My next question is with regard to paragraph 5.80, which called to “ensure that budgeted annual funding for Army Reserve units is consistent with the expected results”.
The Department of National Defence responded that it assigns resources to ensure that all mandated tasks are funded and will continue to monitor these tasks and see whether they are consistent with expected results. However, the Auditor General found that the reserves are funded based on each soldier participating in unit activities for 37.5 days per year, along with another seven days of collective training. This would entail such activities as training, administration, civic and ceremonial duties. Also training regarding National Defence policies is expected to be covered in this short period of time.
Does the department believe this rather short amount of time is sufficient for all of the above, and if not, how many days would you recommend?