Evidence of meeting #65 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 russia.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Stuart Wright  Chief Information Security Officer, Aegis Technologies, As an Individual
Alan W. Bell  President, Globe Risk International Inc.
Viktor Siromakha  Defense, Naval and Air Attaché, Embassy of Ukraine

5:20 p.m.

President, Globe Risk International Inc.

Alan W. Bell

Afghanistan was a totally different war. They didn't have the capabilities of the Russians, but the Afghans threw the Russians out or made them withdraw, so they must have done something right.

What I'm saying is that instead of just giving them basic military training, we need to give them full-spectrum training. They need training right across the board. As I said, that involves everything, not just from a military perspective but also from a government perspective, an economic perspective, a financial perspective, a legal perspective, and all these other things.

If we decide on a whole-of-government approach to this, we should expect the same from Ukraine. We should expect it to do exactly the same thing. Then that way we're working on the same page, as opposed to working on what we think is right.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

My final question is to the three of you. You appear in front of the committee and in the heat of discussion you think, “I wish I would have said that.” Is there anything that you want to leave as final comments, all three of you, before we adjourn?

5:25 p.m.

President, Globe Risk International Inc.

Alan W. Bell

As for me, I got lucky because I didn't really know what to say and I didn't know where you were taking this as a committee. I looked at it as a big problem, and I thought, well, hybrid warfare has to go in there somewhere because that's the big threat. That's where I threw a lot of my time.

I also wasted my time on cyber because I'm not a cyber-guy and I didn't know we had a cyber-guy on here. If a panel has a specific agenda in mind, it would be great if the people who come or are invited to attend know what the agenda is so that they can answer what you want to hear, as opposed to just making it up.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

Mr. Wright, do you have any final recommendations?

5:25 p.m.

Chief Information Security Officer, Aegis Technologies, As an Individual

Stuart Wright

I'll leave the panel with one final comment. Canada needs to be in a constant state of vigilance. Cybersecurity needs to be woven into the fabric of everyday society.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

Colonel.

5:25 p.m.

Col Viktor Siromakha

I would add that Canada now plays a vital role and is completely involved and committed in relation to Ukraine. I would appreciate if next year, 2018, would be even more successful with the presidency of Canada in the G7.

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Canada wants, the Government of Canada wants, and this committee wants Ukraine to be successful. This committee will now have the opportunity and duty to put together some substantive recommendations to the government of what we can do better, what we can do more. That's our undertaking.

I want to thank you very much for your time and your appearance today in front of us. Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.