National Defence committee  They're a supplier to us, ma'am.

National Defence committee  In a sense our focus is on Canada First. So if there are effects, we're not feeling them at Canada First. We've been able to maintain our temple of exercises and our interaction with our counterparts, be they the U.S. or others we interact with in various exercises.

National Defence committee  It would be really challenging. In the worst case it would be really challenging, so it's a great question. I mentioned earlier that we have six regional joint task forces and there is one headquartered in Victoria, Joint Task Force Pacific. Our rear-admiral, who is the commander of Joint Task Force Pacific, maintains very close contact with his provincial emergency measures counterparts.

National Defence committee  Approximately.

National Defence committee  Right. It also depends on what I would call the battle rhythm of its parent headquarters, the 1st Canadian Division headquarters in Kingston. So that too will be factored in.

National Defence committee  Sir, I'm not aware of examples of the DART being deployed domestically. It's within its plan, a plan we call Operation Renaissance, that it can be deployed domestically. We find that we can often respond just as quickly if not more quickly with other resources that may be nearby.

National Defence committee  The DART has about five functional areas. The first would be its medical element. It provides primary medical care, triage, and some limited evacuation capability, ambulance capability. It's a small detachment of about 45 or so medical people. That doesn't take you very far. It can be very focused, but it's limited.

National Defence committee  It's about 45.

National Defence committee  I'm certain we can find a way to give you a heads-up. The current exercise, I believe, is the one you're referring to, in Jamaica. I don't know if she was part of the team that deployed there or just watched the others go to Jamaica. A really good exercise from the reports that I've received back on it.

National Defence committee  There isn't, but we've not had—knock on wood—a really catastrophic kind of disaster that would....If one were to imagine an earthquake in Vancouver scenario, for example, that would see the DART deployed.

National Defence committee  Yes. General Vance, my boss, is the operational commander for search and rescue.

National Defence committee  If I get this wrong, I probably am fired.

National Defence committee  Joint Task Force Pacific is headquartered in Victoria, Joint Task Force West in Edmonton, Joint Task Force Central in Toronto, Joint Task Force East in Montreal, and Joint Task Force Atlantic is in Halifax.

National Defence committee  They are geographical, yes.

National Defence committee  My boss is the operational commander for search and rescue in Canada. On his behalf, I lead that. We have three search and rescue regions in Canada.