The NATO Parliamentary Assembly Sub-Committee on
Transatlantic Defence and Security Cooperation visited Canada from 7–11
September 2009. Delegates met in Ottawa, in the Centre Block of the Parliament
Buildings, on Tuesday 8 September 2009, chaired by Senator Joseph Day of
Canada, to receive briefings on various Canadian defence and security
activities relevant to NATO. Over the following three days, they visited
Canadian Forces elements in Kingston, Trenton and Toronto, to learn about various
dimensions of Canadian Forces support to NATO.
TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2009 – OTTAWA
Delegates assembled in the Centre Block of the Canadian
Parliament Buildings where the chair, Senator Joseph Day of Canada, introduced
a day of informative briefings byCanadian Forces officers and officials
from the Privy Council Office, Public Safety Canada, the Department of National
Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Topics
included Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, Canadian policy and activity in the
Arctic, Canadian Forces transformation and cyber-security issues.
Discussion among delegates and presenters was vigorous.
NATO parliamentarians expressed concern over the fact that Canada had announced
an end to its military mission in Afghanistan in 2011. They looked forward to
hearing what form the Canadian mission might take after that.
Delegates were impressed with the practice of government
quarterly reports on progress being made in Afghanistan. They commented favourably on the apparent openness and objectivity of the
reports, despite the fact that they were routinely three months behind events
on the ground. Nonetheless, a few of them were eager to take the Canadian
example home for discussion with their governments.
Other discussion centered on what appeared to be common
challenges in generating and sustaining military forces for Afghanistan – the
retention of junior leaders after multiple tours of duty, wear and tear on
equipment and the impact on families remaining at home.
Arctic issues generated some interesting discussion.
Senator Day hosted a reception for NATO parliamentarians
and invited guests at the end of the afternoon.
WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER – KINGSTON
Following an early morning bus trip to Kingston,
Ontario, delegates met with Major-General Daniel Gosselin, Commander, Canadian
Defence Academy; Commodore William Truelove, Commandant, Royal Military College
of Canada; and a large group of senior Cadets. General Gosselin explained how
the Canadian Defence Academy leads and manages the Canadian Forces professional
development programme. Commodore Truelove outlined the
historical and continuing role of the Royal Military College of Canada in
producing trained officers and future leaders for Canada. A question and answer
period followed, which produced fruitful exchanges between NATO
Parliamentarians and senior Cadets. The morning concluded with delegates and
senior Cadets continuing their discussion over lunch. Among the many subjects
that came up, there were two that generated energetic discussion: the future of
Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and the evolving nature of NATO, in the face of
the Afghanistan mission and alliance enlargement.
The afternoon began with a welcome by Major-General
Marquis Hainse, Commander, Land Force Doctrine and Training System, who
described his responsibilities relating to Army operational training.
Lieutenant-Colonel Perry Poirier, Commandant, Peace Support Training Centre,
hosted delegates on a tour of his establishment, where Sub-Committee members saw
first-hand examples of how the Canadian Forces train military and civilian
personnel for operational service overseas.
NATO parliamentarians then had the opportunity to tour
the Canadian Military Communications and Electronics Museum, before ending their
day at a dinner with local dignitaries at historic old Fort Henry.
THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2009 – TRENTON
Senator Day led delegates to Canadian
Forces Base Trenton, the home of the Canadian Air Force’s 8 Wing, the busiest
military airport in the country, where they were hosted by Colonel Russ
Williams, Commander, 8 Wing.
Colonel Williams led a series of informative briefings
covering all aspects of the Canadian Forces global airlift
programme, with emphasis on support to NATO, particularly in
Afghanistan. Delegates came away with a thorough understanding of the airlift
challenges facing Canadian troop deployments and mission sustainment flights to
distant theatres around the world.
NATO parliamentarians met a number of senior 8 Wing
officers for discussion over lunch. After lunch, delegates were given the
opportunity to tour three of the most active aircraft types in the Canadian Air
Force – the new CC-177 Globemaster III, the CC-150 Polaris and the venerable
CC-130H Hercules. Experienced crew members, both officers and non-commissioned
members, provided briefings for delegates, as delegates inspected virtually
every inch of the aircraft.
At the conclusion of the visit, NATO parliamentarians
departed for Toronto.
FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
After a short, early morning bus ride delegates were
welcomed by Brigadier-General Jean-Claude Collin, Commander, Land Force Central
Area and Joint Task Force Central. In what many delegates described as the
highlight of the visit, Brigadier General Collin and his senior staff presented
a series of superbly informative briefings on the role of the command. They
then led delegates on a tour of the Operations Centre, to hear an update
briefing on a current exercise scenario.
General Collin clearly described the force generation
role of Land Force Central Area and outlined the programme
by which he prepares his troops for a tour of duty in Afghanistan. He also
explained, in considerable detail, his responsibility for providing domestic
military support to civilian authorities in the Province of Ontario.
General Collin was particularly articulate in clarifying
the Canadian Forces position on a number of broader military issues that
interested the delegates. Once again, challenges facing most NATO nations in
the preparation, deployment and sustainment of troops in Afghanistan received
considerable attention. Care of families and home and the mitigation of stress
injuries were discussed too.
Senator Day hosted a final lunch for the entire
delegation before individual members departed for the airport and flights home.
One long-time NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegate, in formally thanking
Senator Day for such a successful programme, said that
this event had been the best he has experienced in the many years he has been a
member of the Sub-committee. According to him, it was also the best attended
and that all those present found the experience to be of great value.
Respectfully submitted,
The Honorable Senator Joseph A. Day
Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (NATO PA)