I have a very short question.
Evidence of meeting #13 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was navy.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #13 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was navy.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Captain, I want to ask you about Afghanistan and the air force, because obviously there's increased activity for the air force in Afghanistan as well as the other forces.
Those of us on the defence committee who went to KAF flew in on the Hercules and went through the manoeuvres and all that sort of stuff. I wondered at the time whether there is any kind of psychological conditioning before they start that helps the pilots who do that, and the pilots who do the other work in Afghanistan, with the stress of the job they're doing.
I'm also wondering whether you've seen an increase in these kinds of issues--post-traumatic stress disorder or occupational injuries--within the air force with pilots who are working in Afghanistan.
5:20 p.m.
Capt(N) M.E.C. Courchesne
I'm not aware that there's any increase in the incidence of any occupational stress injury with respect to our pilot population. We don't do any specific psychological preparation other than what my colleague, Colonel Darch, mentioned. They're trained to do these specific types of missions, and they're prepared in that sense--well prepared for the missions they will be conducting.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Thank you, Ms. Black.
I thank you all very much for being here. I think your remarks and answers have certainly stimulated the committee to ask some pretty good questions. You were very useful in our study, and we appreciate your being here. I'll just say we appreciate what you do. Keep them all well.
Ms. Black, there was a notice of motion.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Yes, I will move my motion.
It is that as part of the committee's study on health services provided to Canadian Forces personnel, with an emphasis on post-traumatic stress disorder, this committee invite Ms. Cindy Smith-MacDonald and Ann le Clair to appear before the Standing Committee on National Defence at the next regularly scheduled meeting, to be held on February 28.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Thanks for that. We're just passing out the motion. I think everybody was briefed on it.
Our next regularly scheduled meeting is February 28, and we've already indicated that at that time we will go in camera to deal with future witnesses. So I think it would be wise for us.... The 26th, the Tuesday we come back, has just recently been announced as having the budget at 4 p.m.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
No, the budget is being released at 4 p.m.
I would like to advise the committee that we will deal with this motion on February 28, in camera, as we deal with future business.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
If we're not going to deal with it until after then.... The speculation is that the House is going dissolve before then. I hope this isn't a way around hearing from families who have very important contributions to make to this committee.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
No, it is not. As I indicated, the next scheduled meeting is the 28th, and that is when we're going to go in camera and deal with future business and future witnesses. So this is not a dodge from hearing from people. We'll deal with it and all the parameters around it at that time.
The meeting is adjourned.