NDDN Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 59

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

The Standing Committee on National Defence met in a televised session at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, the Hon. Peter Kent, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: James Bezan, Corneliu Chisu, Jack Harris, Hon. Peter Kent, Élaine Michaud, Joyce Murray, Rick Norlock and John Williamson.

Acting Members present: Pierre Dionne Labelle for Tarik Brahmi and Blake Richards for Cheryl Gallant.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Martin Auger, Analyst.

Appearing: Hon. Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P., Minister of National Defence; Hon. Julian Fantino, P.C., M.P., Associate Minister of National Defence.

Witnesses: Department of National Defence: Patrick Finn, Assistant Deputy Minister, Materiel; John Forster, Deputy Minister; Jaime W. Pitfield, Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Environment; Claude Rochette, Assistant Deputy Minister, Finance and Corporate Services; Guy R. Thibault, Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff. Communications Security Establishment: Greta Bossenmaier, Chief.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the Committee commenced consideration of the Main Estimates 2015-16: Vote 1 under COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT, Vote 1 under MILITARY GRIEVANCES EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, Vote 1 under MILITARY POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION, Vote 1 under OFFICE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT COMMISSIONER, Votes 1, 5 and 10 under NATIONAL DEFENCE, referred to the Committee on Tuesday, February 24, 2015.

The Chair called Vote 1 under COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT.

The ministers made statements and, with the witnesses, answered questions.

At 4:30 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:32 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Minister Jason Kenney, with the witnesses, answered questions.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

Jack Harris moved, — That the Committee invite the Minister of National Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and retired Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps as witnesses to appear before the Committee to answer questions about Justice Deschamps’s external investigation of sexual misconduct in the military, and the Canadian Armed Forces’ response thereto, for two hours, as soon as possible.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the Committee resumed consideration of the Main Estimates 2015-16: Vote 1 under COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT, Vote 1 under MILITARY GRIEVANCES EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, Vote 1 under MILITARY POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION, Vote 1 under OFFICE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT COMMISSIONER, Votes 1, 5 and 10 under NATIONAL DEFENCE, referred to the Committee on Tuesday, February 24, 2015.

Minister Jason Kenney, with the witnesses, answered questions.

Vote 1 under COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT carried.

The Chair called Vote 1 under MILITARY GRIEVANCES EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.

Vote 1 under MILITARY GRIEVANCES EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE carried.

The Chair called Vote 1 under MILITARY POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION.

Vote 1 under MILITARY POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION carried.

The Chair called Vote 1 under OFFICE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT COMMISSIONER.

Vote 1 under OFFICE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT COMMISSIONER carried.

The Chair called Vote 1 under NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Vote 1 under NATIONAL DEFENCE carried.

The Chair called Vote 5 under NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Vote 5 under NATIONAL DEFENCE carried.

The Chair called Vote 10 under NATIONAL DEFENCE.

Vote 10 under NATIONAL DEFENCE carried.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report Vote 1 under COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT, Vote 1 under MILITARY GRIEVANCES EXTERNAL REVIEW COMMITTEE, Vote 1 under MILITARY POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION, Vote 1 under OFFICE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT COMMISSIONER, and Votes 1, 5 and 10 under NATIONAL DEFENCE to the House.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jack Harris, — That the Committee invite the Minister of National Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and retired Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps as witnesses to appear before the Committee to answer questions about Justice Deschamps’s external investigation of sexual misconduct in the military, and the Canadian Armed Forces’ response thereto, for two hours, as soon as possible.

On motion of James Bezan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “retired Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps” the following: “and MGen Christine Whitecross”.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Standing Committee on National Defence invite the Minister of National Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, retired Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps and MGen Christine Whitecross as witnesses to appear before the Committee to answer questions about Justice Deschamps’s external investigation of sexual misconduct in the military, and the Canadian Armed Forces’ response thereto, for two hours, as soon as possible.

At 5:29 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Evelyn Lukyniuk
Clerk of the Committee

2015/05/19 1:14 p.m.