The committee was studying Bill C-11, which proposes moving the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences in the military to the civilian justice system, and the integration of the Canadian Coast Guard into the Department of National Defence. Appearing were Natasha Kim, Associate Deputy Minister at National Defence; Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard; and Katia Jollez, Director General of Change Management and Oversight at the Coast Guard.
Minister of Justice Sean Fraser defended Bill C-11, arguing that the military justice system creates a false choice for victims due to fear of reprisal, interference within the chain of command, and a culture of distrust, and that moving cases to the civilian system will improve reporting and justice. He cited Justice Arbour's report as the basis for this approach, disagreed with witnesses who argued victims should retain a choice between systems, and noted that the incremental caseload of about 100 cases annually would not overwhelm civilian courts. He also linked Bill C-11 to broader reforms in Bill C-16, which addresses delays, strengthens penalties for sexual offences, and amends the Victims Bill of Rights, and said the government is working to improve training and specialized courts in partnership with provinces.
Natasha Kim stated that the Coast Guard's integration into National Defence, effective September 2025, is progressing well with a people-first approach, preserving the Coast Guard's civilian identity and core services like search and rescue and icebreaking. She emphasized that the Coast Guard remains outside the military chain of command, reports to the deputy minister, and has no plans to be militarized or armed, and that the move enhances strategic planning, procurement synergies, and maritime domain awareness, particularly in the Arctic. She declined to provide internal analyses supporting the decision, citing cabinet confidence, but committed to providing some documents to the committee.
Mario Pelletier confirmed that the Coast Guard will not be armed and will leave areas of threat rather than engage, and that its new security mandate under Bill C-12 allows sharing of information for security purposes with partners like the RCMP and the Canadian Armed Forces. He highlighted ongoing collaboration with the U.S. and Greenland through the Arctic Coast Guard Forum and Operation NANOOK, and said the Coast Guard maintains environmental protection capabilities, including pollution response caches in the Arctic. He disagreed with suggestions that the Coast Guard becomes a legitimate military target, arguing it is unarmed and civilian.
Katia Jollez described the change management approach as prioritizing employee communication and continuity of service, with training to help staff understand new authorities and tools within DND. She noted positive feedback from employees about opportunities for procurement and infrastructure synergies, and said work on a maritime security program is ongoing pending the bill's passage.
During the meeting, Maxime Blanchette-Joncas moved a motion ordering the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Coast Guard to table, within 30 days, all analyses and documents that served as the basis for the decision to integrate the Coast Guard into DND, including independent analyses, risk assessments, recommendations, and briefing notes, unredacted, with any refusal accompanied by a detailed written justification. The motion was moved after the witnesses' testimony.
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