Government Operations Committee on Oct. 6th, 2026

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Yes, go ahead on your point of order.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

It's on the relevance of these questions in view of the agenda that we just supported.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

The relevance goes straight to the motion itself: “the government is making historic investments in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to meet our NATO funding targets”. That's exactly what this issue is about.

Go ahead, Mr. Mazier.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I guess I'll follow up on this. Basically, our science vessels are now considered NATO spending or defence spending. Is that correct?

[Robert Wight]

Yes, 100% of the expenditures of the Canadian Coast Guard are now charged against our NATO commitment.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

What was the change? Why all of a sudden now? Is it because it was allowed, or is it a facade? When everybody hears about defence spending, they think it's going to be on defence, not on science research vessels.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, Mr. Mazier.

Go ahead on your point of order.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just reviewed the motion, and I don't see any wording to that effect. It's in the buildup to the motion, certainly, but the motion itself instructs OGGO to study alternative uses of underused and surplus federal lands and buildings that can reinvigorate communities by serving as centres providing services for veterans.

I have difficulty understanding what this line of questioning has to do with this particular motion. If you can help me understand it, I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

I can definitely help you.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

I don't think the question is for you, sir.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Bragdon, on that point of order, please go ahead.

[Richard Bragdon, Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To read directly from the motion itself, this is the motion text, and this is the premise of the rest of the study:

That:

(a) the House recognize,

(i) that the government is making historic investments in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to meet our NATO funding targets earlier than committed....

That is the whole premise upon which, as the motion states, the study is occurring. To have questions along the lines of the basis of the study is very much congruent with the purposes of the study.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm going to interrupt you there, because you're repeating my commentary and my ruling.

It is very clear. It's right in the motion, as submitted to us by the House of Commons. It's in the very first line. I have ruled.

We'll continue with Mr. Mazier. You have one minute and 40 seconds.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Wight, to clarify all this, historically, the Coast Guard operates offshore fisheries science vessels, which help count fish and do other science research on our coastal properties. Now the government has decided that is going to be considered defence spending. Is that correct?

[Robert Wight]

I can't speak to the NATO accounting rules and how they specifically apply, but I can say that independent of us joining National Defence, we were given a security mandate. Now all of the platforms we have—the 126 ships, along with our suite of over 30 helicopters and fixed-wing planes—are contributing to the marine domain awareness picture, whether they be science ships, icebreakers, search and rescue craft or any of the others. They are actively inputting through the sensors they have on board or through the crew themselves into the marine domain awareness picture.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Are these scientific ships and their staff all of a sudden all going to be part of National Defence?

[Robert Wight]

The Coast Guard remains a special operating agency. We had run seven main mandates or missions up to that point.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Are there any National Defence-type instruments on their vessels now that they are part of National Defence?

[Robert Wight]

Yes. We are equipping numbers of ships and helicopters with advanced communications and navigation equipment.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Mr. Thompson, can you table all the engineering and building condition assessments and reassessments for the Amherst armoury, including the itemized cost estimates for repair, restoration or conversions since 2015, please?

[David Thompson]

There have been significant investments put into the Amherst armoury over the last several years.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Could you table those results, please?

[David Thompson]

We have the results of the maintenance and repairs made to the Amherst armoury and the structures for the—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Would you be able to share that with us?