National Defence committee  If I understand the question correctly, you're asking if there are certain missions that may be out there that Canada may not have readiness capabilities for. What is really quite impressive about Canadian capabilities is that even though we have been down to numbers as low as

National Defence committee  I will have to claim ignorance on exactly what the secretariat is doing with options. What you've just suggested sounds like a very reasonable way forward, but I've heard from the Minister of Public Works in open press that the statement of requirements will be set aside as the s

National Defence committee  I will. I do thank the member for the question. It's a very important point, and yes, the Canadian armed forces continually takes a look at all of the problems—the weather, the equipment we have, the number of crews we have. I will say that in comparison to Sweden—I think it was

National Defence committee  It's one of my top priorities, and one of the four that I spoke about. Mental health, in particular, is one that we've really made great strides in. Operational stress injuries and the Canadian approach have been recognized by some of our biggest allies. They're coming to us to s

National Defence committee  We do track where our recruits come from provincially, and we do find imbalances, which is probably reasonable, based on the economies in certain provinces when economies in other provinces are hurting or ailing, and we find that to be very cyclical whenever that cycle changes.

National Defence committee  Indeed, cyber threats have the attention of the Canadian armed forces. In the larger sense, of course, it falls under Public Safety, but we are partners in this as we address it. Much of what we call our weapons system is based on an infrastructure of information technology, and

National Defence committee  Yes. It's not so much maritime surveillance. That remains extant with the navies and the coast guards of both nations, right down to constabulary elements at various ports up and down the coasts. The part that's been federally mandated for NORAD is the role of maritime warning.

National Defence committee  Now that we've come out of Afghanistan, for as long as we are not being used in a combat role—and we will be ready if the government needs us in any way to defend Canadian interests—we have an opportunity to focus on some of the other things that are deeply entrenched in the Cana

National Defence committee  Thank you for your question. You make a very important point. We need to continue to connect with Canadians, even if that presence becomes difficult for us as budgetary pressures or any sort of pressures, personnel pressures, come to us. You speak of northern Ontario and northe

National Defence committee  I'm not part of the negotiations or the process that Public Works is going through, so I'm not sure which options come forward, but I can say that each of those aircraft that you're listing has an element of stealth capability. I would agree with you as well, with my background a

National Defence committee  I can confirm for you, Mr. McKay, that I am of the same opinion you are, that all options are on the table.

National Defence committee  I believe our relationship with NATO remains extremely strong. We're the sixth largest contributor to NATO. The deputy commander of Joint Task Force Naples is Lieutenant-General Marquis Hainse, who replaced Lieutenant-General Charlie Bouchard, who, of course, led the combat missi

National Defence committee  It's a unique relationship in that it's a binational relationship, and as far as I know, it's the only binational military relationship in the world. It encourages the decrease of considerations toward sovereignty to allow for greater interoperations for the defence of the contin

National Defence committee  The process that's under way does not require a restatement of the statement of requirements. The statement of requirements is done independently, based on a close study by the air force of future battlefields they may have to work over and the issue of sovereignty back here in C

National Defence committee  The secretariat requires from the armed forces a clear statement of requirements and advice on any options they bring forward. That's our entire role.