Evidence of meeting #131 for National Defence in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was reserves.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
There's no information available then on seven and eight.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Okay.
Minister, was there any political direction given by you or anyone in your office in relation to Vice-Admiral Mark Norman's suspension, because this has to do with the supply ship. The decision to deny him legal assistance and the decision to charge him all relates—
Conservative
Liberal
Davenport, Lib.
I'm sorry. I know that we have a broad definition of anything to do with operational funding, but I don't see how that question is relevant to any of the operational funding, any of the interim estimates or any of the supplemental estimates that we have now.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
With the money that is allocated to the forces in the estimates, is there not enough money to provide Admiral Norman the legal assistance he requires and for which he has asked to defend himself?
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Is your office in complete compliance today with the court order for the production of documents?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
It's sustained, otherwise we'll be here all day.
You have 15 seconds left.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I have asked for documents four times. I have not received a ”yes” or “no”. I have asked, will you...? Can you provide documents for the items that I previously requested—any of them?
Liberal
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you very much, Minister, for being here with your staff today.
I, of course, want to talk a bit about shipbuilding. You know that provides very important middle-class jobs for workers and communities. In Nova Scotia, it's crucial. One of the major funding requests I see is $159 million to support the construction of the first five Arctic and offshore patrol ships. I have to add that these are being constructed in Halifax, which isn't in my riding, but it's very important because of the outskirts. Twenty per cent of the workers are from my riding, so that's really crucial and important. They're good-paying jobs.
We need to be talking about some of the programs happening there, because they're very impressive. They have the pathways program for indigenous peoples. They have a program for African Nova Scotians. They have a program for women in partnership and a program for the Canadian Armed Forces and veterans. There are up to 100 in the next five years. Those are very impressive programs.
Can you share with us how those are going to benefit these jobs and this construction in my riding and the surrounding areas in Nova Scotia?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I want to say that I'm very proud of the work the workers are doing there and the creativity the companies are showing to make sure that the workforce is inclusive of women, indigenous people, and also the black community. These are high-quality jobs that are going to be sustained. Let's not forget that we have the AOPS, but also 15 Canadian surface combatant ships. These jobs are going to be there for a long time.
You can say sustainability and 15 ships, but you have to put the money behind it. Originally, when we took over, there wasn't enough money in the national shipbuilding program for this. Now, even the Parliamentary Budget Officer has confirmed our estimates for the Canadian surface combatants. The money is going to be there.
These jobs are going to be sustained for the long duration. Our goal out of this is making sure that the skills continue. As the skills improve, the actual cost of building the ships goes down.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
I brought a number of veterans from my riding to visit the shipyard, and we had a tour. It was quite impressive. Some of the veterans worked in other shipyards in B.C. or in New Brunswick. They were very impressed with what they saw.
My final question is very important as well.
I've seen that in supplementary estimates (B) monies are being moved to the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust for HMCS Sackville. HMCS Sackville of course means a lot to me and to Nova Scotia. It has an impressive history, as you would know. The name Sackville is part of my riding's name, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook. I like that as well.
I had a veteran, Brousseau, from Bedford do a painting of HMCS Sackville. It's very interesting and it's something close to us.
Can you tell us why it is important to ensure that HMCS Sackville gets the $3.5 million in federal funding for repair and maintenance in the years to come?
Liberal
Harjit S. Sajjan Liberal Vancouver South, BC
As you said, it's important for Canadians to know the history, the pride people take—the pride the navy takes in the work they do. You need to know where you came from to understand where you need to go. This is an investment in the future, inspiring younger Canadians to do more regardless of what profession they undertake. You can't put a price on that.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Thank you very much, Minister. I can tell you that when you come to Halifax, the people in Halifax and surrounding areas are very happy to see you, so keep coming down. Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Before I move on, let me say that the commitment was to have you for an hour. It's been about an hour and two minutes. I know that in the past you've been able to accommodate us for extra time, but I don't know whether that's the case today, so if you have to go, I'm happy to suspend and let you go.