National Defence committee  Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair. There are six Arctic offshore patrol ships being built for the Royal Canadian Navy, and there's also a seventh and an eighth that will be used by the Coast Guard, but we're obviously more interested in the first six. The third one is in the water now.

National Defence committee  I'm going from memory here, but I'll say 2025. My official, Troy, is with me. If I have this wrong, he can correct me. I think I just saw a thumbs-up, so it's 2025.

National Defence committee  It's 2026. There we go.

National Defence committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll start, but I will turn to the CFO to fill in some details in a moment. I suspect the reason for some of the confusion is that there was some immediate aid given when the conflict first broke out, and then there has since been the provision of ammunition as well as some weaponry, in addition to some of the safety commitment that went earlier.

National Defence committee  As maybe one more addition to that, of the $500 million, the intent is to spend it this fiscal year. It's not a multi-year—

National Defence committee  I think the vice-chief probably has more to say than I do on this, so over to you.

National Defence committee  I will be very quick on this one. We're engaging with all of our suppliers to look at more efficient fuel for the vehicles. I cannot give you a cost at this stage, but we're in discussion with all providers to see what we can do to get more environmentally friendly fuel solutions.

National Defence committee  That's why we'll confirm.

National Defence committee  I can be very brief. We're happy to follow up, but my recollection on this issue is that the lead is Veterans Affairs Canada. I'm happy to confirm that and confirm they are indeed leading.

Afghanistan committee  If I could, when an election is called, you effectively go into what's called the “caretaker convention,” which effectively puts limits around what gets publicly communicated. It's less than when you're not in caretaker mode.

Afghanistan committee  All I can offer at this stage, Mr. Chair, is that once DND and CAF have done their validation, it goes into the IRCC process. I can't comment on how that process is or where a particular file is in their process.

Afghanistan committee  I think, Mr. Chair, that this is an IRCC process, and it's best left to IRCC to answer the question on how they are processing these.

Afghanistan committee  Maybe I'll start, and the general can correct me if he has better information. My understanding is that 3,800 were validated by National Defence and CAF, and forwarded to IRCC. Of that 3,800, 900 were accepted by IRCC, and that would imply that they were accepted along with any family members who met the criteria.

Afghanistan committee  I would assume it means—and we will have to confirm it—that it's then in the hands of IRCC to make contact and start the process. Effectively, the role of DND would end once the validation is done and forwarded to IRCC.

Afghanistan committee  I would assume—but, again, it is a question for IRCC—that they are still being processed or assessed, or have not been accepted. That, again, is in the hands of IRCC. The process would be that the Afghan individual would contact the department and look for validation. DND provides what they have and can confirm, and then it's over to IRCC.