Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
National Security and Defence

Issue No. 6 - Minutes of Proceedings - June 20, 2016

OTTAWA, Monday, June 20, 2016
(16)

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day at 10:02 a.m., in room 2, Victoria Building, the chair, the Honourable Daniel Lang, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Beyak, Carignan, P.C., Jaffer, Kenny, Lang, McCoy, Meredith and White (8).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senators Day and Raine (2).

In attendance: Dominique Valiquet and Katherine Simonds, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament; Silvina Danesi, Committee Clerk.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 21, 2016, the committee continued its study on issues related to the Defence Policy Review presently being undertaken by the government. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 4.)

WITNESSES:

Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute:

Colin Robertson, Vice-President, and Fellow, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary.

As an individual:

Elinor Sloan, Professor of International Relations, Department of Political Science, Carleton University.

Embassy of Sweden to Canada:

H.E. Per Sjögren, Ambassador.

Conference of Defence Associations Institute:

Major General (Ret'd) Daniel Gosselin, Chair of the Board.

As individuals:

Colonel (Ret'd) Charles Davies;

Colonel (Ret'd) Michael P. Cessford.

Conference of Defence Associations:

Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) Denis Rouleau, Chair;

Tony Battista, CEO.

As individuals:

          Brigadier-General (Ret'd) Jim Cox;

Dan Ross, Former Assistant Deputy Minister (Materiel), National Defence;

Major-General (Ret'd) James R. Ferron, Vice-President, Capability Development, Carillion Canada Inc.;

Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) Glenn Davidson, Former Ambassador of Canada to Syria and Afghanistan.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Sloan and Mr. Robertson each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 11:06 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:09 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Sjögren made a statement and answered questions.

At 12:10 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 1 p.m., the committee resumed.

Major General (Ret'd) Gosselin, Colonel (Ret'd) Davies and Colonel (Ret'd) Cessford each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 2:05 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2:10 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Battista made a statement and, together with Brigadier-General (Ret'd) Cox and Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) Rouleau, answered questions.

At 3:09 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

Major-General (Ret'd) Ferron, Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) Davidson and Mr. Ross each made a statement and, together, answered questions.

At 4:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Adam Thompson

Clerk of the Committee