Committee Membership and Profiles

43rd Parliament, 2nd Session

Kelly Block

Chair

CPC – Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek (SK)

 
  • Critic: PSPC (2019 – 2020)
  • Critic: Transport (2015 – 2019)
  • Chair: PACP (18 August 2020 – present)
  • Member: OGGO (05 Feb 2020 – 18 Aug 2020)

Key Interests: NSS – contract awarding (Davie); Op IMPACT; NSICOP.

 

Lloyd Longfield

Vice-Chair

LPC – Guelph (ON)

  • Vice Chair: PACP (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member: ENVI (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member: INDU (2016 – 2019)

Key Interests: Op IMPACT; military justice system; Bill C-77; participated in CAF Parliamentary Program.

Michel Boudrias

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Vice-Chair

BQ – Rimouski-Neigette-Témiscouata-Les Basques (QC)

  • Critic: Public Accounts (2019 – present)
  • Vice Chair: PACP (25 Feb 2020 – present)

Key Interests: National Shipbuilding Strategy – PBO costing of CSC, shipbuilding delays, Davie Shipbuilding (contracts); feasibility of MAP milestones.

Randall Garrison

Matthew Green

NDP – Hamilton Centre (ON)

  • Critic: National Revenue, Treasury Board, PSPC (2019 – present)
  • Member: PACP (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member: OGGO (05 Feb 2020 – present)

Key Interests: NSS – PBO costing; shipyard capacity (Irving); defence procurement (process & taxation); military readiness and supply chain management.

Yves Robillard

Kody Blois

LPC – Kings-Hants (NS)

  • Member: PACP (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member: AGRI (05 2020 – present)

Key Interests: National Shipbuilding Strategy – Shipyard capacity / Target State; project delays and cost overruns due to shortage of DND/CAF procurement experts.

Hon. Larry Bagnell

Greg Fergus

LPC – Hull-Aylmer (QC)

  • Parl. Sec: President of the Treasury Board (2019 – present)
  • Par. Sec: Minister of Digital Government (2019 – present)
  • Member: PACP (2019 – present)
  • Member: ETHI (2020 – present)

Key Interests: Made in Canada procurement; Op IMPACT; Aircraft maintenance and repairs.

Yvan Baker

Francesco Sorbara

LPC – Vaughan-Woodbridge (ON)

  • Parl. Sec: Minister of National Revenue (2019 present)
  • Member: PACP (2020 – present)
  • Member: ETHI (06 Oct 2020 – present)
  • Former Member: FINA (2016 – 2019)

Key Interests: Veterans; Op IMPACT; Bill C-47; Military Family Resource Centres.

Sven Spengemann

Jean Yip

LPC – Scarborough-Agincourt (ON)

  • Member: PACP (2020 – present)
  • Member: Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (2020 – present)
  • Former Member: OGGO (2018 – 2019)

Key Interests: COVID-19 impact on supply chains; supply chain performance metrics; military justice; pilots; Op HONOUR; hiring Veterans into the public service.

Anita Vandenbeld

Luc Berthold

CPC – Mégantic-L’Érable (QC)

  • Critic: Treasury Board (2020 – present)
  • Former Associate Critic: Treasury Board (2015 – 2017)
  • Member: PACP (06 Oct 2020 – present)

Key Interests: FNSS – PBO costing (CSC); Davie; defence procurement; Future Fighter Capability project; Op IMPACT; CAF compensation.

Terry Dowdall

Philip Lawrence

CPC – Northumberland-Peterborough South (ON)

  • Critic: National Revenue (2020 – present)
  • Member: PACP (06 Oct 2020 – present)

Key Interests: No defence-related interests identified

Cheryl Gallant

Len Webber

CPC – Calgary Confederation (AB)

  • Former Deputy Critic: Health (2018 – 2020)
  • Member: PACP (06 Oct 2020 – present)
  • Former member: HESA (2016 – 18 Aug 2020)
  • Former Vice-Chair: HESA (2016 – 2017)

Key Interests: Post-traumatic stress disorder among CAF members and first responders (Bill C-211).

Pierre Paul-Hus

CPC – Charlesbourg–Haute-Saint-Charles (QC)

  • Critic: Public Services and Procurement (2020 – Present)
  • Former Critic: Public Safety, Border Security and Emergency Preparedness (2017-2020)
  • Member: OGGO (2020 – Present)
  • Member: CACN (2020 – Present)

Key Interests: NSS; defence procurement; defence budget; CF-18 replacement; Op IMPACT; Peacekeeping; National Security.

Kelly Block

(Carlton Trail – Eagle Creek, SK) – CPC

Election to House of Commons

  • First elected in 2008, re-elected in 2011, 2015, 2019

Professional Background

  • Public servant, elected official in municipal politics (Waldheim’s first female Mayor)
  • Chair of Gabriel Springs Health District, Member of the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority and the Director of Administration at Forest Grove Community Church

Political and parliamentary roles

  • Critic for Public Services and Procurement (2019 – 2020)
  • Critic for Transport (2015 – 2019)
  • Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources (2013 – 2015)

Committee Membership

  • Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (15 Oct 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (05 Feb 2020 – 18 Aug 2020)
  • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (2017 – 2019)
  • Former member of the Standing Committees on Natural Resources (2013 – 2015); Government Operations and Estimates (2011 – 2013)
  • Former member of the Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women (2011 – 2014)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • National Shipbuilding Strategy – contract awarding (Davie) – HoC 2011
    • Op IMPACT
    • NSICOP
  • Believes Canada’s NATO allies will have to pick up the slack for the withdrawal of fighter aircraft
  • Urged members to support the amendment brought forth by the Leader of the Opposition to reverse the decision to withdraw CF-18s
  • Has been critical in the House of bill C-22, the structure of NSICOP, and the level of oversight the committee has, calling it a “PMO working group” rather than a parliamentary oversight committee

Other Interests

  • Pipelines and oil/gas issues
  • Carbon pricing
  • First Nations issues
  • Was named a runner-up to the Macleans Rookie of the Year in its Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and in 2010 was given the Rising Star Award
  • Aerospace industry
  • In Committee discussions on Bill C-64, asked about: boat registration; whether witnesses wanted to suggest amendments to the bill; existing regulations on abandoned vehicles

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Lloyd Longfield

(Guelph, ON) – LPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2015, re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Business owner (hydraulic and pneumatic automation)
  • Former President of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Former Executive Member of the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group
  • Former Member of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group

Committee Membership

  • Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Former member of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (2016 – 2019); on Agriculture and Agri-Food (2016 – 2019)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • Op IMPACT
    • Military justice system
    • Bill C-77
    • CAF Parliamentary Program
  • During debate on the refocus of Op IMPACT (Feb 2016), asserted that success should not be measures by the number of airstrikes, but the defeat of ISIL and the establishment of civil society in Iraq and Syria
  • During debate on Bill C-77, spoke to the importance of the Indigenous sentencing provision
  • Participated in a CANSOFCOM high-speed navigation exercise in Nov 2017, as part of the CAF Parliamentary Program 

Other Interests

  • Increased funding to the CBC
  • Stopping the phase-out of door-to-door delivery
  • Food security

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

(Rimouski – Neigettes – Témiscouata – Les Basques, QC) – BQ

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Deputy Director General for the municipality of L’Isle-Verte
  • Administrative Officer at the Business Development Bank of Canada
  • Involved as regional president of the Bloc Québécois Youth Forum and the Parti Québécois Youth Council

Political and Parliamentary Role

  • Critic for Public Accounts, St. Lawrence Seaway, and Tourism (2019 – present)

Committee Membership

  • Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (25 Feb 2020 – present)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • National Shipbuilding Strategy
      • PBO costing of Canadian Surface Combatant
      • Shipbuilding delays
      • David Shipbuilding (contracts)
    • Feasibility of Management Action Plan (MAP) milestones

Other Interests

  • Nil

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Matthew Green

(Hamilton Centre, ON) – NDP

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Former City Councillor for Hamilton Centre

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Critic for National Revenue, Public Services and Procurement, and Treasury Board (2019 – present)
  • Deputy Critic for Ethics (2019 – present)

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (05 Feb 2020 – present)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority interests:
    • National Shipbuilding Strategy
      • PBO costing
      • Shipyard capacity (Irving)
    • Defence procurement (process and taxation)
    • Military readiness and supply chain management (vaccine distribution)
  • Sponsored e-petition 2656 calling upon the House of Commons to ban the use of tear gas in all its forms in Canada, destroy the stocks of tear gas currently owned by the police and armed forces in Canada.

Other Interests

  • Diversity and civic inclusion
  • Pension protection
  • Affordable housing
  • Environment protection

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Kody Blois

(Kings – Hants, NS) – LPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Completed degrees in commerce, law, and public administration
  • Hockey and softball coach
  • Launched the East Hants Sport Heritage Society and the Come Home East Hants Association

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Member of Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (2020 – present)

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (05 Feb 2020 – present)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority interests:
    • National Shipbuilding Strategy
      • Shipyard capacity / target state
      • Project delays and cost overruns due to shortage of DND/CAF procurement experts. 

Other Interests

  • Nil

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Greg Fergus

(Hull – Aylmer, QC) – LPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2015, re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Former policy advisor to past Cabinet Ministers
  • Former National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada
  • Worked in the private sector and in academia

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government (2019 – Present)
  • Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (2015 – 2017)
  • Former Vice-Chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association
  • Former member of ten other Parliamentary associations, including the Canada-China Legislative Association; Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group; Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association; and Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (NATO PA)

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (2019 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics (2020 – present)
  • Former member of the Standing Committee on Finance (2017 – 2019)
  • Former Non-voting member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (2019)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority interests:
    • Made in Canada procurement
    • Op IMPACT
    • Aircraft maintenance and repairs
  • During Committee of the Whole (2016), spoke in favour of the Government’s plans for military procurement, including the current strategy to buy ships openly and transparently in Canada
  • Questioned Opposition members on the perception that withdrawing the CF-18s made the CAF contribution to the campaign against ISIL less valuable
  • Assured that the Government is committed to ensuring that the replacement of the National Defence large tugboats will result in significant benefits for Canadians and Canadian industry

Other Interests

  • Interprovincial relations and trade
  • Advocate for seeking remedies for Canadians with a criminal record related to the possession of cannabis

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Francesco Sorbara

(Vaughan – Woodbridge, ON) – LPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2015; re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Business professional (Corporate Bond Research Analyst with Scotiabank)

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue (2019 – present)
  • Chair of the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group
  • Vice-Chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group and the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association
  • Executive member of the Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group and the Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association
  • Member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (05 Feb 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics (06 Oct 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Finance (2016 – 2019)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • Military Family Resource Centres
    • Veterans
    • Bill C-47
    • Op IMPACT
  • Has inquired in Committee about compensation for veterans and about veterans’ reintegration into civil society; spoke in favour of the affordable housing strategy, explaining it would be an additional step to better support veterans
  • Supports the Government’s arms control legislation, noting that it will not affect domestic ownership of firearms in Canada
  • Debate on the refocus of Op IMPACT: lauded the CAF and its members, urging others to donate to Military Family Resource Centres across Canada and various organizations that support the CAF

Other Interests

  • Immigration
  • Supports increased infrastructure spending in cities
  • Active volunteer in his community, including with the United Way, homeless, and at-risk youth

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Jean Yip

(Scarborough – Agincourt, ON) – LPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in a 2017 by-election; re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Worked in the Insurance & Underwriting field
  • Teaches Sunday school at her church
  • Involved in the STEM Fellowship Board of Directors and the Parliamentary Spouse Association
  • Yip is the widow of her predecessor Arnold Chan

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Member of several Parliamentary Associations and Inter-Parliamentary Groups, including the Canada-China Legislative Association.

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Special Committee on Canada – China Relations (2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (2018 – present)
  • Former member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (2018 – 2019)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • COVID-10 impact on supply chains
    • Supply Chain performance metrics
    • Military justice
    • Pilots
    • Operation HONOUR
    • Hiring Veterans into the public service
  • Was interested in the timeline for the Judge Advocate General’s review of the military justice system.
  • Has asked questions in Committee about the budget to retain pilots and technicians, upgrading their training, and increasing maintenance hours; financial barriers to programs for pilots; recruitment of pilots.
  • In terms of Operation HONOUR progress, asked questions about data collection and culture change.
  • In Committee, asked veterans questions about their experiences in applying for jobs after leaving the CAF, how they received government assistance when transitioning out of the CAF and applying for jobs in the public service, and whether the Veterans Ombudsman or advocacy groups were of any assistance

Other Interests

  • Nil

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Luc Berthold

(Mégantic – L’érable, QC) – CPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2015, re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Mayor of Thetford Mines (2006-2013)
  • Political aide
  • Editor in Chief of ‘Courrier Frontenac’
  • Journalist at CKLD radio
  • Attended the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean as a cadet

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Critic for Treasury Board (2020 – present)
  • Critic for Infrastructure and Communities (2019 – 2020)
  • Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food (2017-2019)
  • Executive Member of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, Member of the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (15 Oct 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (05 Feb 2020 – 18 Aug 2020)
  • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food (2017-2019)
  • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (2016-2017)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • National Shipbuilding Strategy
      • PBO costing (CSC)
      • Davie
    • Defence procurement
    • Future Fighter Capability Project
    • The Minister of National Defence
    • Canadian Armed Forces compensation
    • Op IMPACT
  • Is interested in the procurement of new jets and argues that the Government attempted to create a false ‘capability gap’ in order to purchase Super Hornets without an open bidding process
  • In the House, criticized the Minister for ‘taking credit for a victory that was not necessarily his own’ in Afghanistan and called on him to resign
  • Argued that the Government should not reduce or eliminate the danger pay benefits to CAF members deployed in Iraq and Kuwait
  • In the House, criticized the government’s decision to withdraw CF-18s 

Other Interests

  • Dairy industry, farmers, supply management, agriculture, trade agreements, railway safety
  • Impact of Canada-China relations on Canadian agriculture sector (e.g. pork and canola)

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Philip Lawrence

(Northumberland-Peterborough South, ON) – CPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Started his practice in law with a focus on taxation and corporations
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Brock University
  • Law Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School
  • MBA from Schulich School of Business
  • A member of the Newcastle Lions Club
  • Director in the Northumberland-Peterborough South Conservative riding association

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Critic for National Revenue (2020 – present)

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (06 Oct 2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (05 Feb 2020 – 18 Aug 2020)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • Nil

Other Interests

  • Nil

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Len Webber

(Calgary Confederation, AB) – CPC

Election to House of Commons

  • Elected in 2015, re-elected 2019

Professional Background

  • Former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (2003 – 2014)
  • Electrician
  • Business owner (contracting company)
  • Former Vice-President and Director of the Webber Academy, a private, non- profit university preparatory school in Calgary founded by his father, Neil Webber

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Former Deputy Critic for Health (2018 – 2020)

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (06 Oct 2020 – present)
  • Former member of the Standing Committee on Health (2016 – 18 Aug 2020); Vice-Chair (2016 – 2017)
  • Former member of the Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions (2019)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • In Committee study of Bill C-211 (An Act respecting a federal framework on post-traumatic stress disorder), spoke about the importance of ensuring that military members and first responders receive training on the traumatic events they might experience as part of their jobs, and be proactive in preparing them for the possibility that they develop PTSD

Other Interests

  • Healthcare issues, including organ donation, palliative care, and healthcare professionals
  • Volunteers for several health-related causes and organizations in his community, including Hospice Calgary, the MS Society, and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission
  • Interested in breast cancer awareness and research
  • Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

Pierre Paul-Hus

(Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint-Charles, QC) – CPC

Election to House of Commons

  • First elected in 2015 (defeated in 2011), re-elected in 2019

Professional Background

  • Owner of PRESTIGE Media Group
  • Former Vice President of Sélections mondiales des vins - Canada
  • Former commander (Lieutenant-Colonel) of the Régiment de la Chaudière (retired 2009)

Political and Parliamentary Roles

  • Critic for Public Services and Procurement (2020 – present)
  • Former Critic for Public Safety, Border Security and Emergency Preparedness (2017- 2020)
  • Former Associate Critic for National Defence (2015 – 2017)
  • Vice-Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (NATO PA)
  • Member of five other parliamentary associations, including the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group; Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group; Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA)

Committee Membership

  • Member of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (2020 – present)
  • Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (2020 – present)
  • Former Member of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (2020)
  • Former Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (2017 – 2019)
  • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure (2017 – present)
  • Former member of Standing Committee on National Defence (2016 – 2017)

Points of Interest to DND/CAF

  • Priority Interests:
    • National Shipbuilding Strategy
    • Defence procurement
    • Defence budget
    • CF-18 replacement
    • Op IMPACT
    • Peacekeeping
    • National security
  • Questioned Government about its plans to build a “leaner military”
  • Criticized the Government for buying used jets to address an “imaginary capability gap”
  • During debate on the motion to refocus Op IMPACT (Feb 2016), argued that the Government had failed to take into consideration the wishes of CAF members and the Canadian public
  • Criticized the Gov’t for its decision to send peacekeepers to Mali, describing Mali as a “war zone”
  • Active participant in debate on Bill C-59, An act respecting national security matters; questioned whether security agencies would have the tools they need to protect Canadians

Other Interests

  • Graduate of the College of Staff in Kingston and the École Militaire in Paris
  • Joined the Régiment de la Chaudière in 1987; served 22 years and conducted two missions: one in Goose Bay, Labrador under NATO, and the second in Cyprus under the United Nations

CAF Bases/Wings in Riding

  • Nil

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