Evidence of meeting #12 for National Defence in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you.
Minister, we're still getting a bit of static from your microphone. You may have to move it around a bit over the course of the half hour we have left.
Mr. Fisher, you have six minutes, please.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Minister, thank you very much for being here today. I want to thank you for all you've done on this very, very challenging file that you've been handed.
I also want to thank you for coming to Halifax last week to offer an incredible send-off to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces as HMCS Halifax left port. Your interaction with members of the families and members of the Canadian Armed Forces was nothing short of moving. Thank you for that. It was very much appreciated by all.
Minister, the supplementary estimates indicate $65.5 million for Operation Reassurance. We've been hearing an awful lot about that operation recently, in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Later this afternoon, in fact, we are looking forward to meeting with Latvia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence to hear more about our bilateral relationship and co-operation as NATO allies.
Can you describe Canada's contribution? How does this emphasize Canada's commitment to NATO?
Liberal
Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON
Most definitely Canada remains strongly committed to its partnership with NATO allies and to reinforcing our support for NATO's eastern flank. Up to 915 Canadian Armed Forces members could be deployed on Operation Reassurance at any given time, making this Canada's largest international military operation involving the deployment on air, land and sea, elements that are so important to reinforcing NATO's eastern flank.
To strengthen NATO's deterrence and defensive effort, we announced on February 22 that we would expand Operation Reassurance by providing an additional 460 CAF personnel as a ceiling, along with further CAF military assets, including the Halifax, which we visited on the weekend before it set sail.
Shortly thereafter, the Prime Minister and I announced that we would also extend Operation Reassurance, one year ahead of schedule, for an additional number of years. What that means for Canada is that the battle group in Latvia, where Canada is the lead nation for a multinational NATO battle group composed of 1,500 soldiers from 10 allied nations, will continue; a battery of M777 artillery guns with forward observers and an electronic warfare group to [Technical difficulty—Editor] enhanced forward presence battle group in Latvia will continue; standing naval forces are continuing; there will be a second frigate, the Halifax, which left port on Saturday. An air task force which with [Technical difficulty—Editor] Hornets and approximately 140 [Technical difficulty—Editor] have supported NATO air policing in Romania since September. The most recent deployment will continue with a rotation scheduled for July 2022.
I could go on. We have a number of additional measures under Operation Reassurance that I could describe to you, but in the interest of your questioning time, I'll cede the floor in case you have further questions for me.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you very much, Minister. I do have another question.
The conversation around defence spending has shifted significantly since February, when Russia commenced its aggression against Ukraine. It's been pointed out many times that we live in a different world. That might be the understatement of our time. The rules-based order is under threat, and in fact, over the past weeks, we've been studying the threats that face Canada.
Where do you stand on the question of defence spending and resourcing the Canadian Armed Forces?
Liberal
Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON
I will say that our government has been making critical smart investments into our forces, and I want to ensure that you know that we are increasing spending by 70% under Strong, Secure, Engaged between 2017 and 2026, to ensure that our CAF have the right people, equipment, training and culture to do the difficult tasks that we ask of them. We are actually seeing results from our procurement, in particular, six Arctic offshore patrol ships, two of which have been delivered, and one of which, the Harry DeWolf, has circumnavigated the North American continent.
We are going to be putting in place a contract for 88 new fighter jets, 15 surface combatants, two joint support ships, and 16 fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft.
The bottom line is that we will remain focused on the Canadian Armed Forces and on making sure they have the capabilities and culture needed to meet current and emerging threats.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
We seem to be continuing to have difficulties with the static. I don't know whether there's anybody there that can help out, but my attitude, colleagues, is just to plow on unless the translators really—
Liberal
Conservative
Kerry-Lynne Findlay Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Can I suggest, Mr. Chair, that the minister just bring her mike up a bit more, by her mouth. That might help.
Liberal
Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON
Don't worry about interrupting me to tell me to move my mike around. I appreciate the collaboration.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Okay, let's give that a go.
Madame Normandin, go ahead for six minutes, please.
Bloc
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you very much, Madam Minister, for your availability and for being here.
My first question is about weapons requests from Ukraine. Ukraine recently asked for small arms, but Canada has exhausted its ability to send weapons. It would have to empty stockpiles from its own units to meet Ukraine's requests.
However, we know that in the United States, civilians have offered to send weapons including AR‑15s, which are now banned in Canada. It had intended to buy them back and destroy them.
Was consideration given to sending those weapons to Ukraine rather than destroying them?
Liberal
Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON
Thank you for your question.
This is obviously a complex issue. First, I'd like to say that I have already announced six tranches of lethal and non‑lethal military assistance for Ukraine since February alone. That's $100 million in military aid for Ukraine.
As you said, it's important that we continue to support—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Apparently, we're having additional difficulties.
Have you any suggestions?
Liberal
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
John, no officials are on the same.... They can't all stream from the same spot. They don't have enough bandwidth, so shut off their video and then we can hear them.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Apparently, Minister, what I'm told.... I'm getting amazing amounts of advice from people who are about as technologically proficient as I am, but what I'm told is that our connection with your colleague is actually sound. Your connection is not so sound, so for the time being could you maybe borrow your colleague's connection? That might work a bit better.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Well, I want to be fair to Ms. Normandin, because she has asked an important question.
