Canadian Marines?

Should be interesting to see where and how this gets shoehorned into the budget.

Canadian military creating amphibious force
Last Updated: Wednesday, March 7, 2007 | 12:02 AM ET
CBC News

The Canadian military is about to create a special forces unit unlike anything it has had before, CBC News has learned.

The force, which will include 800 soldiers, sailors and air force personnel, will be mainly focused on maritime operations, but will also focus on areas such as counter-terrorism, sources said.

The force will be equipped with helicopters, submarines and possibly a leased amphibious assault ship — a vessel that can bring ashore and support ground troops.

This seaborne capability was recently tested during The Integrated Tactical Effects Experiment (ITEE) exercise on the eastern seaboard, with the assistance of the US Marines and the USS Gunston Hall amphibious assault ship.




Babbler's Update: Not to throw too much of a bucket of cold water on this idea, but read what Hillier himself said to David Pugliese about the SCF:

The development of the standing contingency force, an amphibious unit designed to intervene in the world's hot spots, will be put on hold for at least three years.

...

Hillier said those officers working on the standing contingency force will be transferred to a newly created Olympic task force. Although it is still unclear what role the Canadian Forces will play at the 2010 Olympics, it's likely it will be required to provide a large number of troops for security.

Hillier first announced the standing contingency force concept in 2005 when he asked about the potential purchase of "a big honking ship" outfitted with helicopters and troops. That force would have been able to quickly respond to an international crisis.

Last fall, the military conducted an experiment off the coast of North Carolina to test the concept.

Hillier said the Canadian Forces is still committed to seeing air, land, and naval forces working more closely together. But it won't be until after the Olympics are over when it can "energetically" come back to the standing contingency force concept.