Evidence of meeting #126 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 training.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Minister, I want to say thanks for appearing in front of us this morning.
There's been some—actually, a lot of—investment in our Canadian air force. I think that over the past 18 months it's been close to $60 billion, through the acquisition of the F-35 and the P-8A. That will, ultimately, need to fund a program called the future aircrew training program. As I see in these estimates, there are $659 million for that particular program. I think we can all agree that the equipment will require that next generation of individuals to be highly trained.
Can you maybe tell us a little bit more about the need for training and supporting our next generation of pilots?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
This particular program is quite substantial. We signed a contract with a consortium of Canadian companies in order to deliver it. It is the largest investment in the Royal Canadian Air Force since the Second World War.
We've also, as you've indicated, signed contracts to acquire new F-35 fighters and P-8A multi-mission aircraft. There are other significant investments in new trainers so that our people can train properly and safely.
Over the next 25 years, that program is going to provide our pilots and our aircrews.... It's really important because I think we often focus on the training of pilots. Don't get me wrong. Pilots are really important, but every plane requires a crew and that crew requires maintenance personnel and other supports, so we need to invest in that.
We've signed contracts to deliver those planes. The P-8As are going to start being delivered by 2026. We're moving really rapidly in order to get the Canadian Armed Forces exactly the tools that it needs. However, we have to make sure that our people are ready when those new aircraft arrive, so there's an urgency to this. It's why we've put $659 million in these supplementary estimates to begin that essential program.
Canada also has an extraordinary reputation around the world. As a country that has trained pilots and aircrews for other of our allies, certainly through the Second World War, we're re-establishing that capability for Canada because I think it's another significant contribution our country could make to global peace and security.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Thank you very much.
As we are talking about some of the equipment for the air force, I would like to take you back to the announcement you made regarding the Canadian multi-mission aircraft project. Canada is procuring, as you said, the 16 P-8A aircraft. They're known as sub hunters, I'm told—I am not a military person—as they can operate in complex land and sea operations. They're also interoperable with our partners, and that's a key element of some of our decisions.
These supplementary estimates include over half a billion dollars to fund this critical project for our air force needs. What is the impact of this funding, particularly? You started to talk about the P-8A aircraft being held up in our air force.
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
First of all, they're going to replace the C-140s, which have been doing extraordinary work for the Canadian Armed Forces and for our allies for the last 45 years, but it really is time to replace those aircraft.
We listened very carefully to the air force. They said what they needed in these aircraft, and it's why we made the decision to go with the P-8A. As you've indicated, the P-8A Poseidon is primarily a submarine hunter, but it's multi-mission in its capabilities. It's operated by all five of our Five Eyes partners and by Norway and Germany. There are real advantages, as the air force can share with you, to interoperability and even exchangeability in these things.
We have an opportunity, because our allies use these aircraft, to train alongside them right now and to accelerate our ability to receive these aircraft and to manage a very orderly but rapid transition from the C-140s to the P-8As, so we need to start investing in that now.
It's investing in the training, but it's also investing in some of the infrastructure that's going to be required in order to support these aircraft when they are delivered. There are some adjustments that need to be made from our existing maintenance facilities, so that work has to proceed. We want to be ready when we want to move quickly.
There's an urgency to this because of the actions of our adversaries. We're seeing a lot more naval, maritime and submarine activity in the North Atlantic, in the Pacific and in the Arctic, and we want to make sure that we have the equipment necessary to deal with it.
Liberal
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Just to understand, we're proposing, in these estimates, $3.3 billion for the authority to continue providing.... I always hear criticisms that we are not spending money or not allocating the funds required.
What is the impact if these estimates are not approved shortly?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
It'll slow us down very significantly.
I believe every member of this committee understands the urgency of going quickly. That's one of the reasons why I wanted to come and share with you these estimates and convey to you the importance of getting them approved as quickly as possible.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I have a point of order.
When my round started, my mic was not on, unbeknownst to me. I think it would be appropriate to allow me one question, in order to make up for that span of time when my mic was off.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I wouldn't complain, Mr. Chairman, but this isn't the first time. I'm not suggesting anything is intentional.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
We know the Speaker of the House does that, so we want to make sure that, you know, fair is fair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
We made pretty good time. I'm going to allow you one minute, and that's it.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There is going to be a gap in our satellite constellation. One is going off-line before the next one is ready to replace it.
What measures are being taken? What is going to happen to make sure there is no gap in that surveillance?
Liberal
Bill Blair Liberal Scarborough Southwest, ON
Thank you very much.
I can advise that interim arrangements have already been made to ensure there is continuity of that availability.
November 21st, 2024 / 9:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
Thank you.
That brings our first hour to a conclusion, relatively unscathed.
We appreciate, Minister, your making considerable efforts to be here and sharing the supplementary estimates.
With that, colleagues, we will suspend for only as long as we need to in order to move into our second hour.
The meeting is suspended.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal John McKay
I call this meeting back to order.
I'm assuming there are no opening statements.
Okay. We'll go directly to questions.
Mrs. Gallant.
Conservative
Don Stewart Conservative Toronto—St. Paul's, ON
I feel like I was just here.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, witnesses, for being here today.
The first question I want to ask you about is on the training of our soldiers going to theatre in Latvia. We understand there was a decision made not to have the soldiers fully trained when they deploy.
I'm wondering about that decision, and when it was made.
Lieutenant-General Stephen Kelsey Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The earlier question alluded to General Leslie, a very deeply respected warrior leader who actually set up our Canadian manoeuvre training centre in Wainwright. It's a world-class facility, unquestionably, for its immersive weapons effect simulation. That is the model that we would ideally use in this circumstance.
The nature of the task force and the brigade is an integration of multiple nations. It was a deliberate choice to do the combat manoeuvre readiness training in Latvia with the allies to assure integration.