I. whereas President Poroshenko declared on 14 July 2014 that Russian military staff officers were fighting against Ukrainian forces alongside separatist rebels and that a new Russian missile system had been established to combat the armed forces of Ukraine;

L. whereas President Poroshenko declared on 14 July 2014 that Russian military staff officers were fighting against Ukrainian forces alongside separatist rebels and that a new Russian missile system had been established; whereas, according to NATO sources, Russia has allegedly been sending main battle tanks, artillery and other weapons to the rebels, and allowing mercenaries from Russia to cross the border to join rebel militias;

L. whereas President Poroshenko declared on 14 July 2014 that Russian military staff officers were fighting against Ukrainian forces alongside separatist rebels and that a new Russian missile system had been established; whereas, according to NATO sources, Russia has allegedly been sending main battle tanks, artillery and other weapons to the rebels, and allowing mercenaries from Russia to cross the border to join rebel militias;

(Return tabled) Question No. 953 Hon. Ralph Goodale: With regard to the Canadian Armed Forces: (a) how many active members are currently enlisted in the Canadian Forces, broken down by (i) Royal Canadian Air Force, (ii) Royal Canadian Navy, (iii) Land Forces, (iv) location of current deployment, for each of (i) through (iii); (b) what is the net change in strength of each branch since 2006; (c) how many Canadian Forces members are officers and how many are non-commissioned members; (d) of the officer ranks, how many are senior officers and how many are general staff; (e) of the active Canadian Forces members, how many are employed in ...[+++] (i) the trades of the combat arms, namely artillery, armoured, or infantry, (ii) non-combat roles; (f) of the active Canadian Forces members deployed during the combat mission in Afghanistan, how many were employed in (i) the trades of the combat arms, (ii) in a supporting or logistical role; (g) how many public servants are currently employed by the Canadian Forces, broken down by location of employment; and (h) since 2006, what is the yearly change in strength of (i) the regular force, (ii) the reserve force, (iii) civilian employees of the Department of National Defence?

In Haiti for example, Colonel Michel Duhamel, the Chief of Staff of the 7,400-strong military component of the UN Force (MINUSTAH), along with the Canadian Staff Officers in the Headquarters are playing a role which has been central to the success of that mission.

A staff officer such as the Director of Staff in National Defence Headquarters will sit down with the chief and walk through four or five issues in the course of a daily operational briefing, for instance.