Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) - 43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Karen McCrimmon

(LPC - Kanata – Carleton, ON)

Committee Membership

• Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2020 – present)
• Non-voting member of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (2018 – 2019)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Op IMPACT
  • NATO
  • Veterans
  • Military justice system
  • CF-18 replacement
• During debate on the refocus of Op IMPACT (Feb 2016), noted that Canada is providing leadership on “follow-on” phases in Iraq as part of a plan to contribute to long-term success in the region; criticized the previous government for not having a follow-on plan in Libya
• During debate on the Opposition motion on Op IMPACT (Dec 2015), underlined that there are many lines of action in the fight against ISIL, not just air strikes; noted that the activities that go on in the background that people do not necessarily see are the ones that make the difference between success and failure
• Noted that Canada is taking its commitment to NATO seriously; referred to NATO as “Canada’s key collective defence alliance”
• During the 2011 federal election campaign, expressed criticism of the procurement process for replacing the CF-18s; expressed concern that the jets had not been cold-weather tested and would have difficulty operating in northern environments with existing infrastructure.
• During 2015 election campaign, underlined commitment to “making real change for veterans”
• Spoke in favour of Bill C-77, arguing it would make the military justice system run more efficiently

Other Interests

• During 2015 election campaign, commented on a range of domestic social and economic issues

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• Nil

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James Bezan

(CPC - Selkirk–Interlake–Eastman, MB)

Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Critic for National Defence (2015 – present)
• Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (2013 – 2015)
• Member of 13 Parliamentary associations, including the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association

Committee Membership

• Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2017 – present); Member (2011 – present); Chair (2011 – 2013)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • CF-18 replacement
  • Defence spending
  • Peacekeeping
  • Op REASSURANCE/Op UNIFIER
  • Op IMPACT/Op PROVISION
  • Military justice system
• Believes the CF-18 capability gap is a ‘complete fabrication’; cited the Macdonald-Laurier report in criticizing the Government for not running an open and transparent competition
• Criticizes Liberal defence spending, likening it to the so-called “Decade of Darkness”; argued that the reallocation of funds in the Defence budget is evidence of cuts; supports increasing Canada’s contribution to NATO
• Challenged the Government’s support for a peace support operation in Mali, suggesting that it was only intended to earn Canada a seat on the UN Security Council; called Mali a “war zone”
• Travelled to Ukraine several times in 2014 to deliver non-lethal equipment; criticized government for not providing unused weapons in warehouses in Montreal and Jordan; supported petition calling Vladimir Putin a war criminal
• In debate on the Government’s refocus of Op IMPACT (Feb 2016), expressed criticism of the decision to withdraw the CF-18s and the “failure” to explain the decision
• As Critic, requested departmental briefings on Op IMPACT and Op PROVISION in 2015; on operations and procurement in 2017; and on Op IMPACT again in 2018
• During Second Reading debate on Bill C-77 (Military Justice), noted his concern about the impact of the Beaudry decision on both the bill and the military justice system
• Used the 2019 Committee of the Whole to press MND to apologize to VAdm Norman

Other Interests

• Co-founded the Canadian Parliamentarians for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• Nil

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Michel Boudrias

(BQ - Terrebonne, QC)

Committee Membership

• Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2020 – present)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • French language in the CAF
  • National Shipbuilding Strategy
  • Afghanistan
  • Afghanistan
  • CAF Parliamentary Program
  • Op IMPACT
• Advocated an increase in French CAF units in all three environments
• Advocated for the Government to lease additional interim Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ships from Davie Shipyard
• Advocated for the Government to sign a contract with the Davie shipyard for the construction of 4 icebreakers
• During debate on refocus of Op IMPACT, noted the BQ support for continuing the air mission in Iraq and Syria, including air strikes against Daesh; favoured keeping CF-18s in region “on stand-by”
• Offered amendment to Bill C-22 so third party members could be nominated by the Prime Minister to the proposed National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP)
• In December 2017, participated in the CAF Parliamentary Program, including sailing onboard a Canadian submarine and Halifax-class frigate

Other Interests

• Nil

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• Nil

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Randall Garrison

(NDP - Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, BC)

Committee Membership

• Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2019 – present)
• Member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (2019 – present)
• Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2016 – 2019)
• Former Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (2011 – 2015)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Shipbuilding
  • LGBTQ issues and the CAF
  • Peacekeeping
  • Nuclear disarmament
  • Phoenix pay system
  • Military justice system
• Questioned whether the RCN is contracting out too much of its ship maintenance to private companies; asked about the shipbuilding strategy and whether the Government prefers to acquire the right number of ships or limit its spending to a certain amount
• Condemned discrimination against LGBTQ members of the CAF; asked MND to look into the status of revising the service records of those dishonourably discharged for their sexual orientation and gender identity
• Advocated for the extension of Canada’s peacekeeping mission to Mali
• Expressed doubt that there is a threat to North America; fears joining BMD would risk setting off an arms race; in favour of Canada being a leader for denuclearization
• Asked about the actions that the Government is taking to resolve Phoenix pay issues, noting that a number of DND/CAF employees have reached out regarding their pay issues
• During Second Reading debate on Bill C-77 (Military Justice), proposed an amendment to remove self-harm from the Code of Service Discipline so that there are no additional obstacles for CAF members seeking mental health support

Other Interests

• Worked as researcher for Amnesty International in Afghanistan to develop a plan for creating human-rights based policing in Afghanistan in 2002

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• CFB Esquimalt

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Yves Robillard

(LPC - Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC)

Committee Membership

• Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2017 – present)
• Member of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs (2018 – 2019)
• Former Member of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (2016 – 2018)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Reserves
  • Veterans
  • Transition to military life
  • NATO
  • Peacekeeping
  • Ukraine/Russia
  • Youth engagement
• As a former reservist, spoke to the important role of the reserves in domestic operations and advocated for increased funding for their training and activities
• Spoke to Budget 2017 initiatives for veterans, including the veterans’ education and training benefit and enhancements to career transition services
• In Committee, expressed concern about the challenges and hardships for newer recruits transitioning into military life
• In Committee, raised questions about Arctic security, Canada’s role in NATO, cyber and hybrid warfare, peacekeeping, and Russia’s actions in Ukraine
• As a former teacher, frequently asks about youth engagement, particularly in the context of peace processes

Other Interests

• Supports improved pension benefits for senior citizens
• Active volunteer in his community

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• Nil

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Hon. Larry Bagnell

(LPC - Yukon, Yukon)

Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency) (2019 – present)
• Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources (2004 – 2005); to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (2003 – 2004)
• Former Executive Member of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association
• Former member of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group; Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (NATO PA)

Committee Membership

• Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2020 – present)
• Former Chair of the Subcommittee on the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Commons: Sexual Harassment (2018 – 2019)
• Former Chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (2015 – 2019)
• Former member of the Liaison Committee (2015 – 2019); of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (2001 – 2002, 2004, 2006 – 2007, 2009 – 2011); on Justice and Human Rights (2006 – 2008); on National Defence and Veterans Affairs (2004 – 2005); on Fisheries and Oceans (2004); on Transport (2001 – 2003); on Industry, Science and Technology (2001 – 2003)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • CAF in the North
  • Veterans
  • Afghanistan
  • In past Parliaments, supported more CAF units for his riding and other parts of Northern Canada
  • Advocated for pension reform, including increased benefits for veterans and disabled veterans
  • Supported the CAF mission to Afghanistan and questioned the previous Government’s decision to stop combat operations in 2011

Other Interests

• Issues affecting Northern Canada
• Formed the Parliamentary Friends of Burma friendship group
• Selected "hardest working MP" and the "best constituency MP" multiple times in annual surveys by his peers in the House

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• Nil

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Yvan Baker

(LPC - Etobicoke, ON)

Committee Membership

• Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2020 – present)
• Member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (2020 – present)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Nil

Other Interests

• Nil

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• Nil

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Sven Spengemann

(LPC - Mississauga – Lakeshore, On)

Committee Membership

• Member of Standing Committee on National Defence (2016 – present)
• Member of Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (2019 – present)
• Member of Public Safety and National Security (2016 – 2019)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Iraq
  • Post-conflict reconstruction
  • Radicalization
  • Military justice system
  • Political interference
  • Op IMPACT
• As a former senior UN official, led a team of international and Iraqi experts in assisting the Government of Iraq with political, constitutional and legal reforms
• When discussing Op IMPACT, spoke to the importance of focusing on humanitarian intervention rather than continued air strikes; noted that Canada’s most effective contribution to the fight against ISIL is empowering local voices in the region
• In Committee meetings on peacekeeping, focused questions on the importance of nation building-building and post-conflict reconstruction
• In Committee study of Bill C-59, An Act respecting national security matters, regularly asked about the vulnerability of Canadian youth to radicalization
• Supported Bill C-77, noting that it would allow the military justice system to meet the needs of the CAF; focused questions on actions taken to root out inappropriate sexual behaviour
• Opposed the CPC defence critic’s motion to study VAdm Norman’s case, arguing that Committee was not the proper forum to discuss the case; that the former Conservative government was involved in the beginning of the deal; that the study would not be of interest to Canadians

Other Interests

• Held affiliations at the Munk School of Global Affairs
• Canada-US Fulbright Scholar; earned doctorate at Harvard Law School

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• Nil

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Anita Vandenbeld

(LPC - Ottawa West-Nepean, ON)

Political and Parliamentary Roles

• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence (2019 – present)
• Member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association

Committee Membership

• Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2020 – present)
• Former Chair of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (2019); of the Special Committee on Pay Equity (2016)
• Former member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2018 – 2019); on Foreign Affairs and International Development (2017 – 2019); on the Status of Women (2016 – 2017); and on Procedure and House Affairs (2015 – 2017).

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Peacekeeping / UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325
  • International conflict
  • Syrian refugees
  • Mental health
• Lauded the Government’s decision to increase funding for international assistance in Budget 2016, stating that she looked forward to Canada again leading the world on peacekeeping missions and implementing UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) 
• In Committee appearances related to UNSCR 1325, encouraged non-governmental organizations to work with the CAF and civilian peacekeeping organizations to help implement their mandates
• Worked with the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo, for which she received the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
• When meeting with representatives from Eastern Europe in Committee, has asked questions about Russian cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns
• Stated that the Government’s plan for Syrian refugees has promoted “the most remarkable and unique” community spirit across her riding and beyond
• Spoke in favour of the government’s contribution to the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group to create a centre of excellence for military members, their families, and veterans
• Sailed onboard a Halifax-class frigate as part of the CAF Parliamentary Program in October 2017

Other Interests

• Supports C-47, the Arms Trade Treaty; strong advocate for GBA+ in policy

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• NDHQ Carling Campus

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Terry Dowdall

(CPC – Simcoe–Grey, ON)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Nil

Other Interests

• Nil

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• CFB Borden

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Cheryl Gallant

(CPC – Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON)

Committee Membership

• Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2018 – present); Vice-Chair (2016 – 2017); Member (2006 – 2017)
• Former member of the Standing Committee on Industry Science and Technology (2011 – 2015)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • Op IMPACT
  • CFB Petawawa
  • Threats - Ballistic Missile Defence / Russia / Cyber security
  • Peacekeeping
  • Operation HONOUR and handling of sexual misconduct
  • Military justice system
• During debate on refocus of Op IMPACT (Feb 2016), expressed concern for the safety of CAF members on the ground in the absence of air support from the CF-18s
• Asks questions regarding CFB Petawawa, e.g. which missions involve units based there
• Asks about threats to Canada, e.g. from Russian intercontinental ballistic and cruise missiles
• In Committee, regularly asks about peacekeeping and counter-terrorism efforts in Mali
• In Committee, frequently asks about how the CAF is addressing sexual misconduct
• During Second Reading debate on Bill C-77, questioned whether the Indigenous sentencing provision would negatively impact morale in the CAF
• Committee of the Whole 2019: focused questions on F/A-18 acquisition and the Mark Norman case

Other Interests

• In 2011, made remarks critical of maritime search and rescue; stated that federal SAR should be coordinated with privately-operated resources and local governments

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• CFB Petawawa

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Richard Martel

(CPC - Chicoutimi – Le Fjord, QC)

Committee Membership

• Member of the Standing Committee on National Defence (2018 – present)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

• Priority Interests:
  • CF-18 replacement
  • Military justice system
  • Mental health
  • Veterans
• Argued that the Australian F-18s will be a burden on the tax payer; contended that the capability gap never existed
• Cited the Macdonald-Laurier report in criticizing the Government for basing its decisions on the replacement of the fighter jets solely on reasons of political interest
• During Third Reading debate on Bill C-77 (Military Justice), cited concerns about the reduced burden of proof in the proposed summary hearing process
• In Question Period, raised concerns about the pension for life program for veterans

Other Interests

• Critical of the Government over its handling of the case of Christopher Garnier, who received benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada for PTSD suffered as a result of his criminal actions
• Critical of legislation on cannabis

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

• CFB Bagotville

Prepared by D Parl A - Updated 24 February 2020

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