National Defence Committee on Nov. 15th, 2016

Evidence of meeting #27 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 forces.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Briefing by the Chief of the Defence Staff on Current Operations

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jonathan Vance Chief of the Defence Staff, Department of National Defence

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Philippe Grenier-Michaud

1:05 p.m.

Gen Jonathan Vance

Thank you, sir.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

All right. Let's finish up this discussion, or debate. Let me rephrase what I said.

There is and there will be a level of French language translation so we can do our business in French if we want to.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

May I, Mr. Chair?

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

It's not even a choice. It's tasked by the Library of Parliament. It's not a choice.

November 15th, 2016 / 1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Absolutely. I think we can vote on it.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

Just for clarification, when I made my comment, it wasn't about.... If we're going to send down seven staff members for seven MPs, I would rather see us send the whole complement of members of Parliament along with the seven staff.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

I'm going to let the clerk wade in here, because he sits through these meetings.

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Philippe Grenier-Michaud

In terms of the participants, SBLI adopted a motion earlier during the session, stating that it won't accept budget proposals with more than seven members.

That's why there are seven members on the list; and in terms of seven staff, that's basically the maximum we could bring for that specific travel. It doesn't mean that we'll send seven members. A decision will be made based on the program and the needs for the travel. It's just that, if we include seven staff in the budget, if the need is to send seven members of the staff, we'll have the money without having to use the cushion, and so on.

That's why you see seven staff. Again, I would say that if seven staff are needed, seven will be sent regardless of the number of members travelling. It could be seven for four members, seven for 20 members. It's just to have the money if the needs are there.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Is there any more discussion on this?

All right. All in favour of the motion as put forward by Ms. Romanado? Opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

The meeting is adjourned.