That's correct.
Evidence of meeting #32 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 going.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #32 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 going.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:40 p.m.
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Department of National Defence
That's correct.
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Mr. Chair, I know you gave some leniency to Mr. Garrison in asking questions that were outside of what's in the supplementary estimates.
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Okay, although there was one time you intervened for me.
I would ask for some leniency here, because I think Canadians want to know more about these non-disclosure agreements that have been signed. We did talk about the replacement of our CF-18 fleet, and how everyone assigned to that project has had to sign non-disclosure agreements. I would like to get an answer from our officials as to why that's necessary.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Before you go down that road, I am prepared to allow it, but again we're here for a very specific reason. You know the rules as well as everyone else here, so if we want to deviate and—
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
This applies to the replacement of our CF-18s.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
If everybody's okay with that, that's fine, but if they're not okay, I would rule that it's not in order.
If everyone could indicate to me—
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
It's a procedural matter. You're the chair. It's either procedurally correct or it's not.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
I'm asking you if you want to give Mr. Bezan some latitude. If you don't, just let me know.
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Could I make the argument that we did talk about the replacement of our CF-18 jets, which is on the table—
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
James, the question's been asked and answered. If you're asking for some latitude from the committee, then you go ahead and ask them.
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Okay, so I see an answer. Mr. Gerretsen, are you willing to change your position on that or not?
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Okay, I'll ask the question. These non-disclosure agreements are not a normal function of government. We do have the National Defence Act, as well as the Security of Information Act. Do the non-disclosure agreements go beyond that? Does this violate the rights of any of our staff that's provided to them under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, in the event they want to be a whistle-blower?
1:40 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
Mr. Chair, they're not uncommon on major procurement projects when your procurement officials are dealing with sensitive commercial information, financial information provided by proponents or suppliers, as well as national security information.
In terms of the work being done this past summer, where the government said it wanted to update its information from various suppliers, an interdepartmental tiger team was pulled together from Defence, Public Services, Justice, ISED, and in going out to the companies, as well as to our allies, we were going to be collecting commercially sensitive financial information, as well as classified sensitive security information from the U.S. and other partners. The non-disclosure agreements were signed by the members of the team to make sure they understood their responsibilities in protecting that information.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
That's your time. That's your question and that's your answer.
I'm going to give the floor to Mr. Gerretsen. If you have a question, you have five minutes.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
As it relates to the overall budget being just over $19 billion, do you know offhand what that represents in percentage of GDP?
1:45 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
For this year, I don't. I believe for the previous year, Canada was about 0.98% of GDP in its defence spending.
1:45 p.m.
Liberal
1:45 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
For this year, I think it would be roughly about the same, but I haven't done the updated calculation.
1:45 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
According to the minister's statement at the beginning, the department had requested new funding of just over $250 million. Do you have a sense as to what that is as a percentage of the overall budget?
1:45 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
I'll ask Claude to do the math.