The Canadian military is defending its decision to send hundreds of troops to the U.S. for training, even as one Edmonton soldier called it a "trivial exercise" that needlessly puts troops at risk of COVID-19. Around 500 members of the Canadian military will travel to Fort Polk, Louisiana, this week to participate in a three-week long exercise with roughly 4,500 U.S. troops. It's the largest international training exercise the Canadian Army has taken part in since the beginning of the pandemic, a military spokesperson confirmed. Hundreds of Canadian soldiers will travel to the centre for a weeks-long exercise along U.S. troops on Feb. 26. (The Associated Press/Lolita Baldor)There, the soldiers will join up with North Carolina-based troops for the exercise, Rutland said.

Source: CBC News February 22, 2021 13:00 UTC