The Minister made a statement and, with LGen Stephen Kelsey, LGen Erick Simoneau and Heather Sheehy, answered questions.

At 5:43 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 5:50 p.m., the meeting resumed.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

James Bezan moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on National Defence undertake a study of six meetings regarding the Canadian Armed Forces recruitment and training programs, specifically looking at the changes outlined in the 27 January 2026 memo titled "Initial Observations – Impact of Changes to CAF Recruiting Policies at Basic Training Over 2025", that the committee invite the Minister of National Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, the Chief of Military Personnel, and other expert witnesses; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

At 6:47 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 11:03 a.m., on Monday, May 25, 2026, the meeting resumed.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion of James Bezan moved on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on National Defence undertake a study of six meetings regarding the Canadian Armed Forces recruitment and training programs, specifically looking at the changes outlined in the 27 January 2026 memo titled Initial Observations – Impact of Changes to CAF Recruiting Policies at Basic Training Over 2025, that the committee invite the Minister of National Defence, the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, the Chief of Military Personnel, and other expert witnesses; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

and of the amendment of Chris Malette moved on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, which read as follows:

That the motion be amended by:

1. replacing the word “six” by the word “four”;
2. replacing the words after “training programs” and before “that the committee” by the following: “given that the Canadian Armed Forces reached a 30 year high in recruitment this year”;
3. replacing the words after “the committee invite” and before “and other experts” by the following: “the relevant officials from the Department of National Defence”; and
4. adding after the words “to the House” the following: “and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests a government response.”

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on division.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on National Defence undertake a study of four meetings regarding the Canadian Armed Forces recruitment and training programs, given that the Canadian Armed Forces reached a 30 year high in recruitment this year, that the committee invite the relevant officials from the Department of National Defence, and other expert witnesses; that the committee report its findings to the House, and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests a government response.

Robert Mueller, Christian Leuprecht, Richard Shimooka and Heather Exner-Pirot made statements and answered questions.

At 12:38 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), it was agreed that the committee continue to sit.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $32,400, for the study of the impact of the Defense Industrial Strategy, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That, in its study of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) modernization, the committee travels to 1 Canadian Air Division at 17 Wing in Winnipeg to look at NORAD Canadian-region operations.