National Defence committee  There are two major reasons for understanding it from a Canadian context. The first is, of course, to ensure that we are getting the maximum out of [Technical difficulty—Editor] Americans. We cannot appear to the Americans as being a free rider. During the Trump administration,

National Defence committee  Go ahead, Jim. Age before beauty.

National Defence committee  Let's recognize that the 2% increase, when it was created by NATO, is a political target. Once again, what we're really talking about is, what is the need for the effect of the Canadian Forces going into this new environment? It really comes down to the ability to deter growing a

National Defence committee  Jim's absolutely right in terms of the sensors, but I would like to add two things that Canada will have to be facing. It goes back to the issue about the Chinese tests as well. We are, of course, talking of the modernization of NORAD in terms of the North Warning System. That b

National Defence committee  This is part of the saving grace, when we look historically at that relationship, because of the strength that has been developed among those below the political level. There tends to be a political acceptability that North America has to be defended as a unit, but what has been

National Defence committee  We have to be careful in strategic terms, because there's a bit of a tendency to say that the sovereignty issue surrounding the Northwest Passage is a security issue—that somehow the Chinese and the Russians may want to take advantage. The Russians actually have a position that's

National Defence committee  To give you a direct example, just look in terms of the issue of the replacement of a fighter aircraft. If we go to Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands or Britain, we see they do tend to have a process that contains politics—all of the western countries do, let's be very c

National Defence committee  Thank you very much. I appreciate the opportunity to come to share some thoughts with the committee on the good work you're doing. I have two major focuses within my introductory comments. The first is the challenges that Canada has today and has traditionally faced in regard to

National Defence committee  I just have to weigh in. We've talked about diplomacy. Diplomacy also comes from strength. You talk about the economic factors and all of these. It's not about economics. It's about how we have Canadian security. We also seem to be fixated on this one scenario that is just abou

National Defence committee  In the interests of time, first of all, from the military security perspective, we go for ABM, we look at how we can in fact improve the satellite surveillance systems we're talking about for the modernization of NORAD, and we consider the possibility for the next surface combata

National Defence committee  [Technical difficulty—Editor] any tweet or anything that the Koreans have in fact singled us out, though I would add that we have to be careful not to get too focused on whether we are in fact concerned if we have been singled out. Recognize that if we are dealing with an aggress

National Defence committee  If I could interject, I have to take an opposite position. I do not see, on the limited amount that we have for diplomacy.... In terms of the cost for diplomacy with the North Koreans, the North Koreans are not going to pay attention. I don't even know if they necessarily know we

National Defence committee  Could I interject here? Let's be clear on one thing. We don't know what the costs are or what the Americans would require from us at this point. In other words, if we start saying that we're drawing away substantial resources for a price tag for participation, that may or may no

National Defence committee  Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to appear before the committee again, among such an esteemed set of colleagues as well. I have two points that I want to make in the five minutes I have before me. First is the nature of the problem, and second is what Canada should be doing

National Defence committee  Yes, absolutely. That's a critical point. As you and Dr. Charron have pointed out, often when we face financial crises, the first thing that goes is training because that's the budget item where people can say, “Okay, as long as we can still get the procurement projects going and