Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Richmond East—Steveston.

I rise today to speak about the main estimates, along with the supplementary estimates, for 2025-26. I would like to speak about a topic near and dear to my heart, our Canadian Armed Forces. For too long, we have not done our part in celebrating and sharing the stories of the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. We know that when a member serves, their family serves along with them. I know that to be true.

I would like to focus my remarks today on our new government's investments in national defence, and most importantly, the people on the defence team. Let us remember that estimates documents are more than just numbers on a page; they are a detailed blueprint of our government's planned spending for the fiscal year ahead. The planned investments in the main estimates and the supplementary estimates align with a broad range of priorities and address matters that are of significant concern to Canada, to Canadians and of course to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Canada is a sovereign country. Our responsibility is to ensure that Canada remains strong. The Canadian Armed Forces are facing new challenges day after day.

Our Canadian Armed Forces are on the front lines of our critical work at home, within the continent and around the world. At home, our forces deployed on Operation Lentus have most recently evacuated nearly 4,000 people from dangerous wildfires in northern Manitoba and Ontario. Within the continent, our forces deployed on Operation CARIBBE have seized 1,300 kilograms of illegal narcotics in the Caribbean Sea. Around the world, our forces deployed on Operation Reassurance are leading NATO's forward land forces in Latvia. Let us not forget our Canadian Armed Forces deployed on NORAD missions, who have the watch.

Let us talk numbers. In the main estimates, the Department of National Defence is requesting voted expenditures with a total of $33.9 billion. Of this, $12.3 billion is being processed to ensure the readiness of our armed forces, $9.5 billion for military procurement and $4.9 billion for sustainable bases, IT systems and infrastructure.

In the supplementary estimates (A), National Defence is requesting over $9 billion. This includes $2.5 billion for recruitment, retention and support programs for Canadian Armed Forces members; $2 billion for defence research and development for the Canadian defence industry; and let us not forget an additional $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The estimates provide critical funding as Canada enters an increasingly complex world and ever-changing threat environment. Taken together, the main estimates and the supplementary estimates mean that Canada will achieve NATO's 2% target this fiscal year.

This is not just an investment in our armed forces. It is an investment in well-paid jobs, Canadian innovation and economic growth.

Let us talk about the positive impacts that our investments will have across the country. There are already 300,000 jobs in the wider defence sector, and this investment will increase that number.

Our investments will help Canadian businesses lead, innovate and deliver, and help make Canada safe and strong for generations to come. The main estimates are a critical part of that practice, helping to ensure that every dollar spent serves the public good.

Many people in the chamber know that the Canadian Armed Forces members will do anything that is asked of them to support Canadians, to support our allies and to defend our values. I have spoken with many members across the way who have all said they support the brave men and women in uniform and their families. When it comes to the Canadian Armed Forces and our defence, I think we can all agree that these are non-partisan issues. I think we can all come together to support our troops.

I want to close my remarks by speaking to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the families that support them. I know full well the sacrifices they and their families make: the missed birthday parties, Christmas in November, the stress of frequent postings and the challenges of uprooting their family, including finding new day care, a family doctor and employment in a new city. Just when their family settles down, it is time to move again or prepare for another deployment.

My military family is what motivated me to run for federal office. To the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and to their families, please know I am here for them. I see them. Together, we will continue to advocate for them always.

Sherry Romanado

$470,212.00