Hon. Danièle Henkel: Senator Gold, I am feeling emotional and grateful as I rise for the first time in this chamber to ask the government about an issue that is dear to me: the reservists in our Canadian Armed Forces. We too often forget that they are the ones who are mobilized during climate disasters. They are the ones who lent a hand in residences for vulnerable individuals when COVID hit our communities hard. It goes without saying that the announcement of a significant and much-needed increase in the national defence budget is excellent news. As Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Régiment de Maisonneuve, a position I have held for several years now, I would like to know how much of the budget will actually go to the Reserve Force. What resources will be allocated, for example, to equipment, training and pay for reservists? Also, will this support be ongoing?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I am flattered that your first question is for me. The government is well aware of the importance of the Reserve Force, whose role is to augment, sustain and support the Regular Force. Yesterday, this chamber authorized the National Finance Committee to study the Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26. One of the main items in the estimates is $2.1 billion to allow the Minister of National Defence to accelerate the recruitment of new members for both the regular and reserve forces, augment the department’s capacity to provide training, reinforce retention of existing members, and improve health services to members.

Senator Henkel: Senator Gold, thank you for your answer. As a businesswoman, however, I’ve learned that investing without measuring the results is a waste of time and money. In this case, it’s the money of Canadians. Do you use an assessment strategy to measure actual results one, two or more years down the road and determine whether these funds were used efficiently and appropriately?

Senator Gold: The government is fully aware of the importance of performance-based assessment. During the parliamentary financial cycle, departmental results reports are prepared at the end of each fiscal year. These reports contain information on the resources used during the fiscal year and compare the results achieved against the expected results set out in the corresponding departmental plans.