National Defence Committee on Oct. 30th, 2017

[Jody Thomas]

It was my file.

The RFP is to be closed on November 17. We're not anticipating, nor do we desire, any other extensions. That RFP has to close. Every delay costs us money. We understand that completely.

A lot of the stops and starts on this procurement were caused by how we gated it, and that was done deliberately. We would ask for information from the bidders, and we would analyze it and allow them to ask us questions. We answered every question before we moved on. If there were 400 questions, every single question was answered. That added delays, but it also allowed for clarity in terms of the submission we're going to receive from the bidders. We may have been overcautious, but we didn't want an unsuccessful procurement. We didn't want this RFP to close with no successful bidders. We may have put too many stops and starts into it so that we could assess the information and ensure that there was complete clarity on the bidder's side. We'll do that review.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

At the end of the day, we have lost bidders.

[Jody Thomas]

We have, but I think we're going to have some very strong bids. Time will tell. I don't know absolutely the number at this time, but that's going to happen in a bid this complex. It was the first one in quite some time. I'm hoping the diligence and caution that were put into it will pay dividends at the back end of the procurement.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

The last question goes to Mr. Garrison.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Chair, she offered to send an undertaking. I just want to make sure that gets—

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Yes, I was going to circle back to it at the end, but if you could forward that to committee, Ms. Thomas, we would very much appreciate it.

Go ahead, Mr. Garrison.

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

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to stay on budget matters. Last week we had a fall economic update, and I wondered whether there were any impacts on the defence department budget. Some have alleged that there was money removed or returned to the treasury that was being underspent.

Can you tell me if there were impacts on the defence budget in that update?

[Jody Thomas]

I'll get Bill to elaborate, but the fall economic update provided just accounting changes and adjustments. The accrual position changed a bit but the cash didn't, and we are receiving more money. There were no cuts to the department in the economic update. In the tabling of supplementary estimates (B), the change in funding to the department is a net increase of $1.56 billion.

[William Matthews]

To add to the deputy's comments, Mr. Chair, one of the challenges that people have with significant spending involving assets in any government department is that on some days people are throwing out cash numbers and on others they are putting out accrual numbers, and people are often not clear which number they mean.

As the deputy mentioned, the cash numbers there, the accrual.... If we extend projects out, we don't start depreciating or amortizing our assets till they're ready to be put into service, so the accrual tail on those things can be extended out. That was the distinction.

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

In terms of a budget for engaging in peacekeeping, the minister has made a promise that Canada is prepared to contribute up to 600 armed forces personnel. Where is that in the budget? The parliamentary secretary today referred to $500 million. Is that budgeted in the Department of National Defence budget? Is it in the foreign affairs budget? Is it actually budgeted anywhere?

[Jody Thomas]

There is money afforded to peace support operations. The details of the operations are still under discussion, but money is being budgeted for peace support ops when the decision is made.

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

Would there be sufficient money in this year to support a mission that would begin in this fiscal year?

[Jody Thomas]

Should we begin a mission in this year, yes, there is.

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

Great. Thanks very much.

It wouldn't be complete unless I went back to the commodore again with one last question on military justice.

When Bill C-15 was going through the House, significant delays were being seen in military justice, and Bill C-15 was supposed to help in some ways with those delays. Then in 2016 we had a Supreme Court of Canada decision called Regina v. Jordan, which said that matters have to be dealt with within 18 months.

What is the situation on delays in military justice, and will you be able to meet the 18-month deadline? I know one case, a serious assault case, has already been dismissed as a result of delays. I would hate to see that happen again. What is the situation on the delays?

[Cmdre Geneviève Bernatchez]

The Supreme Court of Canada decision in Jordan obviously applies to the military justice system as well. We're bound by this 18-month delay. We've worked very closely with the prosecution services, defence counsel services, and the office of the chief military judge to ensure that delays will be cut as much as possible. As you've mentioned—thank you—there was one case in which the delays overran, but I'm going to touch wood and say we have processes in place now to ensure that this will remain very much the exception and never the norm.

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

Thanks very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Thank you all for your service, and we wish you every success. The committee looks forward to working with you in the future. We have supplementary estimates (B) coming, so we know we'll see you soon.

I'm going to suspend for a second so that we can say our goodbyes, and we'll resume to dispatch Mr. Bezan's motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Welcome back.

I'll give the floor to Mr. Bezan to move his motion.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to move the following motion:

That, pursuant to the Order of Reference of Thursday, October 26, 2017, the Committee consider the Supplementary Estimates (B) before the reporting deadline set out in Standing Order 81(5); and that the Committee invite the Minister of Defence to appear at a televised meeting on the Supplementary Estimates (B), 2017.

This was sent around to everybody in the last couple of days. It's the normal process.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Okay.

(Motion agreed to)

[Jean Rioux, Liberal, Saint-Jean, QC]

I have a motion to adjourn.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

The meeting is adjourned.