Public Accounts committee  Madam Chair, in all of the operations we conduct, we plan in great detail, including for the financial resources that are required and including for the use of commercial transport if and when we need to use it to push materiel out to our deployed troops.

Public Accounts committee  We move materiel based on the operational necessity, so there will be times—if, for example, we need to get equipment parts, food or additional resources to deployed troops—where we might have to rely on commercial means if that's going to be quicker than what we refer to as the

Public Accounts committee  Throughout the duration of the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence contributions to the COVID-19 response, we have maintained the forces' posture. We are prepared to respond to Canadians in their time of need across the country, including northern and remote

Public Accounts committee  Our deputy minister summarized it perfectly in terms of support to Canadian Armed Forces operations. We always privilege getting the materiel to the men and women who are deployed abroad in support of Canadians. We do that by ensuring we have robust operational stocks. If we requ

Public Accounts committee  As has already been alluded to, the prospect of moving a COVID-19 vaccine across the country is a tremendous undertaking. It will require close collaboration, of course, at the federal level but also with all of our provinces and territories that are going to have to mobilize sup

Public Accounts committee  Madam Chair, we are currently supporting thousands of Canadian Armed Forces men and women deployed on 20 operations around the globe. We do that very successfully. Any time we can improve our supply chains to better look after our men and women—

Public Accounts committee  The Public Health Agency is currently leading the COVID-19 vaccine task force and the planning effort behind that. The Canadian Armed Forces are contributing to the logistical planning for that effort. It's a very complex problem. That estimate is ongoing. It will take some addit

Public Accounts committee  The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are currently supporting the Public Health Agency with a detailed logistical planning effort to help better understand what the requirements are going to be for the eventual rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines. That wo

Public Accounts committee  Since the start of the pandemic, the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence have been trying to do our part alongside whole-of-government partners. That includes through integration with the Public Health Agency at the start of the pandemic under the rubric

Public Accounts committee  Madam Chair, at this time we do not yet know the extent of it or the role the Canadian Armed Forces could play in the actual rollout of the COVID vaccine. The logistical planning support and the liaison currently being provided to the Public Health Agency are under our existing o

Public Accounts committee  I want to start by reinforcing that our number one priority in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence is to get the materiel and equipment to the men and women who are conducting operations on behalf of the Government of Canada. I can say categorically t

Public Accounts committee  We have taken direction from our deputy minister and our chief of the defence staff to start getting at some of these issues now. The deputy minister referred in her opening remarks to the fact that we have established in this department a defence supply chain oversight committee

Public Accounts committee  Ultimately, this is about better supporting men and women deployed on operations. Specific to Operation Laser, both our chief of the defence staff and deputy minister issued clear direction that before any CAF personnel integrated into operations to support our most vulnerable Ca

Public Accounts committee  Madam Chair, I do not have any opening remarks. Deputy Minister Thomas is representing both the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Health committee  Mr. Chair, committee members, thank you for the invitation to discuss the role of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces in the whole-of-government response to the evolving COVID-19 situation. With me again today is Major-General Andrew Downes, our res