National Defence committee  Hopefully my kids don't read the transcript here today. But that's not just an anomaly. We are starting to see that more and more. When we ask what the issue is, we're told, “I'm really homesick. I really wish I could talk to Mom and Dad.” The other issue was perhaps—we admit this—up front being a little bit too hard.

National Defence committee  Yes. You're obviously talking about people who belong to class B, reservists who work nearly full time. There are class B people in each commandment of the Canadian Forces. What I'll tell you is that with regard to your comment or your question, under my command it's not the case.

National Defence committee  I don't know the direct answer to the question, because I do not know what's happening with building the new armoury. That I don't know. Mais par contre, we have surveys. I've brought with me my director general of military personnel research and analysis, Madam Susan Truscott.

National Defence committee  I move 15,000 people a year, of whom half are actually part of the program. We can get into that later in the questions.

National Defence committee  It's a really good question, Mr. Chair. Let me elaborate. I find that a bit confusing. If it's a challenge in Quebec, why is recruiting up in Quebec between 8% and 10%? I'm not sending people out into the street to pull people into the recruiting centres; they're walking in on their own.

National Defence committee  That ensured that we actually kept some of that experience for a couple of years.

National Defence committee  You will see in my introductory comments, which I did include to ensure that I stayed within my eight-minute time limit, because I know timings are very important here in this committee, that there are two areas when you take a look at the challenge. Challenges were during years zero to three, which I touched on.

National Defence committee  Thank you. Mr. Chair, ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to appear before you today to provide an update on recruiting and retention in the Canadian Forces. As you're aware, people are the backbone of the Canadian Forces. They are the key to achieving the Canada First defence strategy objectives, including our force expansion goals.

Official Languages committee  Thank you.

Official Languages committee  Hopefully the sandwich was good.

Official Languages committee  I would say there are two pieces here. The one piece is the issue that—

Official Languages committee  No. It depends if you want to be the meat in the sandwich or not, which I don't want to be. In the end, Monsieur Nadeau raised the issue. I would submit to you this is a question that's posed to me in everything we do: mental health, ailing, the injured. You will always find these cases, even with the perfect system.

Official Languages committee  Could I ask you to clarify the question? How has it not created greater tangible results?

Official Languages committee  It has been to start with, since they have leaders who can speak in both languages. More importantly, if a question is posed, as I do, when I travel...and it's not, to be fair, about 25%-75%, it's about being able to speak as a leader in the language of choice of an individual who is talking to you.

Official Languages committee  Thank you. I'll leave that for the team behind me to answer, but I think you'll be very happy to hear that they've identified the areas where they need additional instructors. They were identified by the ombudsman when he visited and when he was in front of this committee in May, I believe; however, I'll let the team respond.