Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 11 - Evidence, February 9, 2005
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 9, 2005
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 12:12 p.m. to examine and report on the national security policy for Canada.
Senator Colin Kenny (Chairman) in the chair.
[English]
The Chairman: We are now in a public meeting. I would entertain motions in relation to the budget of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence for the coming fiscal year.
Senator Forrestall: I move that the committee adopt the budget application for 2005-06 and that the chair and deputy chair be authorized to make corrections and adjustments to the budget as required.
Senator Day: Why do not we use a steering committee to do that as opposed to the chair and deputy chair?
The Chairman: We have not established a steering committee yet.
The Chairman: All those in favour? Opposed? Abstaining?
Let the record show that the motion carried unanimously.
Senator Day: If Senator Meighen had been here, would have supported the motion as well.
The Chairman: Well, then, wish me luck. Thank you very much for your patience.
Before we adjourn, I want to make special mention that the staff has been doing extraordinary work. They have been putting in long hours and have been very patient given a lot of variables. I want to tell the committee that, from my perspective, they are doing an outstanding job and that we appreciate their work a great deal.
Senator Day: Their good work has been evident to all of us.
Senator Cordy: I wish to echo exactly what our chairman has said about the staff. They have been performing above and beyond. I am not sure when they have been able to eat and sleep. They are doing a super job.
There is an interesting article in today's Quorum titled "How Canada stunned Bush.'' It mentions an interview with Ambassador Michael Kergin and puts forth some very good arguments in terms of why we should join with the United States on ballistic missile defence.
Senator Day: Is that another interview by Colin Kenny?
The Chairman: We talked about that other interview in the Sun. It is those sorts of things that, when it comes to the report, we have to decide if we will even go there. For example, my initial sense is that BMD will be a settled issue by the time the report is published, so I am not sure that it would be terribly valuable for the committee to pronounce itself on the issue unless it was of the view that it wanted to make an interim statement at some point.
Senator Banks: Would that not be helpful to us in moving things along?
The Chairman: We have a period of time set aside on Monday when just exactly those matters will be discussed. For example, a question that needs to be addressed in Washington is how specific should a policy paper be, and my instincts are that it is pretty general. I am not sure we should be talking about types of aircraft, et cetera, but I am in your hands. Committee members should start thinking about these things.
As an individual, I have written about specific pieces of equipment, as much as anything to get the government off the dime to address the matter. I will tell you any time that the right people to choose the right airplane are the people who work in a light-blue coloured uniform, not me. I think it is our job to make sure that this issue is on the table and being debated, but I do not think we should be trying to pick a plane.
Senator Atkins: Let the record show that you are not a lobbyist.
The Chairman: If I am, I am sure not getting paid like J.J.
On that kind note, if no one has any other business, I will adjourn the meeting. Thank you very much for your assistance today.
The committee adjourned.