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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Stefanie Beck  Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
Stephen Kelsey  Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence
Caroline Xavier  Chief, Communications Security Establishment
Nancy Tremblay  Assistant Deputy Minister, Materiel, Department of National Defence
Jonathan Moor  Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance, Department of National Defence
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Wilson

10:10 a.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence

Stefanie Beck

I'll pass it to Jonathan.

10:10 a.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance, Department of National Defence

Jonathan Moor

We are on pathway to 1.74%. This will move the needle, as the deputy minister said. Also, there are a large number of funding sources through ONSAF, which have not yet been brought forward in supplementary estimates. We are proposing to bring forward a supplementary estimate (C), which will bring forward some of those items, in particular ammunition.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Does this constitute an accelerating path from what is either in the DPU or was currently in the public domain?

10:10 a.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance, Department of National Defence

Jonathan Moor

The $3.3 billion is basically a 10.5% increase into our overall budget. It is definitely heading in the direction of the path towards 2%.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Thank you.

10:10 a.m.

Chief, Communications Security Establishment

Caroline Xavier

Mr. Chair, if I could add, it's just worth noting that any budget that's invested in CSE goes fully towards the 2%. The supplementary estimate money that is with CSE will be part of that 2%.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

You have a weird kind of funding source, because you're also associated with public safety.

No...? Okay.

10:10 a.m.

Chief, Communications Security Establishment

Caroline Xavier

No, we're totally under the defence portfolio.

Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON

No, they're completely different.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

What about financing-wise, the reporting line?

10:10 a.m.

Chief, Communications Security Establishment

Caroline Xavier

No, we totally report to the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

I will stand corrected for the time being.

You have indicated that you are moving personnel into Taiwan—I think that is correct. Taiwan is clearly a world leader in dealing with misinformation and disinformation.

What, if anything, can you say, in the context of the Indo-Pacific strategy, about your potentially increased presence in Taiwan?

10:15 a.m.

Chief, Communications Security Establishment

Caroline Xavier

Mr. Chair, I don't know if that question was directed at me, but what I can say is that I do not have any personnel who will be moving into Taiwan. We are definitely working towards implementing the Indo-Pacific strategy. With that we received some funding, which is part of our base now. We will be placing people in the region to support the implementation of the strategy. We work with partners and multilateral partners as well from the region, in addition to the Five Eyes, to continue to ensure that we defend Canadian interests as well as the priorities of the government when it comes to the Indo-Pacific strategy.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Mr. Bezan and I travelled to Taiwan, what, a year and a half ago?

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

As well as Cheryl, Lindsay and Christine.... Half of us were there.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

That's right.

Okay. It was everybody.

Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON

All the opposition....

The Chair Liberal John McKay

I think that all of us were really impressed by the way the Taiwanese handled this constant barrage of misinformation and disinformation, primarily emanating from Beijing. I would be encouraged if CSE and our other cyber folks had some close working relationship with the way Taiwan does things.

I've run out of time, my goodness.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

You had some good questions, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Yes. Well, you know, when you're the chair you have to ask the questions the opposition should have asked.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

That's the last time I pay you a compliment.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

First of all, may I thank you for your presence here. I like the state of the working relationship among the committee, the department and CAF. I hope we continue to enhance it. I'm looking forward to some off-line discussions as well with all of you.

With that, before we leave, we have to do some formal stuff.

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

If it's on the supplementary estimates, we just received these on Monday. I'm not prepared to take the vote on them. We do need to consult with others on the supplementary estimates.

The Chair Liberal John McKay

I'm still going to call it.