National Defence Committee on Feb. 28th, 2019

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

I'm going to go to Ms. Alleslev and then Mr. Garrison.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

It has to do with the overall spending of the Canadian Forces on good order and discipline for which the Minister of National Defence is here to be held accountable. He is responsible for good order and discipline in the Canadian Forces and the real or perceived neutrality of the forces not to politically interfere. It is a legitimate question within the operational environment, responsibilities and scope of the Minister of National Defence.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Mr. Garrison.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Today we have before us not just the supplementary estimates, but the interim estimates. In debate of the interim estimates, traditionally in all committees in this Parliament there's been wide latitude to talk about the general operations of departments under those interim estimates because this is funding for the coming year for the overall operations of, in this case, DND and the Canadian Forces. Traditionally there's been wide latitude on the interim estimates. It has been somewhat narrow on the supplemental estimates, I will agree with you on that, but we have both before us today.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

The chair should make a ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Yes, and I'm going to do that right now.

I've tried to give you some latitude. I think the particular question you asked started to stray, and this is how we go in that direction: We start narrowing and start going into the ditch. So I would agree and I'm going to sustain the point of order on the question. You can resume your questioning, but change your question. If you can tie it to whatever it is you want to talk about, that's fine, but I'm going to rule out of order the particular question you asked.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Will the Minister of Defence seek disciplinary action on behalf of Admiral Norman for not reporting directly to you, but rather speaking with two political staffers about a—

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Yes—

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Again, that question has absolutely nothing to do with the budget.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

We're drifting.

That's a stretch. I'm going to rule that one out of order as well.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

You can challenge the chair if you want, but let's move on with this.

[Leona Alleslev, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much.

I'm going to turn my time over to Ms. Gallant.

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

Thank you.

Minister, Irving is contracted to build five Arctic offshore patrol ships, AOPS, under a ceiling price. Will you table with the clerk, by the end of day tomorrow, the exact ceiling price for the AOPS and all information related to Irving's request for AOPS six, seven and eight?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

I'm sorry. I don't understand your question.

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

Irving is contracted to build five AOPS—

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

That's right.

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

—under a ceiling price. Will you table with the clerk, by end of day tomorrow, the exact ceiling price for the AOPS and all information related to Irving's request for AOPS six, seven and eight?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Originally, when we put our defence policy forward it was five. We have now exercised our option for a sixth AOPS. They will start building the fourth one shortly—

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

They're reporting more AOPS, so we would like the information—

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Just to answer your question—

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

—related to their request.

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

We announced the sixth AOPS. I'm not sure about where you're getting that there are seven and eight in the discussions.

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

Are there no AOPS seven and eight, then?

[Harjit S. Sajjan, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

The Canadian Armed Forces—