National Defence Committee on Feb. 9th, 2022

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

I would love to know exactly when that's going to happen and how quickly.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We're going to have to leave that question out there. You could possibly direct it to Colonel Holman in the next round of questions, because we're just running against the clock. I'm sorry.

Madam Gallant, you have four minutes, please.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Morale is at an all-time low with the Canadian forces. They're short thousands of members, yet even those who had the first COVID inoculation, suffered serious adverse reactions and had cardiologists recommend forgoing subsequent COVID injections are sent packing without earned pensions and benefits.

Minister, even Russell Williams was afforded his pension. Why are soldiers who have served honourably for decades being treated worse than a convicted serial rapist and murderer when it comes to refusing a new vaccine?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

The Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian government in fact believe in the importance of vaccines, as they are recommended by our public health experts. To date 98% of the Canadian Armed Forces have been vaccinated.

In reference to the specific question, I will turn the mike over to the chief of the defence staff, Wayne Eyre.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Wayne can answer later on something.

In a May 2000 ruling described as “enlightened and precedent-setting”, a military judge stayed a charge of disobeying a direct order for declining the injection of a mandated new anthrax vaccine. It was wrong to force military personnel with the injections of new drugs on soldiers back then, according to the ruling. What has changed since then?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will reiterate that, as regards the current pandemic, our government and the Canadian Armed Forces are committed to vaccines against COVID-19, which have been proven to reduce the severity of the virus.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

What advice was sought from the justice department before the mandate on the military was decreed?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

The mandates put in place in the Canadian Armed Forces and in federal workspaces are based on public health guidance relating to the efficacy of vaccines. In this party we follow the science, and that's exactly why these mandates are in place.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'll just point out to colleagues that we are here to ask the minister questions about her mandate letter, not mandates generally.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Public servants are on administrative leave. Why are soldiers being treated differently from public servants? They're being booted right out—no benefits, no pension.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Again, that is a question that I would direct to my chief of the defence staff, Wayne Eyre. He would be able to best respond to issues relating to vaccines within the Canadian Armed Forces.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

When you were first put into that position I invited you to Base Petawawa to visit the troops there and to accompany you there. That invitation is still open, and I hope we're able to see you there.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you so much. I have been visiting bases across the country. I believe it is extremely important to speak directly with members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and I do hope to visit Petawawa sometime very soon.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Madam Gallant.

We have Madam Lambropoulos for the final four minutes, please.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Minister Anand, for being here with us today to answer our questions.

I know you mentioned earlier the $236 million over five years in order to combat gender-based violence, sexual misconduct and any discrimination based on gender. I was hoping you could elaborate a little more on what programs you plan on putting in place.

Also, this has been a problem for a very long time. I know this has been, perhaps, money that has been allocated in previous budgets, so I'm wondering what the difference is now and why we should be able to recognize a change in the coming mandates.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I would like to zoom in on one of the major reforms that we've put in place. That's the sexual misconduct response centre, which provides 24-7 confidential counselling, assistance, advocacy and accompaniment to victims of sexual misconduct. Since it has been put in place we have received over 1,100 contacts, which suggests to us that there is a need for this type of response centre.

Furthermore, what's so important is that it operates independently from the Canadian Armed Forces' chain of command and reports directly to the deputy minister, who is here with me today in case you have further questions. The SMRC has agreements with nine community-based sexual assault centres in communities that have a large Canadian Armed Forces presence. For example, in fiscal year 2021-22, 1,100 total contacts were made to the centre.

The Arbour report that we are going to be receiving this year will include an examination of the sexual misconduct response centre's mandate, activities, independence and reporting structure, but we didn't wait for this report. We put this reform into place because we realized that peer-to-peer support and support for those suffering from sexual harassment and sexual violence are necessary now. It is a very important project and approach, and we will continue to support it and build on it in the Canadian Armed Forces and beyond.

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you very much.

Obviously, recruitment is an issue. If more women were recruited, and more people who were a little bit more open-minded and had a better idea of what the culture of the military should look like, things would change obviously.

Are there any plans for a change in structure in that sense in order to change the culture from the top down?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Is that with regard to recruitment and retention?

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

How can new recruits and getting new blood in the system change the way things are run currently?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

That's a fantastic question because what my mandate letter actually asks me to do is to ensure that we have diversity and openness to all people in the Canadian Armed Forces. I believe that our recruitment and our retention efforts have to ensure that we are keeping diversity and inclusion at the top of mind at all times.

We need in any year about 7,000 regular force members to meet our operational readiness target in the Canadian Armed Forces. What we are doing to meet that is focusing engagement activities across Canada to increase women's enrolment by prioritizing women applicants at military colleges and mentoring cadets, and enhancing women's care and family leaves.

What are these efforts going to do? They are going to, hopefully, attract a more diverse pool of applicants to the Canadian Armed Forces, so we will have more and more women and diverse individuals moving up the ranks so they are qualified to fulfill leadership positions within the Canadian Armed Forces.

That is a priority for me. Whenever I speak with the chief of defence staff, Wayne Eyre, I mention this because of the importance, not only to the Canadian Armed Forces but to the Canadian population at large. Our forces should reflect the diversity that we see in the broader Canadian public.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Madam Lambropoulos.

That brings us to the end of our first hour with the minister. We went two minutes over time, Minister. I appreciate your indulgence, and thank you for your appearance here.

We can suspend for a moment while the minister leaves the meeting.

Again, on behalf of the committee, thank you for your appearance.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair and committee members. Take good care.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We'll suspend.

I call the meeting back to order. That was pretty quick.

We did not formally welcome General Eyre. Welcome to your first appearance before this committee. I'm pretty sure you've been before this committee a few times.

Mr. Matthews, welcome.

I see Colonel Holman. Welcome, Colonel Holman.

I also see Ms. Bruce. Welcome.

General Eyre, I'll turn to you. I don't know whether or not you have an opening statement. If you have an opening statement, you're welcome to give it now.

[Gen Wayne D. Eyre]

Mr. Chair, I don't have a prepared opening statement, but I will say a few words.

Minister Anand talked about an inflection point, and I see the Canadian Armed Forces on the cusp of so much change right now.

We are seeing so much change in the international security environment as geopolitics take a turn for the worst. We're seeing so much change in the climate and what that means not just for our ability to respond to domestic emergencies but how it is causing conflict around the world. We're seeing so much change in technology, an acceleration in the pace of technological change and what that is doing to the way we need to operate to defend Canada and Canadian interests. We're seeing so much change within our society, which means we have to change to better reflect our society.

I'll be able to unpack any of that in more detail, Mr. Chair, depending on where the questions go.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, General Eyre.

Apparently there was a theme for the day. With our theme for the day, Mr. Motz and Mr. Doherty, you have six minutes between you.