Evidence of meeting #17 for National Defence in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.
A video is available from Parliament.
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence
I'll get you a complete answer, Chair, for the specific housing question, but compensation and benefits are something we continually look at.
Liberal
Liberal
Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Madam Xavier, the estimates include new resources for cyber-defence and communications security. Can you tell us what capabilities or capacity enhancements this funding will allow the Communications Security Establishment?
Caroline Xavier Chief, Communications Security Establishment
In the supplementary estimates (B), the CSE is getting an additional $70 million. The majority of that funding is going towards the cryptography program that is part of our mandate. Part of what we do at the agency is ensure that cryptography and communications security are well protected. We have to continue to invest in that infrastructure.
As a result, $9.5 million of that is for exactly that. It's to replace aging infrastructure and to continue to modernize. Another way to look at that is that it's continuing to ensure that we're upgrading the locks and keys. The other $22.5 million of that is a re-profile. We heard that term used earlier by the minister. It's an opportunity to ensure that we're aligning the funding with the project deliverables and continuing to keep the project on track.
Not all cryptography is created equal. We need to ensure that the cryptography we are using continues to ensure that our data remains secure and that it is going to be able to stay protected from adversaries who are potentially interested in some of that data. As well, it also underpins all military communications and ensures that we are able to operate all the capabilities—such as fighter jets, for example, that are used by the military—and ensures that cryptography is as protected as can be.
Most of the investments are there. There are portions of the investments that are going to other departments. They're called departmental transfers. They include ensuring that we're continuing to keep updated what we call our secure communications for national leadership program, which is our secure devices that we use to communicate. They also include transferring some funding to our foreign affairs department for our overseas footprint, as well as to the RCMP for it to continue to do the work it does on our behalf—when we're doing security screening in particular, for example.
Liberal
Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON
Given your wealth of experience and expertise, can you tell us how the new funding will strengthen the CSE's ability to protect the government's systems and to ensure the support of secure operations across the federal departments?
Chief, Communications Security Establishment
As mentioned, the CSE has, in its mandate, cybersecurity and information assurance. To be able to do information assurance, you need to have cryptography and really stay on the leading edge of what will come with regard to protecting our systems. Cryptography is protecting the house, but to be able to ensure that all the locks and keys remain secure and that we're able to have that communication remain secure, we have to continue to update it and invest in it to make sure that the keys aren't stolen and that they're not copied.
Being the national communications security authority for Canada, we protect the most classified information. We need to ensure that this information remains protected. We do this in allyship with other partners. In particular, I'm pleased about the announcements that were made by the Prime Minister in July. We're working, for example, with the U.K. in ensuring that we continue to diversify our cryptography. We continue to ensure that we have resilience in the Five Eyes partnership when it comes to cryptography, and we are making those investments, especially as we continue to invest in sovereign solutions for Canada.
Liberal
Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON
Thank you.
Lieutenant-General Kelsey, the estimates include funding for training, for readiness and for equipment support. Can you tell us what improvements to operational preparedness this enables for the Canadian Armed Forces?
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence
The significant investment relates to our ability to put more folks in the field for training and more flying hours. It's focused very much on the force we have today. It's increasing their availability, opening and accessing more parts, as well as delivering more training across the board—for air, land, sea and special forces.
Liberal
Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON
Deputy Minister Beck, the estimates include additional authorities for several major capital projects. Can you outline how the additional funding will support progress on shipbuilding, aircraft acquisition and infrastructure projects already under way?
Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
In our discussions across the country with Canadian industry, what they have always been looking for from us are long-term commitments, a clear signal from the government that we are committed to all of our projects, as well as our being able to deliver our funding on time—and in advance, frankly, where possible—so they can procure long-lead items and be able to train their workforce to make sure they're ready when there's a surge requirement.
These are the kinds of funds that will contribute to that confidence in government's being able to deliver its side of the contract and, therefore, the military having the equipment it needs at the time it needs it.
Liberal
Viviane LaPointe Liberal Sudbury, ON
Within that vein, how will the resources in these estimates help the department improve the management and the delivery of those capital projects?
Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence
At the same time as we deliver on existing contracts—and by that I mean uphold our side of it—we are reviewing how we make our decisions internally. Of course, we can control how we manage our own department. I think this exercise of our coming before you today to look at how the supplementary estimates work demonstrates the complexity of government right now in delivering any contract.
This is part of the overall review that's under way, including with the new Defence Investment Agency, to see how we can do better in the future for Canadian industry, as well as have better outcomes for the armed forces.
Liberal
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to start with a motion, which according to the discussions that have taken place, will be adopted unanimously. It shouldn't take very long.
Liberal
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC
Yes, I think we have enough.
The motion has to do with the study of Bill C‑11. The only difference between the version that was distributed to you and what I will be reading is the addition of four characters, “C‑11”. We forgot to indicate that, so that is the only thing that will change.
Whereas the committee was unable to hear the testimony of the Honourable Morris J. Fish, C.C., Q.C., or to question him, due to technical difficulties; Whereas the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada did not appear before the committee despite the invitation extended to him and despite the importance of his testimony, as emphasized in the study motion adopted on October 23, 2025; Whereas the transcripts of the meetings of November 20, November 27, and December 2, 2025, are still not available in both official languages; That committee members be granted an additional week following the adoption of this motion to submit their proposed amendments to the clerk, and that clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C‑11 be postponed until Parliament returns in January 2026.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
It's a notice of the motion. It's not part of the supplementary estimates, the discussion we're now having. We do need unanimous consent to proceed if we put forward this motion.
Do we have unanimous consent?
December 4th, 2025 / 7:20 p.m.
Liberal
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
I thank my colleague for moving that motion.
I just want to make sure that I understood what he was saying. Did he say that he was adding “C‑11” somewhere?
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton, QC
I'm just adding it at the very end of the motion, where it reads, “consideration of Bill C‑11”. That is the only place it was added.
I think it is rather clear that the motion has to do with the bill, but we just wanted to spell it out.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Okay.
I agree with my colleague's motion because we were not able to hear from the Honourable Morris Fish because of technical difficulties. I know that he sent us his opening remarks, but we did not have a chance to ask him questions. There is also the fact that the first report that he submitted was essential.
I agree that it could be useful for the committee to invite Justice Fish again and that it would be a good idea to have an opportunity to talk to him.
I don't know whether my other colleagues agree.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
We're in agreement, and we also raise the concern around the lack of bilingual transcripts from our previous three meetings on Bill C-11. It makes it difficult to take testimony and build it into potential amendments to the bill. That is a concern, so I support this 100%.