THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Monday, March 21, 2022
(3)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of November 25, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, and with videoconference, at 2:02 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Tony Dean, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Dagenais, Dean, Oh and Yussuff (5).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Dasko, Deacon (Ontario), Jaffer, Klyne, Mercer, Ravalia and Richards (7).

Participating in the meeting: Chantal Cardinal, Procedural Clerk, Sara Gajic, Legislative Clerk and Natacha Umugwaneza, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; 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 began its study on issues relating to security and defence in the Arctic.

WITNESSES (by videoconference):

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada:

Wayne Walsh, Director General, Northern Strategic Policy Branch.

Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces:

Major-General M.C. Wright, Commander, Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and Chief of Defence Intelligence;

Jonathan Quinn, Director, General Continental Policy;

Brigadier-General Pascal Godbout, Commander, Joint Task Force North.

Global Affairs Canada:

Stephen Randall, Director, Oceans, Environmental and Aerospace Law Division;

Kevin Hamilton, Director General, International Security Policy;

Heidi Lorraine Kutz, Senior Arctic Official and Director General for Arctic, Eurasian, and European Affairs.

Kevin Hamilton, Major-General M.C. Wright, Brigadier-General Pascal Godbout, Jonathan Quinn and Wayne Walsh each made a statement and, together with Stephen Randall and Heidi Lorraine Kutz, answered questions.

At 15:33 p.m., the Honourable Senator Anderson replaced the Honourable Senator Klyne as a member of the committee.

At 15:49 p.m., the witnesses were excused from the meeting.

It was agreed:

That the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs be established to study matters which may be referred to it by the committee;

That the membership of the subcommittee be as follows: the Honourable Senators Anderson, Boisvenu, Deacon (Ontario), Richards and Yussuff, three of whom shall constitute a quorum;

That the provisions of rule 12-5 for membership changes apply to the subcommittee;

That, pursuant to rule 12-9(2), the committee's authority to send for persons, papers and records, whenever required, and to publish from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by it, be conferred on the subcommittee;

That, pursuant to section 7, Chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority to commit funds be conferred on the subcommittee;

That, pursuant to section 8, Chapter 3:05 of the Senate Administrative Rules, the committee's authority for certifying accounts payable be conferred on to the subcommittee;

That, notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases related to consultants and personnel services, the committee’s authority to commit funds and certify accounts be conferred jointly on the chair and deputy chair of the subcommittee;

That the committee's authority, pursuant to paragraph 8(3)(a) of the Senators Attendance Policy, be conferred on the subcommittee;

That the committee's power to permit coverage by electronic media of its public meetings be conferred on the subcommittee; and

That, pursuant to the Senate guidelines for witness expenses, the authority of the committee to reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for witnesses, be conferred on the subcommittee.

It was agreed:

That the following order of reference adopted by the Senate on February 10, 2022 be delegated to the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs:

That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to examine and report on:

(a) services and benefits provided to members of the Canadian Forces; to veterans who have served honorably in the Canadian Armed Forces in the past; to members and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and its antecedents; and all of their families;

(b) commemorative activities undertaken by the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada, to keep alive for all Canadians the memory of Canadian veterans’ achievements and sacrifices;

(c) continuing implementation of the Veterans Well-being Act; and

That the committee report to the Senate no later than June 30, 2023, and that the committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 180 days after the tabling of the final report.

At 3:51 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Ericka Dupont

Clerk of the Committee