Jocelyn Paul and Mike Rouleau made statements and, with Sandra McCardell and Giles Norman, answered questions.

At 5:05 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:12 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That,

1. The Committee undertake a study on the state of Canada’s NORAD modernization and need for critical upgrades, that the meetings be televised, that the findings be reported to the House, and that the Government table a comprehensive response.
2. During this study, the committee also study where joint use of military infrastructure investments could also be used to enhance civilian and community infrastructure, to reduce the infrastructure deficit in northern and arctic Canada.

It was agreed, — That the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

Your Subcommittee met on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, to consider the business of the committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the Standing Committee on National Defence invite Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Jacqueline O’Neill, to appear before the committee to provide a briefing on the work being done by her office and how the office of the Ambassador is contributing to Canadian defence policy and how the operations of the Department of National Defence can contribute to the work of the Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, and that this briefing would be made the first item in priority for the committee to study once routine motions and the election of the Chair and Vice-Chairs have been decided.

2. That the Standing Committee on National Defence conduct a study on access to mental health services within the Canadian Armed Forces; that the study will consist of witness testimony from Department officials and stakeholder groups to address the level of death by suicide within the Canadian Armed Forces and will also study the proposed effects of removing self-harm, Section 98(c) of the National Defence Act, would have on the access to mental health care for military service members as outlined in Private Members’ Bill C-203; that the findings shall be reported to the House of Commons upon completion of the study.

3. That, the committee invite the Auditor General to appear before the committee with regard to the upcoming report on Supplying the Canadian Armed Forces.

4. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on National Defence conduct a study of Canada’s military training mission in Ukraine, Operation UNIFIER, which the Government of Canada last year extended to 2022, and that the study include an examination of the mission’s impact on the following:

(a) Ukraine’s ability to defend and re-establish its sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as Ukraine’s ability to protect its national security including through but not limited to hybrid warfare and other threats;

(b) Ukraine’s progress towards its goal of participating in joint missions with Allies and achieving NATO interoperability, standards and principles;

(c) Ukraine’s progress towards reforms in the defence sector including capacity building and professionalization of Ukraine’s security forces at all levels of the military;

(d) How the mission complements NATO’s strategy to contain Russia in conjunction with Operation REASSURANCE, including the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia.

5. That the committee invite senior officials from the Department of National Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development to provide a briefing on Operation IMPACT in Iraq.

It was agreed, — That the witnesses list in relation to the study on Access to mental health services within the Canadian Armed Forces be submitted to the clerk no later than Friday, March 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m..