National Defence Committee on Sept. 28th, 2023

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Thanks for that.

You gave a wonderful impromptu and unrehearsed recruitment speech right on the jetty by HMCS Sackville at the opening ceremony that was very well received and very well observed. Thank you for that.

The recruitment booth had a tremendous amount of action as well, with a number of people visiting it over the three days. It will be interesting to see, when stats become available, what kind of blip that caused in recruitment in Halifax.

Shifting to the NATO component of this, we're very excited to be hosting DIANA, the defence innovation accelerator for the north Atlantic, in Halifax very shortly. We have the Halifax International Security Forum, which is really about global partnerships. Of course, we also have fleet week. All of this is positioning Halifax as a way to illustrate Canada's role in NATO.

If you have any reflections about outreach through the NATO lens rather than the recruitment lens, that would be interesting to hear.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I'm glad you mentioned DIANA. I did have an opportunity, when I was at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and meeting with a number of our NATO allies who are present in that forum as well, to talk a little bit about Halifax. We talked about the investments that Canada is making. I also had an opportunity to talk to the Secretary General of NATO. I'm very proud of the investment they're making in North America. They think Halifax, because of its history and the community there, is a great place for NATO to put its foot down in North America. We talked a lot about that.

I would also reflect, if I may—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Well, no.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

—if the chair lets me finish my sentence—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We've had enough reflections on Halifax.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

You're welcome any time, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

This is becoming the Halifax defence committee.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

I'm sorry, but we had a really good day out there—a good week, actually.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I know. I feel like the Grinch who stole Halifax.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Two years from now, you'll all have to come with us. It's worthwhile seeing.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You have two and a half minutes, Madame Normandin.

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

Thank you very much.

Mr. Minister, I would like to hear what you have to say about transfers. When it comes to retention, we often hear military members say that transfers are very difficult for their families. When the family isn't happy, the member can't be happy at work. Military members complain that members of the chain of command are often insensitive to this. They seem to think that, since they've been through it themselves, the military members can do it too.

Has any thought been given to making transfers more flexible?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

If I may, I've been hearing the same thing. I've talked to people about how difficult it can be to find a family doctor. I spoke to a colonel who told me his 12-year-old daughter's not talking to him anymore because she had to uproot from her high school. Those are very human things. Those are very real things for families. At the same time, we clearly need to be able to deploy people into areas where they are required and into new jobs. It's part of their commitment when they join the Canadian Armed Forces.

However, I think there are things we can do. I've been talking a lot about how people are able to access housing; how they're able to access a family doctor; how they're able to access child care, which is so important to families; and how we're able to provide other types of supports to help facilitate those moves, because it is impactful. It's hard on them. They've shared that with us.

One of the things I've also learned is that we talk about the people who join the Canadian Armed Forces, but their families kind of sign up too. There's a real impact on families. That's why I think it's very important, in all our work to find ways to support the men and women of the service, that we also think about ways to support their families.

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

Thank you very much.

On another note, in June, the department announced the qualities that would be sought in the people who would form the committee to review the role of military colleges.

Could you tell us what progress has been made in forming the committee, and what the time frame is for reviewing the role of the military colleges?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Yes. First of all, we're bringing forward a new committee that's going to provide oversight. I'm hoping that we'll be able to announce that in the coming weeks. A lot of work has been done. We're looking forward to that.

We're also looking at the leadership in those colleges. Just recently.... We're already going through a process at the RMC in Kingston, looking at a new official to be responsible for that unit. It's difficult to make sure that we get the right person.

It's extraordinary to me.... I just really learned that the Canadian Armed Forces has its own education system, its own health system and its own housing system. It provides all services to its members. It has its own justice system and its own policing system, for example, so I think those colleges are critically important places for leadership development. We have to make sure that the behaviour in those places is conducive to learning and supportive of the men and women who pass through those education institutions. That's a priority and a commitment.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We're going to have to leave that answer there.

Colleagues, there is no discipline in this committee thus far.

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

I blame the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Yes. I think there's enough blame to go around here.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Union of National Defence Employees represents about 19,000 people who proudly serve the Canadian defence community. They also, of course, fall under your purview. They are firefighters, engineers, workers on the base. They support the military, and they are essential for our security.

Sadly, for almost her entire tenure, your predecessor refused to meet with the union leadership of those workers, for which I had to call her out. However, there are major problems with the contracting out of public sector work. For example, to this day, there are postings on the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services page for non-public-funded jobs that are below the federal minimum wage.

I'm wondering how you're working to ensure that there is oversight of the CFMWS.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

We had an opportunity to chat about this the other day. It is a concern to me. I will undertake to meet with the union leadership to discuss these issues.

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

Can you provide a timeline of when you will meet with them?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

No, I just said that I will do it. You can help me reach out to them and get that timeline.

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

Interestingly, it's my understanding that they actually already have, so I would hope that you would look into that to ensure that you follow up on that letter that they have sent you.

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Yes, Madam. I have not yet seen the letter, but I'm more than willing to meet with the union leadership. I believe in organized labour, and I'd like to talk to them.