Public Accounts committee  I can't recall exactly which information was not “accurate and up to date”, but we make every effort to ensure that our information is accurate and up to date. One of the things we rely on is our own human resources management system. It's one of the areas we intend to improve upon in the Canadian Forces in the future.

Public Accounts committee  I can't give you a categoric number, but we do have a policy in place in the Canadian Forces that if an individual is required for operations, we have the option of extending. Normally for most people who request a voluntary release, we try to get them out within thirty days. If that's not possible because they are required for an operational commitment, then they are required for an operational commitment, and they signed on for that.

Public Accounts committee  Pay is always a difficult one, because sometimes it's difficult for us in the Canadian Forces to keep up with the private sector in terms of pay alone. We try to look at a more comprehensive package in order to attract individuals to the Canadian Forces and actually, once they're in, to keep them there.

Public Accounts committee  Last year, the raw number was 5,527—you have to love modellers and statisticians—and this year the number is 6,428. So you see that we're going up.

Public Accounts committee  Our target goal is 70,000 in the year 2010.

Public Accounts committee  Grosso modo, we have four years to go. Multiply that by 6,000 and it's about 24,000.

Public Accounts committee  I think you're referring to the instruments and tools we use to assess aptitude and—

Public Accounts committee  I started just discussing the first phase, and that is actually joining the Canadian Forces. After that, as you're well aware, we go through very rigorous training and indoctrination into the Canadian Forces. Part of that indoctrination is self-discipline, responsibility, and leadership.

Public Accounts committee  There are a number of occupations where we are experiencing difficulty in getting the numbers we'd like. Naval technicians has historically been a very difficult area, and it continues to be. Those qualifications that we seek are sought out by everybody, in the private sector as well.

Public Accounts committee  We're looking for all of those things. We have a process in place to adapt and continually look at the tools and instruments we're using to assess candidates for the Canadian Forces. It was actually a point noted in the report that we need to improve upon. We've taken that point and we shall improve upon it.

Public Accounts committee  The Auditor General's report is factually correct, and it's an accurate reflection of what happened. But do you remember I talked about the personnel system—so many leaving as so many come in? Well, every year, we lose about 4,000 to 5,000 people through attrition.

Public Accounts committee  I don't know. Do we know whether the rates are the same for women as for men? I'll have to get back to you on that, Mr. Christopherson.

Public Accounts committee  Technically we refer to them as the three environments.

Public Accounts committee  They all have their challenges, but the least challenged is the air force.

Public Accounts committee  People love to join the air force, and we have a lot of reasons why, internally. But the army and the navy, I believe, are similarly challenged, because the army and the navy traditionally are known for deploying for long periods of time, and there are certain hardships endured at sea and hardships endured in the army, based on most of the occupations in those environments.