National Defence committee  Madam President, thank you. I apologize. We froze for a second here, so I missed part of the answer, but I am grateful that my colleague was able to answer part of it. I would say that at the peak of the spring period, forces were identified and were ready to respond to a wide range of scenarios, as I indicated earlier.

National Defence committee  Thank you for the question. There have been direct and significant impacts on CHSLDs and long-term care facilities in Quebec and Ontario. Without a doubt, the presence of Canadian Forces members at those places has helped save lives when the situation was chaotic and health workers in those establishments were completely overwhelmed.

National Defence committee  At the Joint Operations Command, we very much are tracking the possibility of deployment in that locality. On 18 November, a small detachment of eight personnel from the CAF reconnaissance team went forward to assess the impact of COVID-19 at The Pas and OCN community with a view to better understand what the problem is.

National Defence committee  I would say we have an appropriate amount of PPE to deal with a wide range of scenarios. I would defer to Admiral Patterson with regard to the specifics of medical PPE and possible medical requirements.

National Defence committee  It's clear that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the Canadian Armed Forces have been working in close co-operation with our federal and provincial and territorial partners. We've also been working very closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada. This is why we currently have Canadian Armed Forces personnel in support of the Public Health Agency, specifically in the coordination of the national COVID-19 vaccine strategy.

National Defence committee  At this stage, we're very much higher-level than that. But because we have forces prepared for a wide range of scenarios, if that requirement were to come across to Public Safety and the Minister of National Defence for consideration, the chief of the defence staff would be preparing his best military advice on the way forward and whether or not we would be involved, and exactly which part we would be involved in.

National Defence committee  I will defer to Admiral Patterson on specifics, if she has anything to add with regard to medical.... We're currently in the analysis phase. We're preparing advice so that the chief of the defence staff will be in a position to provide his input and his advice to government on the way forward and the prioritization of CAF members.

National Defence committee  At this time, this is being considered. As I said, we'll be preparing the advice. The Canadian Armed Forces surgeon general is very much central to the advice that's prepared for the chief of the defence staff.

National Defence committee  A lot of the PPE existed in our stock. We took every step to ensure that when we utilized the PPE, we put in the request so that we could continue. We are currently acquiring additional PPE. I would say that we are in very good shape to respond to a wide range of scenarios. We continue, as part of the federal buy, to work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada as well as PSPC in terms of buying it for more effective use and distribution throughout Canada.

National Defence committee  If you allow me, we'll take this on notice, because it requires a more fulsome answer. I would tell you that I have the privilege of being part of the executive committee on health and security in the workplace oversight committee. While there are discussions about more generic things, there are rich discussions about the importance of ensuring that our personnel—those who are contracted as well as those in the different unions represented at the board, as well as the leadership—are looked after, because we care for their well-being.

National Defence committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I will defer to Admiral Patterson in a second, to respond more specifically on the medical. There's no core for the pandemic, except for the medical branch. In the Canadian Armed Forces, we have internalized many of the lessons learned from wave one and we continue to adapt to change.

National Defence committee  Thank you for the question. Concerning Operation IMPACT, especially our activities in Iraq, owing to a change in geopolitical dynamics and a growing threat over the past few months, our forces have been reduced for protection reasons, but also because of a decline in the Iraqi security forces' training activities.

National Defence committee  I could talk about the health situation over there in a general sense, but I would prefer not to say too much right now. We are taking note of the question and will get back to you with a more detailed answer.

National Defence committee  Commanders on the ground would be better able to answer your question, especially Brigadier-General Mialkowski and Brigadier-General Carpentier, in that order, if that's okay with you. I will turn to Brigadier-General Mialkowski.

National Defence committee  Thank you for the question. This is certainly something that the chief of the defence staff and the deputy minister are well aware of. Additional measures can be put in place to ensure that we are protecting ourselves even more, so that we remain that force of last resort and can be prepared to take on those tasks that the Government of Canada decides on in support of Canada and in support of Canadians.