Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence
Issue 9 - Minutes of Proceedings
OTTAWA, Monday, June 2, 2008
(18)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day, at 2:07 p.m., in room 705, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Colin Kenny, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Day, Kenny, Meighen, Moore, Munson, Nancy Ruth, Stollery, Tkachuk and Zimmer (9).
In attendance: Gaëtane Lemay, Co-Clerk of the Committee, Committees Directorate; Maureen Shields and Jason Yung, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Barry Denofsky, National Security Advisor; Major-General (ret) Keith McDonald, Senior Military Advisor; Superintendant Lindsey Brine, RCMP Liaison Officer; Captain (N) John Gardam, DND Liaison Officer.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee commenced in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed that a transcript be kept of the in camera portions of today's meeting.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room during the in camera portions of this meeting.
It was agreed that Blackberries be turned off for the in camera portions of today's meeting.
At 2:28 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:28 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee resumed its sitting in public, in room 2, Victoria Building, to continue its study on the national security policy of Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)
WITNESSES:
National Defence:
Lieutenant-General W. J. Natynczyk, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff;
Lieutenant-General A. B. Leslie, Chief of the Land Staff;
Chief Warrant Officer Wayne Ford, Army Sergeant Major.
The chair made opening remarks.
Lieutenant-General Natynczyk made a statement and answered questions.
At 4:04 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:07 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, the committee began its consideration of Bill C-287, An Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day.
The Honourable Senator Meighen, Chair of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, to which had been referred on March 3, 2008, Bill C-287, An Act Respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day, reported that the subcommittee has examined said bill and now reports the same without amendment, but with the following observations:
Your subcommittee notes that the purpose of National Peacekeepers' Day is to acknowledge the past, present and future efforts of Canadian peacekeepers and all Canadians who work for peace.
The Honourable Senator Meighen moved:
That the committee adopt Bill C-287, An Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day without amendment but with observations and that the chair report the bill to the Senate.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
At 4:10 p.m. the committee suspended.
At 4:28 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee resumed its study on the national security policy of Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1.)
Lieutenant-General A.B. Leslie made a statement and, together with Chief Warrant Officer Wayne Ford, answered questions.
At 5:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee resumed in camera to consider its draft agenda.
At 6:03 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of he chair.
ATTEST:
Shaila Anwar
Co-Clerk of the Committee
OTTAWA, Monday, June 9, 2008
(19)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day, at 2:05 p.m. in room 705, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Colin Kenny, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Banks, Day, Kenny, Meighen, Mitchell, Moore, Nancy Ruth, Tkachuk and Zimmer (9).
In attendance: Shaila Anwar, Co-Clerk of the Committee, Committees Directorate; Maureen Shields and Jason Yung, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Barry Denofsky, National Security Advisor; Major-General (ret) Keith McDonald, Senior Military Advisor; Superintendant Lindsey Brine, RCMP Liaison Officer; Captain (N) John Gardam and Chris Kilford, DND Liaison Officers.
Pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee commenced in camera to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed that senators' staff be authorized to remain in the room during the in camera portions of this meeting.
It was agreed the committee allow the transcription for this in camera meeting and that only one copy of the un- edited transcript be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by committee members and that the transcript be destroyed by the clerk at the end of this parliamentary session.
At 2:29 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:35 p.m., pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, the committee resumed its sitting in public, in room 2, Victoria Building, to continue its study on the national security policy of Canada. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 1)
WITNESSES:
National Defence:
Lieutenant-General J.C.M. Gauthier, Commander, Canadian Expeditionary Force Command;
Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson, Chief of the Maritime Staff;
Lieutenant-General W. Angus Watt, Chief of the Air Staff.
The chair made opening remarks and thanked the communications officer assigned to the committee, Leslie Dauncey, for her work with the committee over the past four years.
At 2:42 p.m., Lieutenant-General Gauthier made a statement and answered questions.
At 3:27 p.m., the Honourable David Tkachuk took the chair.
At 3:35 p.m., the Honourable Colin Kenny took the chair.
At 4:16 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 4:27 p.m., the committee resumed.
The chair made a statement.
Vice-Admiral Robertson made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:31 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 5:35 p.m., the committee resumed.
The chair made a statement.
Lieutenant-General Watt made a statement and answered questions.
At 6:41 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 6:53 p.m., pursuant to rule 92(2)(e), the committee resumed in camera, in room 705, Victoria Building, to consider a draft agenda.
It was agreed that the Honourable Senators Kenny, Tkachuk, Banks and Meighen take part, on behalf of the committee, in the press conference in relation with the committee's report on Afghanistan, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 11:00 a.m., at the National Press Theatre.
It was moved that the chair be authorized to request to meet with the Subcommittee on the Review of Committee Budgets, on behalf of the committee, in order to ask that all additional funds, as requested in the committee's budget application for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, be recommended for release by the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted, on division.
At 7:46 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Gaëtane Lemay
Co-Clerk of the Committee