National Defence Committee on Feb. 9th, 2009

[Robert Fonberg]

Mr. Chairman, on the fixed-wing search and rescue issue, we are not, as you know, in the market looking for a contractor at this point, so we obviously have no particular preference for any aircraft. When we do go to market, whoever is out there who's able to meet the requirements as set out by the Chief of the Air Staff for that platform would obviously have an opportunity to bid, including any Canadian company that can come forward and any company from any other particular country that could come forward.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

As long as the requirements don't preclude companies of that nature. Obviously how you define what you're looking for will indicate who can actually bid.

[Robert Fonberg]

Absolutely. And I think we would certainly be prepared to have the Chief of the Air Staff speak in detail to the requirements that he has set out for that requirement.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Again, I'd appreciate an update on that.

Through you, Mr. Chairman, the Gander flight school has been dropped from the 2009 air cadet power pilot scholarship program. It's interesting that two schools in government-held ridings have been added to the expense of that school and have been receiving funding since 1993.

Can someone explain to us or get back to us as to why Gander was in fact closed?

[Robert Fonberg]

We'll get back to you in writing.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

I would appreciate that.

Through you, Mr. Chairman, we certainly support the $90 million, particularly with regard to the raises for the Canadian Forces. I was on the committee once where we actually dealt with the quality of life issues. We talk a lot about the hardware, but the actual support of the families and support of providing increase for wages, I think, is absolutely critical, particularly on the issue of retainment.

Mr. Chairman, what is the strategy for recruitment to ensure the retention, especially to fill specific occupations?

[Robert Fonberg]

I would ask the Chief of Military Personnel to speak to that.

[Major-General Walter Semianiw, Chief of Military Personnel, Department of National Defence]

Mr. Chairman, as I'm sure you're aware, the Canadian Forces, like other militaries around the world, is being challenged to recruit a number of trades and specific occupations, which we can provide to this committee if that's what you wish.

It's no different with our U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand counterparts. What we're doing in particular for two areas is targeting naval technician as one particular stressed trade. We have a number of programs in place where we will provide moneys, as the minister said earlier, to Canadians who are involved in college programs to help them through that, as well as to recognize the certificate they receive from that college program.

That's just one small example of what we're doing. We know what those stressed trades are, we have targeted programs for each, and we're prepared to share them with this committee, if the committee sees fit.

Aside from that, the Canadian Forces is also looking at the overarching issue of Canadian Forces retention. As many companies across the country are realizing, keeping good people around.... And remember our aim is to recruit Canada's best and to retain Canada's best. With that, we are putting together a retention strategy focused in two particular areas for us that we have defined to need some specific attention, aside from specific trades or occupations, Mr. Chair.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Thank you, Mr. Wilfert.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Again, can I ask that we can get that information?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

You bet. They were taking notes furiously.

Mr. Wilfert, you packed a lot into your five minutes. Good for you.

Mr. Blaney, let's see if you can do the same.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

That is what we will see, Mr. Chairman.

First, I want to welcome our general, our Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff and our deputy ministers.

Let me come back to the minister's presentation. I very much appreciate the minister's express will to help the Afghanie army become autonomous. I also appreciate the concrete achievements, such as the 25 schools and the damn in Dhala. I find this most encouraging. Certainly, I will support the extra expenditures, because they will clearly serve to outfit our soldiers on the one hand so that they can carry out their mission, and on the other hand to protect them. For instance, I am thinking of Valcartier where we have a defence centre. Deployment was discussed, but some important research is also being done with regard to that. Right now, I want to congratulate the forces for their remarkable work. Especially, as you know, a new turnaround is beginning in Quebec with a deployment from Valcartier. We will continue following the mission very closely.

That being said, let me come back to the issue of opium production. This committee made a study, which raised the possibility of using opium for pharmaceutical purposes, or of purchasing opium. I think that this is an interesting alternative proposed by our committee.

My questions, Mr. Chairman, are first and foremost about the shipbuilding industry. I will put them more specifically to the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff.

The minister raised the issue of funds for modernizing and extending the longevity of the Halifax class frigates. I would like to know if you could tell us what the funds will be spent for and whether any Canadian companies will be able to benefit from them. More generally, Mr. Rouleau, could you give us a picture of your intentions—you discussed the Joint Support Ship with Mr. Wilfert—regarding the modernization of the Canadian fleet in relation to the Canadian shipbuilding industry and to Canadian shipyards.

[VAdm D. Rouleau]

Yes, absolutely. Just for modernizing our Canadian frigates, we currently have a program on both coasts that will certainly bring some very substantial investment to the Canadian shipbuilding industry.

As the minister said, our first frigate, the Halifax, was fitted out in 1990, which means that what we call our new Canadian patrol frigates are not really all that new. However, given the change in the mission, the change in operations, their equipment, whether it be radar, communications equipment or electronic equipment for electronic war, must be adapted so as to keep in step with the latest progress in electronics. Consequently, the frigates need a very substantial modernization program so that they can be, once again, able to operate not only in Canada but also overseas, as the frigates did very recently. In fact, our frigate Ville de Québec recently patrolled the shores of Somalia to protect United Nations food convoys. All those measures need to be taken so that our frigates can cooperate with ships from other nations. Operating on our own is one thing, but we must be able to work within a coalition. Consequently, the equipment must be compatible. Therefore, the equipment must be upgraded. This is what we are doing currently for the frigates.

With regard to the potential replacement of the frigates as well as the replacement of our destroyers, which are very old, the program was announced through the Canada First Defence Strategy, where the situation was clearly explained. The document states that there is a need to replace 15 surface ships, which means our Canadian frigates along with our three destroyers. The programs are currently underway for implementing a system for supplying these ships while maintaining a capacity to operate at sea. All this is being achieved in the process of modernizing the frigates.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

I have another question. Coming back to the modernization and the extension of the longevity of our frigates, you mentioned that work was going on both coasts. Could you tell us a bit more of what you intend to do with regard to this?

[VAdm D. Rouleau]

The work is awarded to those shipyards that are able to do the work. At present, on both shores, the contracts have not been put out in their entirety. We are talking about a program of nearly two and a half billion dollars, and perhaps even more. Today, here and now, we are talking about only $54 million. Therefore, the benefits for the industry are not yet entirely visible, but they will be announced.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

When do you expect to call for tenders?

[VAdm D. Rouleau]

I will have to verify this, I could give you the details of the operation step by step, because this program has several steps.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

I would appreciate that.

Have I any time left, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Not right now.

Mr. Paillé from the Bloc, welcome.

[Pascal-Pierre Paillé, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Thank you for coming.

On August 29 this year, presidential elections will be held in Afghanistan. According to our information, at about that date, we would extend the mission of the 22^nd Regiment and we would accelerate the mission of the other unit so as to have a total of 4,000 soldiers.

Is there any connection between what we heard regarding the increase in the number of troops and the presidential elections about to be held in Afghanistan?

[VAdm D. Rouleau]

If we look at the timings of the turnarounds, the Valcartier brigade will be deployed this spring, in March and April, and will come back six months afterward, which means next October. Therefore, this deployment is not at all connected with the Afghani elections, which will be held in August. The unit currently on the ground will certainly not be kept there until August; this would be an extension of more than four months.

If an event were to occur near the end of the mission we might look into the possibility of extending the mission by one week or two. At present, we do not need to have both brigades on the ground at the same time. The timings do not allow for any extension that would be due to the elections.

[Pascal-Pierre Paillé, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Finally, you do not expect to superimpose two units or to increase the number of troops on or around next August 20.

[VAdm D. Rouleau]

Not at all. The timings are for six-month periods. We could look into the possibility of increasing the number of troops if an event occurred during that period. However, regarding the elections, given the fact that they are being held during the very middle of a turnaround, we are not considering that alternative.

[Pascal-Pierre Paillé, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Are you afraid of some increase in violence that might involve Canadian soldiers during the presidential elections that will be held on August 20 this year?

[VAdm D. Rouleau]

The coalition is in the process of taking additional measures. Registration of the Afghan population is underway. As the election draws near, if necessary, the coalition will study the options at its disposal. Canada is currently engaged with the forces that we have in the field. We have increased the number of Chinooks and Griffons, which were part of recent deployments, as well as unarmed aircraft that provide us with additional surveillance.