THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, DEFENCE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, May 15, 2023
(30)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs met this day at 4 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Tony Dean, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Boehm, Boisvenu, Dasko, Dean, Gignac, Oh, Patterson (Ontario), Ravalia and Yussuff (10).

Participating in the meeting: Catlin Seibel-Kamél, Legislative Clerk, Chamber Operations and Procedure Office; Ariel Shapiro and Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 10, 2022, the committee continued its study on issues relating to national security and defence generally.

WITNESSES:

Department of National Defence:

Lieutenant-General Lise Bourgon, Acting Commander, Military Personnel Command;

Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture;

Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, Commander Military Personnel Generation Group.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police:

Chief Superintendent Andrew Blackadar, Commanding Officer, Nunavut;

Nadine Huggins, Chief Human Resources Officer;

Kathleen Clarkin, Director, National Recruiting Program.

Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan made a statement and, together with Lieutenant-General Lise Bourgon and Brigadier-General Krista Brodie, answered questions.

At 5:20 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:29 p.m., the committee resumed.

Nadine Huggins made a statement and, together with Chief Superintendent Andrew Blackadar and Kathleen Clarkin, answered questions.

At 6:23 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:26 p.m., pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee resumed in camera to discuss a draft report.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, April 27, 2023, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of those elements contained in Division 24 of Part 4 of Bill C-47, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 28, 2023.

It was agreed that the committee allow the transcription of the in camera portion of today’s meeting, that one copy be kept with the clerk of the committee for consultation by committee members and/or staff, and that the recording be destroyed by the clerk when authorized to do so by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, but no later than at the end of this parliamentary session.

It was agreed that the draft report be adopted and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the report, taking into consideration this meeting’s discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical and translation changes required.

It was agreed that the chair be authorized to table the report in the Senate, at the earliest opportunity.

At 6:33 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Ericka Dupont

Clerk of the Committee