Senator Loffreda: In a letter to your staff on July 27, you committed to establishing a meaningful culture change where people in uniform feel protected, respected and empowered to serve. Beyond commemorative events and modernizing the application process, I believe recruitment and retention success for the forces depends heavily on this culture change. Can you speak about your efforts in this area and what you have undertaken more precisely to improve the diversity of the Canadian Armed Forces?

Diversity is a priority for me, and we are taking significant steps. I have been working closely with the External Monitor — I met with her this morning for almost an hour — and I have had conversations with Madame Arbour with respect to the implementation of her 48 recommendations. I want to also assure you that in all of my work with the Chief of Defence Staff and his staff, they are resolute and committed to cultural change and to creating an inclusive, respectful and safe work environment for every member of their service. We have much more to report on it.

Senator Loffreda: Minister, does your biggest concern lie in recruitment? How imperative or arduous is the task of fleet renewal given what we are experiencing with the budget cuts?

The priority is all of those things.

You mentioned the fleet. Making sure our people have the right equipment, access to the appropriate kit and in circumstances where there is an aging fleet, for example, either a motor vehicle or air platform —

Hon. Tony Loffreda: Minister Blair, thank you for joining us today.

Canada’s military and peacekeeping legacy is something that we should all be proud of. I, for one, felt much pride this summer when I joined hundreds of volunteers, military personnel and supporters in Sicily for the Walk for Remembrance & Peace in honour of the eightieth anniversary of Operation Husky. This rich history is worth celebrating, and I feel that commemorations of this nature are a great way of instilling pride in our fellow citizens.

Would you not agree that these types of events can also serve as a recruitment tool for the forces? More broadly, can you share with us the Canadian Armed Forces’ recruitment efforts, and how the department is modernizing the recruitment process to simplify and shorten the application process for candidates?

Hon. Tony Loffreda: Minister, I would welcome further commentary on your efforts on culture change and the efforts undertaken to improve the diversity of the Canadian Armed Forces. You mentioned the issue was important and deserved more time.