NDDN Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 18

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Standing Committee on National Defence met at 11:04 a.m. this day, in Room 362, East Block, the Chair, Hon. Maxime Bernier, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Claude Bachand, Hon. Maxime Bernier, Peter Braid, Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, Cheryl Gallant, Jack Harris, Laurie Hawn, Hon. Keith Martin, Pascal-Pierre Paillé, LaVar Payne and Hon. Bryon Wilfert.

Acting Members present: Serge Cardin for Pascal-Pierre Paillé, Russ Hiebert for Ray Boughen and Maurice Vellacott for Cheryl Gallant.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Melissa Radford, Analyst.

Witnesses: Pearson Peacekeeping Centre: Ann Livingstone, Vice-President, Research, Education and Learning Design. As an individual: David Lord, Executive Director, Peacebuild.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, the Committee resumed its study of the role of Canadian soldiers in international peace operations after 2011.

Ann Livingstone and David Lord made statements and answered questions.

At 12:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:41 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

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

It was agreed, — That the Committee not sit on Tuesday, June 1 or Thursday, June 3, 2010.

It was agreed, — That the Committee hear witnesses as part of its study on the role of Canadian soldiers in international peace operations after 2011 on Tuesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 17, 2010.

At 12:53 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:54 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Bryon Wilfert moved, — That, in light of the recent decision by Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden to scrap half of its fleet of 12 vessels used to patrol the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and then followed by the sudden announcement on May 14, 2010 by General Walter Natynczyk to reverse this decision, the Standing Committee on National Defence invite the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, General Walter Natynczyk, Chief of Defence Staff , and Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Chief of the Maritime Staff and Commander of the Navy, to brief the committee on the government’s sudden decision to reverse the announced operational cuts to the Navy and the process of determining current and future budget cuts to the Canadian Navy.

Debate arose thereon.

Jack Harris moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “scrap” with the words “stand down”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jack Harris and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 0.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, in light of the recent decision by Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden to stand down half of its fleet of 12 vessels used to patrol the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and then followed by the sudden announcement on May 14, 2010 by General Walter Natynczyk to reverse this decision, the Standing Committee on National Defence invite the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, General Walter Natynczyk, Chief of Defence Staff , and Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Chief of the Maritime Staff and Commander of the Navy, to brief the committee on the government’s sudden decision to reverse the announced operational cuts to the Navy and the process of determining current and future budget cuts to the Canadian Navy.

At 1:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Paul Cardegna
Clerk of the Committee

2010/05/27 9:09 a.m.