National Defence committee  Our mission in Operation Frequence is a strategic airlift mission in support of Operation Barkhane, so it supports the French forces. We provide a C-17 periodically through the year to airlift supplies in for movement of personnel and equipment for the French forces. That's what

National Defence committee  It's a long answer and we don't have the time for a long answer—the flag's already up—the point being that we're a complex organization when you consider the amount of the skills across the Canadian Forces, but we all come together as teams. We focus on individual training all th

National Defence committee  I can start from the mission perspective, if you will. We're focusing on a task that's aeromedical in nature, sustainment. It's much easier, in a sense, to describe. We are making a commitment, through the deployment of an aviation task force, to do certain tasks. It's easy for u

National Defence committee  Do you mean in the context of the mission in Mali?

National Defence committee  Our mandate is to support MINUSMA in the context of the capability that we're bringing to the table, so it's not one that the air task force is optimized to fulfill. It's hard for me to answer in the context because I'm focused on that piece.

National Defence committee  There is an enormous variety of groups in play, and there's no doubt that some of the groups are very well equipped. There are groups that are affiliated with Daesh. There are groups that are affiliated with al Qaeda, and they're not to be underestimated. I think I've got to go

National Defence committee  I'll open up and then I'll provide.... We don't have attack helicopters. Ours are armed escorts, and there is a big distinction to be made, but just let's be clear that just because the allies had attack helicopters in theatre didn't mean they necessarily used them in the way we

National Defence committee  Interoperability would be a greater challenge in the dynamic of a UN operation, because many of the forces involved don't have the density of professional military that we do. Interoperability is fundamentally about people. It's not technical. The technical dimension is absolutel

National Defence committee  I can be part of a Five Eyes conversation with colleagues who speak English as a primary language. We can use the same word and have five different understandings of what that word means and have five different cultural orientations towards problem-solving or a planning challenge

National Defence committee  The cost still has to be worked out.

National Defence committee  The total deployment within Mali has to fit the envelope for the government's decision on how much it wishes to support peace support operations over several years. The cost can vary based on our deployment, our sustainment, and how we get into the country. Those costs are being

National Defence committee  I answered that question earlier.

National Defence committee  Approximately one year—with the aviation task force.

National Defence committee  They carry small arms. I'm not going to specify side arms. It depends on the nature of the task and whether a pilot carries a particular weapon or whether the tactical air security officers carry....

National Defence committee  It's not a term. It's a complex conflict zone.