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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 by Canadian 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,
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