Yes, it is.
Evidence of meeting #42 for National Defence in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aircraft.
Evidence of meeting #42 for National Defence in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aircraft.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maxime Bernier
Thank you very much.
I want to thank all the witnesses.
Yes, Mr. Bartlett.
Retired Fishing Captain, As an Individual
I've got a couple of questions, seeing I've come a long way.
Conservative
Retired Fishing Captain, As an Individual
This gentleman...I don't know if I understood or not. Did you say if you went 24/7, you'd have to double the resources? What do you mean? Just manpower, is it?
Secretary, Local 90120, Union of National Defence Employees
If the military doubled their assets, if they doubled the number of helicopters....
Retired Fishing Captain, As an Individual
Why would you need to double the number of helicopters?
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I'm on the wrong side of the questions and answers here, but we asked that specific question of the CO out there. He's the guy who understands what it takes to have the availability, and his answer is, basically, double the personnel and double the helicopters. That's from a professional who understands the business and understands how to get people in the air.
Retired Fishing Captain, As an Individual
From a layman who doesn't understand.... These helicopters are going in the air anyhow, whether they're going in 30 minutes or 60 or 70, right?
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
With all due respect, the CO's business is to understand what resources it takes to keep an airplane available 24/7 on 30-minute standby. It's things like training. It's things like people having to go on leave. They have sick leave. They have training from a personnel perspective. The number is double the airplanes and double the people.
Retired Fishing Captain, As an Individual
What do you want to double the airplanes for if they're only going on the same...if you've got--
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
If you've got double the people, you have to train them.
Secretary, Local 90120, Union of National Defence Employees
You have to train them.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
People have to be trained. They have to have their currency kept up and they have to have their qualifications kept up.
Retired Fishing Captain, As an Individual
If I get a call to go out and do a rescue tomorrow, whether I leave and it takes me 15 minutes to clear the wharf or two hours, it doesn't matter, I don't need two boats.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
But you need training. If you're the guy flying the airplane or doing the SAR tech and it's double the people, you need training. They don't just sit there.
Trust me or not, the answer is--
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
You're asking the questions. I don't agree with that assessment. I think if we're going to accept that.... I realize he's the commanding officer of a squadron, but I don't accept that as an answer. I'd like to see, and I'll be asking for, a more in-depth analysis.
Conservative
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
I understand his opinion, but I'm tending towards Mr. Bartlett's analysis at the moment. I'd like to see someone--
Conservative
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
I'd like to see a professional with a full paper on that, and we're going to be asking for one.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maxime Bernier
Yes, Jack, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bartlett. I understand your point. If you want to speak to a member after the meeting, all the members will be here. And we're going to have a session--
Retired Fishing Captain, As an Individual
I have two other items.
One of the gentlemen said we're always going to lose people, right?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maxime Bernier
You can have this conversation after the meeting, because we are now out of time. I want to thank you.
I just want to say to the members that at 7 o'clock tonight there will be an informal meeting with people. All the members of this committee will be here for an informal meeting.
Mr. Bartlett, if you want to come to speak with us, that will be appreciated.
Thank you very much. That will end our session number 42.