Let's talk about the other report of the Auditor General concerning National Defence, which was one of the reports tabled this morning. This report focuses on recruitment in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The report states that “the Canadian Armed Forces did not recruit and train enough people to meet its requirements.” It refers to a shortfall of 6,000 regular force members and over 6,000 primary reserve members, compared to the authorized staffing level of 71,500 regular force members and 30,000 reservists. Of the people who applied, only “1 out of 13 were recruited.” Most of these people “abandoned their applications during the recruitment process.”
We're ultimately learning that the federal government is spending billions of dollars on vessels and aircraft, but that we don't have the staff to operate them.
First, what does this mean? Second, do you think that the requested budgets are enough to provide the workforce needed to make up for the shortfall?