Debates of April 11th, 2008

Dave MacKenzie Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Safety has received assurances that investigators had access to and reviewed the full and complete video footage prior to it being erased.

We are, however, very concerned about this matter. The Minister of Public Safety has asked that the CBSA immediately review its procedures in these instances.

Robert Thibault West Nova, NS

Mr. Speaker, the government told us that three investigations were underway about the incident at the Vancouver airport. Obviously, any video recordings of the incident should be part of these investigations.

Do the investigators have a copy of the video in question? Are there multiple copies? Or did the government officials conveniently erase evidence that could be used in the investigation?

Dave MacKenzie Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, I would tell my hon. colleague again that the investigators had full and complete access to the original video footage prior to it being erased. The Minister of Public Safety has asked the CBSA to immediately review its procedure on the handling of such material.

Ralph Goodale Wascana, SK

Mr. Speaker, tape recordings are a problem for the government, with the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism accusing the Sikh community of racism, on tape, with Senator Angus saying Conservatives are divided over Bill C-10 and censorship, on tape, and with the parliamentary secretary to the government House leader demeaning gay people, on tape. As for the Canada Border Services Agency destroying evidence of misused tasers, it was on tape until the agency got rid of it.

Is this the government strategy, deny members' own words and all that self-incrimination, destroy the evidence, and have an election before Canadians can find out the truth?

Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member has every reason for wanting to delay an election as long as possible, and I can understand why that is his view, but there is absolutely no basis whatsoever to what the Liberals say.

However, there is a pattern emerging, a pattern of a Liberal Party that has no policies, takes no position on issues, does not even bother to vote in the House and raises imaginary scandals one after another. Why? Because the Liberals have no policy, no vision. They stand on nothing that is of importance to Canadians. All they do is go around looking for some kind of imaginary scandal they can kick up to get a news hit.

Ralph Goodale Wascana, SK

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious the government will not answer. The Conservatives deke and dodge and try to change the subject, but they are caught because they are their very own words, unmistakably, on tape.

The granddaddy of them all is the Prime Minister on tape, confirming financial considerations offered to Chuck Cadman. It is so damning because it corroborates the repeated, unwavering testimony of the Cadman family, including his widow who remains a Conservative candidate, and it is the Prime Minister live and in person.

Canadians have heard what Conservatives say behind closed doors. Why is there no accountability for it in public?

James Moore Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, the accusations by the Liberals on this issue are entirely false. Do members know what else is on tape? Liberals supporting our budget is on tape. Liberals supporting our immigration reform is on tape. Liberals supporting our environment initiatives is on tape. Liberals supporting our tax cuts is on tape. I am sure CPAC can give it to them for a very good price.

I hope the Liberals will continue to support our government, on tape.

The Deputy Speaker Bill Blaikie

The other thing that is on tape is all the yelling that is going on. I would ask people to stop that.

The hon. member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord.

Robert Bouchard Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, at yesterday's meeting of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, General Hillier said that at the time of the first extension of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan, the government knew that an additional 1,000 soldiers were needed to do the job.

How can the government justify the fact that it hid this information from the House when it was about to vote on extending the mission? Is that not an example of this government's lack of transparency?

Laurie Hawn Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, in fact, there are two priorities when the military embarks upon a mission: one is mission accomplishment; and one is safety of the troops. General Hillier, like all military leaders, took those two priorities into consideration.

We have been very consistent about our requests for more troops. Through the leadership of the Prime Minister and through the hard work of the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, we got that commitment in Bucharest recently. That will allow us to continue and, in fact, expand our operations in areas of governance and reconstruction.

Through the brilliant leadership of the Prime Minister and the brilliant military leadership of people like General Hillier, we will get the job done.

Robert Bouchard Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC

Mr. Speaker, the general's comments prove that this government has lacked transparency since long before the Manley report was released.

Is this attempt to manipulate parliamentarians not reason enough to end this mission in February 2009?

Laurie Hawn Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, again, General Hillier, like any military commander, has two things in mind, mission accomplishment and safety of the troops.

The Minister of National Defence has worked together with the military leadership consistently. The Prime Minister has been well aware of all the factors that lead to the success of the mission, all the factors needed to better guarantee the success of the mission. That is why we went to Bucharest. That is why we had the Manley panel. That is why we got the extra troops. That is why we are getting the extra helicopters, the UAVs.

With the leadership of the Prime Minister on the political side and the leadership of General Hillier on the military side—

The Deputy Speaker Bill Blaikie

The hon. member for Drummond.