From: abc@a123.ca   
      
   Canada's top soldier backs plan for $1 billion in cuts   
      
   SEPTEMBER 2, 2011   
      
   Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff is standing behind a report looking   
   to trim $1 billion from military spending through a reduction in military   
   contractors, consultants and civilian employees.   
      
   "[The report] gives us a 360-degree look at the Canadian Forces," said   
   Gen. Walt Natynczyk of the internal report drafted by chief of   
   transformation Lt.   
      
   Gen. Andrew Leslie, who was the former head of the army and who will   
   retire today.   
      
   The 100-page document, titled Report on Transformation 2011, was   
   solicited by Natynczyk and deputy defence minister Robert Fonberg and   
   took 10 months to complete.   
      
   "The mission we gave [Leslie] is to look for innovative ways to improve   
   our efficiency without giving up on our operational effectiveness," said   
   Natynczyk, adding that several recommendations have been implemented   
   already but many points in the report still need to be reviewed and   
   approved by the federal government.   
      
   "We have already started in terms of the reduction of the number of   
   full-time reservists," he said. The report suggested reducing the number   
   of full-time reservists to the baseline of 4,500 and making them part-   
   time workers.   
      
   The report also notes that $2.6 billion is spent on consultants,   
   contractors and professional services contracts every year for the   
   services of at least 5,000 people, many of them based in Ottawa.   
      
   The purpose of the report is to reduce overhead and cut 11,000 military   
   and civilian jobs so the military can re-invest in operational staff such   
   as sailors, soldiers and pilots.   
      
   "Everything is on the table," said Natynczyk.   
      
   "That's why when you look at those 11,000, which ones are they? If we   
   take them out, what is the second-order effect?   
      
   "But . we do have to reduce that overhead because I need sailors,   
   soldiers, airmen and women to do the job."   
      
   He said this is not the first time the Canadian Forces has faced cuts; he   
   cited 1994 and 1995, when the federal government cut 35 per cent of the   
   military's budget and contracted out some jobs such as flight instructors   
   and military cooks.   
      
   "We put a lot out to contract because of better business practices to try   
   to save money. Now we have to go through all of those and look at which   
   one of those are over the top."   
      
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