National Defence Committee on Sept. 27th, 2022

[MGen Paul Prévost]

That's an excellent question, Mr. Chair.

When the CAF responds to a domestic crisis, initially the focus is on understanding the tasks the province wants it to perform and allocating the resources required to do so.

As soon as this analysis begins, teams look at what are called transition criteria. These are used to determine how long the province will need the CAF and what other capacities could be called upon to meet the subsequent needs brought on by the crisis. So, that analysis begins immediately when boots hit the ground. Discussions are held with provincial officials to determine what criteria will need to be met before we can all shake hands and the CAF can say goodbye.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

One of the issues that's been raised about using the CAF is that it's much more expensive than using civilian resources.

You might tell me that most of the cost is associated with the initial deployment and it goes down each day the CAF is used from there on. Would you like to comment on that?

Would it be worthwhile to work on that aspect to ensure a quicker transition?

[MGen Paul Prévost]

I'd like to thank the member for her question.

I don't have an answer for that at the moment. It's a good question, and I will keep it in mind for our analysis.

That being said, when Canadians need help, it's important that all levels of government participate as best they can to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you.

Ms. Mathyssen, you have two and a half minutes.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

To go away from this direct subject a little, but in relation to it, one incredible program that exists in my community and many others is of course the cadets program. Oftentimes, it teaches young people such incredible leadership and also the value of public service and the roles within the armed forces at all the different stages and in all the different branches. It can often lead to those young people giving of themselves in so many ways throughout their lives, whether that's in the reserves, the actual armed forces or different areas of public service.

Certainly, it's a program that's provided free—or has been in the past—and it's barrier-free in that regard. Recently, there have been changes to the cadet program, and now it actually costs the students money—those young people and their parents—to participate. Do you believe that ultimately this is a potential problem when we're talking about recruitment, when we're talking about starting that service early and seeing the value leading into reserves? Also, if we're going into crisis after crisis and relying upon the armed forces for civil aid, do you see that as a link and potential remedy to that?

[MGen Paul Prévost]

Unfortunately, Mr. Chair, neither I nor my colleague will be able to provide much here, as we're not involved at all in policies that reference our cadet program, other than to say that I believe it's a great program. I support it every summer and through the year in its activities. This is a great way to build Canadians with leadership who will serve in society in many ways in the future.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Well, we could then agree that ultimately to maintain it, and to ensure that it remains as barrier-free as possible, is a good way to move forward with that program.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'm sure the answer to that is “yes”.

Go ahead, Mr. Doherty.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

We know that we have at least 100 CAF troops currently deployed in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Is that enough? Should there be more? Why were there only 100 in the initial deployment?

[MGen Paul Prévost]

Mr. Chair, I can certainly respond to that.

This morning, we have 150 troops in each of the provinces—Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and P.E.I.—so we're up to 150 this morning and, as the minister mentioned yesterday, more to come should the provinces ask for them.

One thing to remember is that when these crises start, we have to understand the problem. Emergency management centres in the provinces get the calls and understand where the pressures are, what the damage is and what the priority will be. So there are planning efforts to start with. As we understand the problem better, the troops unfold on the ground to be able to tackle the issues as mandated or as asked by the province. We were at 100 yesterday, and we're at 150 now. As the provinces determine where the effort needs to be, we'll reassign forces as applicable.

I'll pass it on to my colleague now.

[BGen Josh J. Major]

Thank you for the question.

From an internal force generation of troops and personnel ready to respond, as we gain a better understanding through that interaction between the local, provincial and territorial authorities and the Canadian Armed Forces, it allows us to prepare additional capacity. It might be something like the HMCS Margaret Brooke, dispatched to the southwest corner of Newfoundland to assist with wellness checks, or the alert of different assets within the Royal Canadian Air Force so that we are ready to respond if a request for additional capabilities is made.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

This might be a silly question, but what's the priority? Is it responding to international conflict or responding to domestic issues?

[MGen Paul Prévost]

It's responding to domestic issues. I think our defence policy lays it out well in its title: “strong at home, secure in North America, engaged in the world”.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Briefing materials for this committee seem to be based on two assumptions—one, that there will be an increase to climate change-related incidents that the Canadian Forces will have to respond to; and two, that the Canadian Forces will have to balance these domestic operations with military operations abroad. How do you respond to these subjective assumptions, and what can be done to better prepare our CAF for that?

[BGen Josh J. Major]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for that question. It's an important question.

Of course, as has been mentioned here at this committee, the amount of domestic response that the Canadian Armed Forces has been responding to has only been increasing. The world, of course, is becoming a more dangerous place. What we have in place are systems of managed readiness, which allow us both to ensure that we have domestic capability at home ready to respond throughout the different regions of Canada, and to concurrently prepare our forces to respond to our mandates as given to us by the Government of Canada to achieve international obligations. We are, of course, always balancing those two, understanding that support to Canadians is our top priority.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

How do the events of what's just taken place in the last four or five days seriously hamper our international efforts—or do they?

[BGen Josh J. Major]

I'm not quite sure.... For my clarity, are we talking about Fiona for the past four or five days?

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Yes, that's correct. I'm sorry. The world is ever-changing, but I should have been clearer: the domestic events in the last four days, compared to what we are dealing with internationally as well.

[BGen Josh J. Major]

Mr. Chair, thank you for that clarification.

We continue to manage the same process that we have used for the past few years as we've navigated through the COVID pandemic and other domestic emergencies. We have procedures in place to ensure that we are able to deliver the required and requested number of forces—in particular for Fiona—while still being able to train and to be ready to meet our obligations. The forces that are currently providing great support to Canadians in Atlantic Canada are dedicated solely to that task, while we have other forces that continue their preparations in view of meeting our international obligations.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Mr. Doherty.

Before I call on Ms. O'Connell for five minutes, we've gone through three rounds, so is there an appetite to go four rounds? Also, is there an ability for Major-General Prévost and Brigadier-General Major to sit for another round?

First of all, is there an appetite?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Bryan May, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

We can have one question for each party.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Sure. That's okay.

We'll have one question for each party, Ms. O'Connell for five minutes and then—

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

We have to acknowledge that they have important work to do.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I know. Major-General Prévost said he had a day job.