Canadian troops have been forced to hitch a ride with the British military to get to and from Latvia due to a shortage of working planes.
Canada has 540 troops in Latvia, where they form the core of a 1,500-strong multinational battlegroup established by NATO three years ago. Similar battlegroups led by Britain, Germany and the U.S. have been established in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, respectively.
But that was before a problem was found with the Polaris's landing gear, according to Defence Department spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande. And while the other two would normally have filled the gap, Lamirande said they were unavailable, which is why the British were called in to help. The third Polaris -- which normally serves as the prime minister's plane -- is out of commission until at least January after a hangar accident last October. Officials have estimated the cost of repairs at around $11 million.
A Polaris carrying about 70 Canadian soldiers to Latvia was forced to turn around last week because of concerns those on board might have been exposed to COVID-19.
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