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Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence

Issue 1 - First and Second Reports

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Tuesday, February 10, 2004

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to table its

FIRST REPORT

Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate to incur expenses for the purpose of its examination and consideration of such legislation and other matters as were referred to it, reports, pursuant to Rule 104 of the Rules, that the expenses incurred by the Committee during the Second Session of the Thirty-seventh Parliament are as follows:

1. With respect to its special study to examine and report on the need for a national security policy for Canada (Authorized by the Senate on Wednesday, October 30, 2002):

(a) During this study, your Committee spent 260.9 hours meeting 437 persons in hearings and fact-finding visits. In addition to hearings in Ottawa, the Committee held hearings in Regina, Edmonton, Halifax, CFB Valcartier, Quebec City and Toronto. It also made fact-finding visits to Regina, Edmonton, Vancouver, Windsor, Halifax, Quebec City and Toronto. The Committee visited military installations in Edmonton, Vancouver, Halifax and Quebec City and Montreal as well as the RCMP training School in Regina. In addition, your Committee visited Washington DC to meet its congressional counterparts, administration officials and representatives of think tanks. During this study, there were 1,110 references to the Committee in print media. There were 69,336 hits on the Committee's Website.

(b) Your Committee submitted 3 substantive reports entitled "For an Extra $130 Bucks...Update on Canada's Military Financial Crisis, A view from the Bottom Up", "The Myth of Security at Canada's Airports", and "Canada's Coastlines: The Longest Under-Defended Borders in the World".

Professional Services	$ 206,749
Transportation and Communication	$ 216,207
All other expenditures	$ 8,032
Witness Expenses	$ 17,304
Total	$ 448,292

2. With respect to its special study to examine and report on the health care provided to veterans of war and of peacekeeping missions; the implementation of the recommendations made in its previous reports on such matters; and the terms of service, post-discharge benefits and health care of members of the regular and reserve forces as well as members of the RCMP and of civilians who have served in close support of uniformed peacekeepers; and all other related matters. (Authorized by the Senate on Thursday, November 20, 2002):

(a) This Order of Reference was delegated to a Subcommittee on November 25, 2002, which heard 24 witnesses and held 7 meetings (10.7 hours) in relation to its work. The Subcommittee visited Sainte-Anne Veterans Hospital in Montreal.

(b) The Subcommittee submitted 2 substantive reports entitled "Fixing the Canadian Forces' Method of Dealing with Death or Dismemberment" and "Occupational Stress Injuries: The Need for Understanding".

3. With respect to its special study to examine the proposal of the Valiants Group for the erection of statues in downtown Ottawa to salute the heroic wartime sacrifice of certain valiant men and women who fought victoriously for the independence of Canada during the 17th, 18th 19th and 20 centuries, and helped mightily to establish Canada's nationhood. (Authorized by the Senate on Friday, November 21, 2002):

(a) This Order of Reference was delegated to a Subcommittee on November 25, 2002, which heard 3 witnesses and held 1 meeting (1.1 hours) and submitted 1 report in relation to its work.

4. With respect to its special study on:

i. the services and benefits provided to veterans of war and peacekeeping missions in recognition of their services to Canada, in particular examining:

- access to priority beds for veterans in community hospitals;

- availability of alternative housing and enhanced home care;

- standardization of services throughout Canada;

- monitoring and accreditation of long term care facilities;

ii. the commemorative activities undertaken by the Department of Veterans Affairs to keep alive for all Canadians the memory of the veterans achievements and sacrifices; and

iii. the need for an updated Veterans Charter to outline the right to preventative care, family support, treatment and re-establishment benefits. (Authorized by the Senate on Thursday, September 18, 2003):

(a) This Order of Reference was delegated to a Subcommittee on September 29, 2003, which heard 5 witnesses and held 4 meetings (4.2 hours) and submitted 1 report in relation to its work.

Professional Services	$ 7,325
Transportation and Communication	6,773
All other expenditures	—
Witness Expenses	2,864
Total	$ 16,962

5. With respect to its examination and consideration of legislation:

During the session, your Committee held 5 meetings, heard 8 witnesses, and examined four bills including Bill C-227, An Act respecting a national day of remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (This Order of Reference was delegated to a Subcommittee on March 31, 2003), Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Pension Act and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act, Bill C-411, An Act to establish Merchant Navy Veterans Day (This Order of Reference was delegated to a Subcommittee on June 18, 2003), Bill C-44. An Act to compensate military members injured during service.

Respectfully submitted,

COLIN KENNY

Chair

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Thursday, February 19, 2004

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has the honour to present its

SECOND REPORT

Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Friday, February 13, 2004, to examine and report on the need for national security policy for Canada, respectfully requests that it be empowered to engage the services of such counsel and technical, clerical and other personnel as my be necessary, and to adjourn from place to place within Canada and to travel inside and outside of Canada, for the purpose of such study.

Pursuant to Section 2:07 of the Procedural Guidelines for the Financial Operation of Senate Committees, the budget submitted to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and the report thereon of that Committee are appended to this report.

Respectfully submitted,

COLIN KENNY

Chair

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STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE

SPECIAL STUDY

APPLICATION FOR BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2004

ORDER OF REFERENCE

Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Friday, February 13, 2004:

The Honourable Senator Banks moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Corbin:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to examine and report on the need for a national security policy for Canada. In particular, the Committee shall be authorized to examine:

(a) the capability of the Department of National Defence to defend and protect the interests, people and territory of Canada and its ability to respond to or prevent a national emergency or attack and the capability of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to carry out its mandate;

(b) the working relationships between the various agencies involved in intelligence gathering, and how they collect, coordinate, analyze and disseminate information and how these functions might be enhanced;

(c) the mechanisms to review the performance and activities of the various agencies involved in intelligence gathering; and

(d) the security of our borders.

That the papers and evidence received and taken during the First and Second Sessions of the Thirty-seventh Parliament be referred to the Committee;

That the Committee report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2004 and that the Committee retain all powers necessary to publicize the findings of the Committee until July 30, 2004.

The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.

Paul Bélisle

Clerk of the Senate

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SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES

Professional and Other Services	$ 51,900
Transportation and Communications	99,032
All Other Expenditures	5,600
TOTAL	$ 156,532

The above budget was approved by the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence on Wednesday, February 4, 2004.

The undersigned or an alternate will be in attendance on the date that this budget is considered.

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Date               Colin Kenny
                      Chair, Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence

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Date                Lise Bacon
                       Chair, Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration

FOR INFORMATION ONLY