National Defence Committee on Feb. 9th, 2022

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

We are not at all. In fact, both bilateral and multilateral partnerships are fundamental to my portfolio in defence as well as to Minister Joly's portfolio in foreign affairs.

In fact, with regard to the current crisis in Ukraine, I have been engaged with our partners both bilaterally and multilaterally. For example, I have been meeting with our partners in NATO on a bilateral basis and I spoke with the defence minister of France this week.

By the same token, we cannot underestimate the importance of the defensive relationship we have as a member of NATO. I was at NATO last week meeting with Secretary General Stoltenberg to reiterate Canada's commitment to the international rules-based order and to the deterrence underpinnings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We're going to have to leave it there, Minister and Madam Findlay.

Mr. Fisher, you have six minutes, please.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. It's so great to see you here.

I don't have to tell you, as a fellow Nova Scotian, that my riding of Dartmouth-Cole Harbour includes CFB Shearwater and, of course, has CFB Halifax right across the harbour. We have a large CAF and DND population. On both sides of Halifax Harbour, we're building the Royal Canadian Navy's modern fleet. I also don't have to tell you that there's a lot of pride at home in Nova Scotia over these incredible shipbuilders.

The investments through Canada's defence policy, “Strong, Secure, Engaged”, are tangible. They're easily felt in the riding of Dartmouth-Cole Harbour and also in the riding of Halifax. They matter deeply to our community. I look forward to working with you to keep moving that forward and to keep enhancing and making those very important defence investments.

I was pleased to see that your mandate letter includes a commitment to expanding Operation Reassurance in eastern Europe. HMCS Montréal, as you know, recently deployed out of Halifax to join on this important NATO mission. Your recent announcement to expand Operation Unifier was also very good to see.

Minister, I'd like to talk about our commitments to NATO, especially in the context of Russia and Ukraine and the conflict there. You spoke about this a bit in your opening remarks. Are members like Canada increasing co-operation to support stability in the area? How is Canada stepping up to provide more support as a NATO member and as a very important friend to Ukraine?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Before I address the question itself, I will just say that, as a daughter of Nova Scotia, I can agree that we can all be very proud of the work being done in Nova Scotia, as well as in Quebec, B.C. and around the country to advance our national shipbuilding strategy. Not only is this work important to ensure that the navy has the equipment it needs to serve Canadians. It is creating high-quality jobs and economic benefits in communities across our country.

With respect to our NATO commitments, I can say unequivocally that we have and will continue to deepen co-operation with our friends, our allies and our partners to support stability in the region. The recent deeply concerning buildup of Russian forces at the Ukrainian border underscores the importance of Canada's activities in the region.

We have extended and expanded Operation Unifier. We have committed $340 million over three years to ensure that we continue training Ukrainian soldiers. We have put forward a $120-million loan and $50 million in humanitarian aid. Those are representations of our commitment, not only to Ukraine but to democracy, peace, stability and security in the western world. This is why we have approved additional measures to continue to support Ukrainian sovereignty.

You mentioned the broader NATO alliance. I want to reiterate our commitment to Operation Reassurance as well, in the region of NATO's eastern flank. Canada leads a high-readiness, multinational battle group in Latvia comprised of approximately 1,500 soldiers, representing 10 allied nations. Canadian soldiers are serving alongside soldiers from 10 of our NATO allies. Operation Reassurance is Canada's largest military commitment, involving the deployment of land, air and sea elements. As you mentioned, we also contributed two frigates, Halifax class frigates, which set sail on January 19 to join a standing NATO maritime group in European waters. In addition, six CF-18 Hornets are also periodically deployed in support of NATO's enhanced air policing activities in Romania, with the next scheduled deployment set for fall 2022.

I do have my chief of the defence staff, Wayne Eyre, with me. He will add anything he likes, if that's permitted by the questioner at the current time.

[General Wayne D. Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence]

Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to add to my minister's comments.

We remain very closely engaged with NATO as we take a look at what is happening on the eastern flank. In fact, just eight hours ago I was talking with NATO counterparts about the possibilities as we develop options for reinforcing. Those military options I'll be discussing in much more detail with Minister Anand in the coming days. We remain very concerned but engaged with NATO.

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

Okay.

Minister, really quickly, I've travelled with the NATO PA, and I've travelled with this defence committee. The feeling I got when I spoke to NATO countries and parliamentarians around the world who are in the NATO PA is that Canada unequivocally punches above its weight class. Is that something that you heard very clearly during your visit there last week?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Actually, I'm really glad you asked that question because what the Prime Minister of Latvia said to me—and this was reiterated by the Secretary General of NATO—is that Canada's contribution is incredibly important to the mission in terms of supporting Ukraine. In fact, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that Canada is one of the top three countries, along with the U.K. and the U.S., in terms of the support we are providing across the NATO alliance for Ukraine, so your question is—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Unfortunately, we'll have to leave it there or we'll never get through our rounds of questions.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Madame Normandin, you have six minutes, please.

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

Thank you very much, Minister, for joining us today. It's always a pleasure to welcome you.

I'll start with a question that deals indirectly with recruitment but more specifically with French in the Canadian Armed Forces.

A number of training courses are offered exclusively in English, which makes it difficult for a French speaker to pursue a career path in their mother tongue. There are also several so‑called bilingual units, where everyone knows that there is little French spoken. You hear about cases where people completed all the training to join the special forces and weren't told until the very end that their English skills were insufficient. In the end, these people were rejected and couldn't complete the program.

In the context of a labour shortage, where we don't have the luxury of turning anyone away, I would like to hear from the minister on what she intends to do to improve the status of French within the Canadian Armed Forces.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you very much for your question.

I would like to say that personnel recruitment and retention are essential for maintaining a healthy, skilled and dedicated armed forces. Furthermore, as minister, both official languages are very important to me. It's a very serious matter. Bilingualism and diversity within the forces are priorities for me.

I will ask the chief of the defence staff to add something on the subject of official languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Before we turn it over to the CDS, I'm assuming that you have a point of order of some kind, Mr. May.

[Bryan May, Liberal, Cambridge, ON]

It's just a technical thing. We were able to get translation, but the volume was the same for the translation and the speaker. It was hard to hear.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay. It's being checked.

Madame Normandin, we were just transferring the question, if you will, to the chief of the defence staff. I'll add on a little time at the end, if that's all right.

Go ahead, General Eyre.

[Gen Wayne D. Eyre]

Thank you very much to the member for her question.

I would like to add a few comments.

For us, the policy on official languages is essential. It is also important to provide training in both official languages. Bilingual instructors need to be found for each course. From time to time, that is difficult, but it's our objective.

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

Thank you. I will follow up with you from time to time on the creation of programs officially in both languages.

I would like to ask the minister about fighter jets. We know that the choice of the next fighter jet will have an impact on the personnel needed to operate it.

I would like to know whether an impact assessment has been carried out to help with the selection of a CF‑18 replacement.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Before you respond to that, Minister, I understand that the issue raised by Mr. May is actually the result of your selection of French, English or floor. The preference is to select “floor” from what I understand.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Okay.

The process falls under Public Services and Procurement Canada, which also has a fairness monitoring program that ensures the integrity of the process.

If the deputy minister wishes to add something on this topic, I would invite him to do so.

[Bill Matthews, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Department of National Defence]

I would perhaps add that the minister is correct. We did involve a fairness monitor to ensure that the process was fair for all potential suppliers, but Public Services and Procurement Canada is the department that manages the program.

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

Unless I'm mistaken, I did not get an answer to my question.

Above and beyond a fair and transparent process, when the aircraft is chosen, will we have the necessary resources to operate it? Has a study of personnel resources been conducted?

[Bill Matthews]

I believe the question is about whether we have processes in place to ensure that there are enough pilots to operate these aircraft. I believe that question is best answered by my colleague, General Eyre.

[Gen Wayne D. Eyre]

Thank you very much for your question.

We are currently ensuring that we have enough pilots, technicians and personnel to be able to operate this new aircraft. It's a matter of recruitment and retention. The air force is participating actively in this process.

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

Thank you very much.

I'd like to come back to the choice of the F‑18 replacement plane. There are some obvious disadvantages to choosing the F‑35 when it comes to economic spinoffs in Quebec but also across Canada. It is possible that we will lose jobs, but also some expertise and the intellectual property of the various technological components of the aircraft.

I would like to hear from the minister or General Eyre on the advantages of selecting the F‑35 in spite of all of this.