Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Professor Kikkert, Professor Greaves, thank you very much for being with us today.
As we read your publications, we note that there is something similar between the two of you. You have both published extensively on the issue of Arctic security and sovereignty. I would like to ask a question about this, and I will ask you both the same question after a long preamble.
There has been a lot of talk about using the regular force to respond to climate emergencies, because they are always ready, available and trained. When it comes to using the reserve force more, one of the problems that arises is that reservists are often in regular employment. Usually they are given plenty of notice of when they are to be sent on a mission, allowing them to prepare accordingly and to make the necessary employment arrangements. However, in the case of climate emergencies, the need is very immediate. The question is whether the reserve force could be better utilized.
I would like to hear your comments on the possibility of better utilizing the reserve force and looking for ways to better occupy territory in the Arctic to better ensure our territorial sovereignty and continental security. To do this, we could use military personnel similar to the Canadian Rangers, for example.
Could this be a win-win situation?
This would allow us to kill two birds with one stone. We would use a kind of parallel militia, which would make better use of the reserve force's capacity.