Statement made on 13 December 2010 by Senator Roméo Dallaire
Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire:
Honourable senators, my next question is also focused on Afghanistan and operational effectiveness. We are at war and we have troops in the field, and that operational effectiveness should be an element of keeping us ahead of the game rather than behind the game. We now have over 2,000 troops deployed in the field from Valcartier. The Military Family Resource Centre on that base is now restrained in its funding to the 2007 level and must absorb the increases in pay simply through the annual requirements of pay increases. To do so, they have to fire 10 people at a time when the centre most needs these capabilities to support the families and troops.
Is there a disconnect in this concept of "whole of government" in responding to our operational effectiveness? I have read all these reports. I still do not understand why four different task forces are responding to this. That is why we seem to end up with these disconnects that have a direct impact on the troops in the field, troops that the government says it supports.
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