National Defence Committee on March 11th, 2009

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

But my understanding of this was that authority was given for one specific operation.

[Cmdre D. Gardam]

It was for that operation.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

And if a similar one came up, it would be granted on a case-by-case basis.

[Cmdre D. Gardam]

That's my understanding.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Okay, thank you.

I'll pass the rest of my time to Ms. Gallant.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Actually, my final questions had to do with NORAD as well. We know that, as Claude mentioned, there's supposed to be a maritime component. At present, are they able to superimpose the maritime component over top of the air component? Can you see what's going on in both dimensions at once?

[Cmdre D. Gardam]

Yes, you can.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Okay. Is the information as complete and reliable for the Arctic section of the map, so to speak, as it would be in the more populated areas on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts?

[Cmdre D. Gardam]

No, it's not. As my colleague was mentioning, the issue of the Arctic is about transmitting information and having the right satellites that have a polar orbit and that can actually look down and pick up this information. We're putting those up now. We have some up and we'll put more up. As we put more up, our information level will become more detailed.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Thank you. Those are all my questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Thank you very much.

I just want to ask the members of the committee if they have other questions. If not, I will thank our witnesses.

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

I have one short question on the cleanup of the DEW line sites?

[Cmdre D. Gardam]

I've got that here somewhere. Just give me a second. Pardon me if I refer to my notes.

During the Cold War North America relied on radar networks to provide early warnings. In the early 1960s twenty of these sites were decommissioned and became the responsibility of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Twenty-one of these sites remained in operation within DND until 1993. The northern warning system has subsequently been replaced.

The DEW line cleanup project was initiated in 1990 to remediate the contaminated soil of 21 DEW line sites. The project is expected to spend $500 million over the life of the project. Between 1996 and 2007 it cleaned up 14 sites. The cleanup of the remaining sites is expected to be completed in 2012, and we'll continue monitoring the landfill until 2037.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Thank you.

I would like to thank the witnesses. I think your presentation was really appreciated by the members.

The same goes for the answers to the questions that were put to you by the members. Thank you very much for the information you gave us this afternoon.

You are free to go. Thank you.

We received a motion from Mr. Wilfert, and I cannot discuss this motion right now. I need unanimous consent. Do we have unanimous consent to discuss this motion?

I see that we have unanimous consent, and so I will ask Mr. Wilfert to move his motion.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you members of the committee.

I move that in light of the recent statements by the Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, Chief of Land Staff, that the Canadian military is in “a state of crisis” due to strains of the mission in Afghanistan, the Standing Committee of National Defence undertake a study on the Department of National Defence's current and future recruitment strategy to attract the needed personnel and resources to meet the current and future demands of the Canadian Forces.

From consultation with my colleague Mr. Hawn, I agree with his amendment, if you want to put the amendment forth.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

A friendly amendment: that the motion be amended by adding, after the words “Canadian Forces”, the following: “and that the committee undertake this study after its current studies on health services offered to CF personnel and Arctic sovereignty are completed”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Thank you.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Do we need a vote on that, Mr. Chairman? Because we are going to get our report on the health services, we have this report on the Arctic, but my intent was to try to deal with it before the end of the session. I'm quite amenable to the amendment. I deem it a friendly amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Okay.

Mr. Bachand.

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I didn't hear Mr. Hawn refer to the incursion of the Russian bomber and witnesses from Russia. I imagine that stands as well?

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Yes, It will be next .

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I'm sorry, yes, you're right. Mainly it was business that is currently before the committee, which would include other motions and so on.

[Bryon Wilfert, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Notwithstanding.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

The amendment is moved by Mr. Hawn and seconded by Mr. Wilfert.

(Amendment agreed to)