National Defence committee  The committee knows that we have two major bases for our fighters. We have one in Bagotville, Quebec, and another in Cold Lake, Alberta. As I said earlier, in anticipation of potential threats during the Olympic Games in Vancouver, our F-18s were sent to Comox in order to be prepared.

National Defence committee  With the changes that are coming in aeronautics, I would say that the capacities are the following. I will continue in English so that I can explain more quickly. I think with the complexity of the signals environment, the way aerial warfare is evolving, interoperability today and into the future will be a very important factor.

National Defence committee  NORAD is unique in the world. It really is a bi-national command. For example, it has happened that US Air Force F-15s could not fly because of an accident. They grounded their whole fleet. We put Canadian F-18s into Alaska region to stand alert for them. So there are occasions, such as Operation Noble Eagle, for example.

National Defence committee  We respond to each and every occurrence that happens. I can tell you, in the last couple of years they've reached numbers that approximate those of the height of the Cold War. On each and every occasion there's been Canadian or U.S. air power, depending on their approaches, ready in response.

National Defence committee  I wouldn't say it's a blip. When you talk about the resurgence of Russia and its military power, we've seen a concomitant increase in long-range aviation, Russian bomber aircraft approaching North America, approaching the U.K. They've flown up the English Channel. If you were in Japan, they've circled the Japanese....

National Defence committee  I think it depends on what you would think is imminent. When we talk about threats, threat talks to capability and intent, so there are potential adversaries that have the capability, and on any given day may or may not have intent. There is a real threat to Canadian sovereignty, without a doubt.

National Defence committee  Do we have sufficient resources at the moment? In terms of the demands that form part of the NORAD mission, for example, we have the resources, but the situation changes from year to year. There are new threats. On Tuesday, I think, the committee discussed air-launch cruise missiles.

National Defence committee  The readiness of the entire Canadian Armed Forces is set annually, and that flows through funding that goes to the three services. For instance, for the Royal Canadian Air Force I'm funded in my operations and maintenance budget to ensure that I can keep my NORAD commitments at a posture that's ready.

National Defence committee  I think there's enough inherent redundancy in the system to allow us to meet all those demands. In our busiest year, for example—if I go back to 2010 when we were still heavily fighting in Afghanistan and had a large aviation and C-130 detachment plus the airlift going out—we were also doing that overflight I talked about at the Olympic Games.

National Defence committee  Thank you. Mr. Chair, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to be here today to discuss the Royal Canadian Air Force and our readiness, particularly in the context of the defence of Canada and of North America. I am very pleased to be offered this opportunity, because informing Canadians about our air force's role and contribution to the safety and security of our citizens is an essential part of my responsibilities as commander.