National Defence Committee on May 6th, 2014

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Norlock]

Thank you very much.

The chair will exercise some prerogative, because he has a question from the last witness that he would like to ask the current witness. It has to do with the defence of North America.

Probably the threats to our continent will be of an air or a maritime nature; I doubt very much they will be of a land nature. Of course, interoperability and complementary equipment is absolutely necessary, especially if we're talking about one of the examples you used as the primary and best example, that being NORAD.

With that, I'll open the question. I'll start by saying that I believe that one of the greatest reasons the United States is the power it is is due to to its military industrial complex and how it has contributed to the economy. That being the case, we are in a consortium with regard to air defence. I'm referring to the F-35 program. I wonder what your opinion is with regard to the kinds of assets we need to obtain in order to sustain that interoperability and complementary equipment, especially in communications.

I wonder whether you would like to make a comment on that. Then we'll move to Ms. Murray, if we have time left.

[Paul Stockton]

Interoperability is key to mission effectiveness in NORAD. The F-35, by providing for a common airframe, will not only allow us to sustain interoperability in those terms, but all of the ancillary equipment—communications, everything else for avionics that will be modernized over time as those airframes are updated because there is a common airframe, because these other projects will be able to go forward on a collaborative basis—provides for a foundation for interoperability that I believe is going to be extremely valuable.

Knowing that program managers need to continue to drive down the cost of the F-35, knowing that each nation, including Canada, is going to make a sovereign decision ultimately on participation in the program, I believe that the interoperability value of this program is extremely important.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, we have an outstanding invitation to the CDS, the CMP, and the JAG to come and talk about sexual assault. Do we have any news on when they might be before us?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Norlock]

If I may, we do have the mains that we have to go to. That will occur....

The only date that the minister is able to appear is May 29, and we have the department—

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

The minister wasn't going to come to talk about sexual assault.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

No, it was on the mains.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Norlock]

I said the mains, and I know you're interested in that.

In terms of what you're referring to, the ombudsman for national defence will be here on May 15 for one hour.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Norlock]

With regard to your question on sexual assault, we haven't heard from the Chief of the Defence Staff as to the date that he will be able to attend. We're anxiously awaiting the response to our invitation to attend committee.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Norlock]

Unfortunately, Ms. Murray, there's less than a minute left. If you have any questions, perhaps you could submit them.

The meeting is adjourned.