National Defence Committee on Dec. 12th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Mr. Shatz is an American and probably not in any position to comment on that.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Okay. I'm sorry about that.

I'm going to ask our Canadian friends, and I'll continue.

There was another aspect of it that I think, since 2015, we've been supporting, and I hear only good things about Operation Unifier. There was funding to reinforce Canada's support for Ukraine, and that meant $58.4 million as we—

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Just for the record, in 2015, on the estimates that came forward, the Liberals voted against Operation Unifier.

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

You're not allowed to say that in committee.

[An hon. member]

That's according to you.

[An hon. member]

He already ruled—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Again, I—

[An hon. member]

Now it's all over.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Order.

[An hon. member]

You pick your set of rules, and I'll play by them. You'd get mayhem pretty quickly.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Order.

[An hon. member]

But you guys haven't supported it.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Order!

You may continue, Mrs. Lalonde.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Thank you very much. It's interesting to see the double standard in this committee.

I'm going to ask again: The funding to reinforce Canada's support for Ukraine through Operation Unifier, through which over 38,000 Ukrainians have had the benefit of training from our Canadian military, is a $58.4-million allocation. Was that important or not?

[Dr. David Perry]

Yes, I think the money to support Operation Unifier is important.

[Orest Zakydalsky]

Yes.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

I want to say thank you to all of you.

Certainly, I want to say thank you again to the UCC for its advocacy. I know that there have been difficult times, and you made reflection on Canada's involvement with the welcoming of Ukrainians who had to be displaced temporarily for this time. My heart goes out to them.

I had the pleasure of visiting some of our families who have been displaced historically in the last year, and I certainly want to say, with all due respect, that Canada stands with them and that we will continue to.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you.

That brings our time together to an end.

I want to thank all the witnesses for their contributions and their patience with the way this place works around here.

With that, the meeting is adjourned.