Evidence of meeting #51 for National Defence in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
This dates from the beginning of our commitment in October of last year through to the end of this fiscal year.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Okay, so it doesn't include the special operations forces aspect of the mission that happened in September.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Yes, I think there might be some initial costs for the setup of the SOF mission that were covered in the previous estimates.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
I'm asking these questions because, as we know, the Parliamentary Budget Officer claimed to have done very conservative estimating, and at the high end of his range it was $40-million plus, more than you have—
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Could I ask that you table the department's estimated costs for each of the categories that the Parliamentary Budget Officer utilized and be clear whether those start at the very beginning of the mission's costs?
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Sure. In principle, yes. I would ask, Ms. Murray, that you maybe specify in writing exactly what you're referring to so I can be sure that I respond as accurately as possible.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
I would just say that I think the PBO's report included his full estimate of costs of the mission. What I'm presenting here is up to the end of the fiscal—
Liberal
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Yes, thank you, but what I'm presenting is up to the end of the fiscal year. If we were to end the mission at the end of March, there would be additional costs that we have not included here in repatriating people and equipment, and restoring that.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Does this include the original deployment of all of the forces and the equipment over...?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Does it include the additional costs of the preparation for a second deployment?
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Are there other incremental costs that were covered by the original budget envelope for the ministry, and so were not, therefore, needed as supplemental funds?
Colonel Claude Rochette Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance and Corporate Services, Department of National Defence
Thank you, Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Chair.
This previous estimates were prepared last September and encompass the deployment of the forces, including their redeployment if the operation finishes at the end of the fiscal year in March. We have $18 million there for redeployment included in that cost.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Okay. So there are no incremental costs that were covered by the general budget; they are all included in the supplement.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
Ms. Murray, we will call time now. That gives us about 10 minutes to get back for votes. You will have three minutes remaining when we return as quickly as possible after votes, please.
We'll now suspend.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Peter Kent
Thank you, colleagues.
Welcome back, ministers and staff.
Ms. Murray, you have three minutes remaining, please.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Thank you for clarifying some of the contradictory information in your materials.
I'd like to ask the minister whether you personally feel that your department has the financial resources it needs for the men and women of Canada's armed forces to do the job we ask of them.
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Yes, I do, of course. Any military could use additional resources. I know our forces could use additional resources, but put this in perspective. Since 2006, the overall budget for DND has increased by 27%, higher than inflation or economic growth—