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

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, June 3, 2024
(55)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs met this day at 3:58 p.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Jean-Guy Dagenais, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Boehm, Cardozo, Carignan, P.C., Dagenais, Dalphond, Dasko, Deacon (Ontario), McNair, Patterson, Richards and Yussuff (12).

Other senators present: The Honourable Senator Oudar (1).

Participating in the meeting: 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.

TOPIC: Defence procurement and the Canadian defence industry

WITNESSES:

Office of the Auditor General of Canada:

Andrew Hayes, Deputy Auditor General;

Nicholas Swales, Principal.

Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer:

Yves Giroux, Parliamentary Budget Officer.

Office of the Procurement Ombudsman:

Alexander Jeglic, Procurement Ombud.

Canadian Council for Indigenous Business:

Philip Ducharme, Vice-President, Entrepreneurship and Procurement (by videoconference).

Conference of Defence Associations:

Youri Cormier, Executive Director.

Yves Giroux, Andrew Hayes and Alexander Jeglic each made a statement and together with Nicholas Swales, answered questions.

At 4:58 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:09 p.m., the committee resumed.

Philip Ducharme and Youri Cormier each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:04 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 6:08 p.m., the committee, pursuant to rule [number], resumed in camera to consider….

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, May 9, 2024, the committee began its consideration of The subject matter of those elements contained in Division 39 of Part 4 of Bill C-69, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 16, 2024.

The committee considered a draft report.

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 6:20 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Ericka Dupont

Clerk of the Committee