Evidence of meeting #19 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 medical.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I didn't hear what you said about Bucharest.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
There's been a request for an update on what happened at the NATO summit, just from a Canadian perspective.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Mr. Chair, I'd like to inform the members of the committee that we proposed--I'm not going to say we agreed, but we proposed--that we would utilize our members' travel points to keep the costs down in terms of our travel to Wainwright, and the same would apply to Valcartier. That was just a proposal, of course. If everybody is in agreement, we'll make sure it's done.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Yes. We thought if everybody could use one of their 64 points, it would sure help with the budgeting. I don't think we all use all of them every year. Is everybody all right with that?
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Is money an issue on this one? I'm just asking, because of Afghanistan.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
I think if we show some initiative and that we're trying to.... I don't know if it would be an issue, but we got some money to go on our other trip, we've got this request, and now we're going to go back for another travel request.
Conservative
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Are there any suggestions? On the visits to Wainwright and Valcartier, it's not just the members. I think support staff has to join us. Perhaps the clerk could do a rough calculation, because you'll probably have to go to the liaison committee and ask for that.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
If we can get this through, that's what we'll do. We'll get it all detailed as to what it should be as far as the dollars are concerned.
May 9 to 11 is not during the week; it's the weekend, but they've indicated that would be the best time for us to go. There are some other options. There is one from the 11th to the 14th. That would be during the week. It's option three, actually. The preferred option is May 9 to 11, for the action on the ground.
Mr. Blaney.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
I would like to comment on this very last point, Mr. Chairman.
I think there's nothing like walking the field, I would say, as an engineer. When you're on the ground, you really get a grasp. You get a better result. I think these two trips will benefit the report and the depth of our recommendations.
One of my concerns is that I just looked at my schedule, and on that very weekend, the Saturday, there is a special event organized with the 6e Régiment d'artillerie de campagne. I want to acknowledge the contribution of the reservists who took part in the last rotation on behalf of my constituents. I wonder whether there are special events on that very weekend in Wainwright. I am curious. Why is there travelling on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
I'll get Jim to explain the different scenarios. He's actually got three different ones he can talk about.
James Cox Committee Researcher
There are three options. On the first option, there is training at the level of a company, which is good to see. Then on the second option, there is training at the level of a company as well, which is good. As well as that, there is planning for a larger operation, and that's the period over the weekend. The other option after that is to stay and observe this larger operation.
So you have the company in training on its own, or you have the option of the company in training and the planning for the higher operation, or you have the option of observing the higher operation.
Conservative
Committee Researcher
During the week.
And frankly, in terms of training to observe, all of them are valuable. There isn't a choice that is a bad one.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
If the committee prefers, we could try to make it during the week instead of on the weekend.
Ms. Gallant.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I have two questions. First of all, is there live fire?
Committee Researcher
No. They have completed all that, and the big exercise in the States. Although live fire is concluded, the troops will have the sensors on their helmets, and lasers. If you are visiting then, the advantage is that all of you are capable of getting close and being involved in the training, as opposed to having to stand off as people are shooting.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Okay. With respect to the bigger exercise, I'd like to comment that Wainwright is a unique place to be able to observe something like that. It's very difficult on your local base to see the entire orchestration happening. As much as I love being in the Chamber, I would forfeit that week so we could all observe the grand exercise, as well as the debriefings and lessons learned afterwards.
Conservative
Conservative
James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Mr. Chair, that week...is it May 5 to 11, in Wainwright? I'm scheduled to travel to Israel with a group, the Canada-Israel group, regrettably. So if it is possible to reassign that, it would be great for me. If not, I'm afraid I'll be reading the minutes or report.
Liberal
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
I was going to comment after I heard this, Mr. Chairman.
With all due respect to the members in our committee who are not here, for example, the critic, Claude, and Dawn, I just want to echo Cheryl's comment. For me, this is such a unique opportunity. From what I've heard, I think it's an opportunity we must not miss, and we must see cooperation on it. I understand James has a commitment already to be away that week. Is that correct, James?