the coming challenges.

Ultimately I hope the Members injured get the full support they need for their recovery journey ahead. It is going to be a long road to recovery for many of them. They will need the proper funding for all the services they will require.

This incident may bring forward the differences between Reservists and Regular Force for benefits. Lets hope the government uses this as a learning point and closes any gaps and just makes things right.