Chief Of Defence General Rick Hillier To Be Replaced?

Posted October 3, 2007 12:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

The Harper government plans to replace General Rick Hillier as chief of defence staff, according to a media report.

Hillier has a very high profile is very popular with soldiers. However, reports indicate that the Harper government is annoyed that he outshines his political superiors and undermined Gordon O’Connor while he was Defence Minister.

A Canadian news network quoted one senior official as saying, “[Hillier] has started to believe his own press clippings.”

Meanwhile, some military officials argue that replacing Hillier would be a risky move for the Conservative government, especially since Canadian soldiers serve in Afghanistan.

Sunil Ram, an international security and defence analyst, told media he thinks Major General Andrew Leslie should take over for Hillier, if the reports end up being true. But Ram also said ultimately the decision will be a political one.

Hillier assumed the role of Canada’s top-ranking military officer in February 2005.

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