NDVA Committee News Release

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                  October 25, 2001

Standing Committee on National Defence & Veterans

Affairs Calls for Written Submissions as Part of its

Study of the Canadian Forces Counter-Terrorism

Capabilities and Operational Readiness

(OTTAWA) Canadians from across the country are being invited to submit their written comments to the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs (SCONDVA) as part of the committee’s study of the Canadian Forces counter-terrorism capabilities and operational readiness.

The committee’s report will be produced in time for the Finance Committee’s pre-budget consultations which are due to be completed in November.  Given this short time frame and the number of expert witnesses the committee will be hearing from directly, it is not possible to hold cross-country hearings and get a wider sampling of views from Canadians on the impact of the events of September 11^th.  For that reason, written submissions are now being accepted as part of the current study. 

Since the attacks of September 11^th, SCONDVA has heard from a variety of top level defence officials including the Minister of National Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff.  In the coming weeks, the committee will hear from a wide range of witnesses in such areas as special forces, intelligence gathering, emergency preparedness and the defence against nuclear, biological and chemical attacks. 

Written submissions can be made until November 12, 2001 by e-mail to ndva@parl.gc.ca, by fax to (613) 995-2106 or they can be mailed to:

                        Diane Deschamps

                        Clerk of the Committee

                        Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs

                        House of Commons

180 Wellington Street, Room 619

                        Ottawa, ON

                        K1A 0A6    

-30-

For further information, please call:

Michael May                                                     Diane Deschamps

Office of David Pratt, M.P.                                Clerk, Standing Committee on

Chair, Standing Committee on                             National Defence & Veterans Affairs

National Defence & Veterans Affairs                 (Tel) 613-995-9461

(Tel) 613-992-2772                      

(Tel) 613-295-1832