National Defence Committee on Dec. 4th, 2025

[Scott Anderson, Conservative, Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, BC]

I'm not arguing about negligence. I'm asking about going forward.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

What we're talking about now is that we've gone to the Canadian people. They have agreed that we should reinvest, rearm, rebuild—

[Scott Anderson, Conservative, Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, BC]

Excuse me, sir, but that's not my question. My question asks that the only criteria we should use in getting equipment is the betterment of the safety of our soldiers and of their ability to operate.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

The most important criteria is to listen to the operational advice from the experts who run the Canadian Armed Forces.

[Scott Anderson, Conservative, Vernon—Lake Country—Monashee, BC]

Who say that the F-35 is the one.... Okay.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Mr. Chris Malette, you have five minutes.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, panel.

It's an all-star panel that we have here this morning for sure.

Minister, you, along with Minister Anand, announced earlier this week more than $200 million in funding for Ukraine. Could you please detail how that investment will strengthen Ukraine's ability to meet its most urgent operational needs to defend its territory?

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Thanks for the question.

I think most members are aware that Canada, like every NATO country, has agreed to participate in the support of the creation of the PURL program, which was negotiated by the Secretary General of NATO with the United States and others.

Canada was one of the first contributors for the first package—one of the first three, I believe it was—of $500 million U.S. We've agreed now and decided to go further and support Ukraine with another $200 million Canadian, combined with others, to buy another package at a time when Ukraine is in desperate need of more equipment.

The benefit is to be able to procure the equipment and get it to the theatre of war as quickly as possible in Ukraine, because it is available. It is manufactured. The choice of materiel is a choice that is put forward by the Ukrainian military.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

On another note, we seem to have had a bit of a running ad for Lockheed Martin here this morning. Maybe we'll show a little bit of love to Airbus.

Minister, could you please provide an update on the major air mobility and transport aircraft procurement initiatives and how these acquisitions will strengthen operational capacity at 8 Wing Trenton, which is in, of course, my riding, Bay of Quinte?

As well, with that question.... Well, okay, we'll get that question out of the way first.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Are you talking about the Huskies?

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

I'm talking about the Husky fleet. I'm looking for any kind of update on where we are with that program and the improvements to 8 Wing, in particular, that are coming along to accommodate that fleet, sir.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

My understanding is that we're on the way to receiving these aircraft on time, and the $850-odd million of reinvestment into Trenton, which will create 1,000 jobs in that region, is very helpful. There will be jobs in HVAC, electrics, concrete, lumber, gravel and construction. This is the net effect of this kind of investment, which we will see, Mr. Malette, across the country at all of the bases where we are making similar types of investments. It's a major economic generator for the country.

We're looking forward to seeing that process completed. I think it's a $3.4-billion acquisition for this new fleet, which will, of course, help us refuel our new fighter jet fleet in the air. It's very important and long overdue, and we're moving forward.

[Chris Malette, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

I have one more question. Perhaps it's for Ms. Beck.

Can you refer to how the current procurement projects will support Canada's international humanitarian and logistical missions, many of which deploy, again, in my riding through CFB Trenton?

[Stefanie Beck]

The minister would be better.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Not at all.

I think a perfect example is what our women and men of the Canadian Forces just did in Jamaica. It's phenomenal. After the tragedy there, dozens of our CAF members deployed there to stabilize things and set up a system, and they are now passing the baton to a different military configuration coming in to help rebuild and stabilize. That's the kind of incredible work our women and men do for Canada abroad. I think it's a testament to their dedication and their service.

[The Chair, Liberal, Charles Sousa]

Thank you.

Mr. Bezan, you have up to five minutes, sir.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In these estimates, under capital expenditures, how much is going into housing? As you know, the Auditor General said we're short 7,200 residential housing units for our troops. We're hearing now that 10% of our new recruits are leaving because the barracks are in such poor shape and finding appropriate and affordable living accommodations is impossible.

I hope we're making some major investments.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

The exact number is not in front of me, but I can tell you what we are doing. We're constructing and renovating more than 2,000 units within the next five years in Gagetown, Halifax, Valcartier, Trenton, Kingston, Petawawa, Borden, Edmonton and Esquimalt.

I can tell you I've authorized new alternative methods to purchase housing. For example, we just purchased 37 units minutes from the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt—an entire building—which had never been done before.

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

[Inaudible—Editor] ended up costing us double what it was originally listed for. We got into a bidding war, but I appreciate that—

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

No, I don't think that's quite correct, but we'll review the numbers—

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair. There was no interpretation for the last question. The interpreter said it was inaudible because of the microphone, even though the microphone is on. In any case, we did not hear the last question.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

My information, Mr. Bezan, is that we paid under asking—

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC]

Can the member repeat the question?

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

The question was on housing. We were talking about the investment in Esquimalt for the 37-unit condo building that was in receivership. It turned into a bidding war and went for more than what was originally offered. I think it was $2.9 million and you got it for $4 million.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I don't think that's correct, but we will get you the numbers.