National Defence Committee on March 8th, 2016

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

Thank you very much. As you know if my schedule permits I'd be happy to answer any of your questions that weren't answered in this forum.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Thank you, sir, for coming. We appreciate it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Order. We're going to resume the supplementary estimates (C) discussion. Leading off for the last question in round one for seven minutes is Ms. Romanado.

You have the floor.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

You spoke today about the importance of creating a new defence strategy for Canada. However, that initiative is not mentioned in supplementary estimates (C). That is why I would like to know what personnel resources and what budgets will be allocated to that initiative, and whether this review will be carried out by an independent organization.

[John Forster]

Thank you for the question.

Regarding the resources for the review of our national defence policy, we are looking at next year. There are no funds marked for this in the 2015-2016 fiscal year budget. A budget will be allocated to complete the review of the national policy and carry out the consultations. We are in the process of determining a budget, but in this case, the funds will probably come from our department's operating budget. They will thus be included in supplementary estimates (A) and (B).

The Minister of Defence will soon announce how we will establish the policy, carry out the review and conduct the public consultations. This will probably take place over the next weeks and months.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Fine.

There are four cadet corps in my riding. This program is very important for young people throughout Canada.

I would like to know whether there is a plan to increase the funds allocated to that initiative.

[LGen Guy R. Thibault]

Thank you for the question, madam.

As the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff, I am in fact responsible for the cadet program. There is nothing in these supplementary estimates, but to manage the Cadet Program, the Department of Defence invests around $200 million. In addition, in order to ensure that we can better support cadet corps in our communities, we have a renewal program. That is where the program is truly put into effect. It is very important to see to it that these $200 million are focused on local programs. There is also the national program, which is implemented in cadet camps during the summer. We really ensure that we use the available funds to offer a program that meets the needs of young people who are engaged in this program, which has national importance.

Thank you.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

I have one final question. This is with regard to transfers to other organizations in the supplementary (C)s.

Approximately $250,000 will be transferred to Indian Affairs and Northern Development to pay for costs associated with unexploded explosive ordnance services for the Okanagan Indian Band, as well as Tsuu T'ina Nation. Given our renewed relationship with first nations, while we appreciate the amounts that are being allocated during the supplementary (C)s, are we willing to put any more resources into these initiatives given the importance of our relationship with first nations?

[John Forster]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the question.

We actually put a very important priority on this program. We have a regular program to do this, to clean up unexploded ordnance on not only first nations lands but on any other lands that were used after World War II, etc., and since then for military training. The two items here are the amounts we are asking for to complete this fiscal year, but we also have a very well-established ongoing program to try to clean up those areas in partnership, particularly with first nations where it's their land. That will be in our budget for next year.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Do I have any more time, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

You have two minutes, if you like.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Okay.

In addition, I notice there are some transfers from other organizations—specifically SSHRC, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and NSERC, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council—to support federally funded research at the Royal Military College in Kingston as well the Canada research chairs.

Can you elaborate on whether this research will be at the undergraduate level, or are we looking at graduate-level research?

[John Forster]

About $1 million coming from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council is going into RMC Kingston, and about $5,600 into RMC Saint-Jean. These research grants are from the SSHRC for projects and labs. I don't have the specific projects for those two, but if you'd like that information, we'd be happy to provide it to the chair.

Another $350,000 from NSERC is going to RMC of Canada. That is to support four new professors going into RMC in those fields. I can get you the exact subjects if you want their specialties.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

I'm sure I can find it on the NSERC website.

[John Forster]

All right. Great.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Thanks very much.

Mr. Gerretsen, you have the floor for five minutes.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I have one question. Depending on the length of the answer, I'd be happy to share any remaining time with another member if they have a question.

I see that roughly $1.2 million is going toward the phase two of Canada's cybersecurity strategy. Can you elaborate a little bit more specifically on what the money will be spent on? As well, can you provide a bit of an update on the strategy as a whole and where we are with it right now?

[Greta Bossenmaier, Chief, Communications Security Establishment]

Sure. Thank you very much for the question.

I'll start by noting that from a CSE perspective, cybersecurity is a really important part of our mandate. We look at cybersecurity from a number of different perspectives. We look at it, of course, in terms of protecting the Government of Canada networks and the information that's contained on those networks. We do that in association with partners from other departments, such as Shared Services Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat, for example.

We also have the mandate to ensure or help to protect systems of importance for the Government of Canada. We're working with our partners in Public Safety in particular on phase two of the cyber strategy, which is looking at critical infrastructure. We're working with them to see how we can help support private sectors, in particular critical infrastructure sectors, in terms of cybersecurity. That includes, for example, sharing some cyber-threat information that we have, or cyber-mitigation advice that we might have, given the focus we have on cyber from the Government of Canada perspective.

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

How much was spent in phase one?

[Greta Bossenmaier]

Overall, on the strategy, I don't have that. It's a Public Safety-led initiative.

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

Okay. You've described what's involved. Can you provide an update as to where we are at this point?

[Greta Bossenmaier]

Right now we're looking to see how we can further support the private sector in cybersecurity, and again, from a CSE perspective. This is a horizontal initiative. There are other departments involved led by Public Safety.

From a CSE perspective, we're looking at things like being able to share some of our advice, for example, in cyber-threats we're seeing coming across the world to Canada and also in terms of potential mitigation advice that we may have.

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

Thank you. I'll defer the rest of my time to the next member.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Mr. Fisher.