Douglas Young

[Department Of National Defence, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have already had an opportunity to meet with the official languages commissioner for the very purpose of discussing the problem in Moose Jaw that the hon. member is refering to. There were also other situations that I thought were unacceptable in other regions of the country.

Following these meetings, I asked my department to report to me as quickly as possible on what can be done to correct circumstances which, I am in agreement with my hon. colleague, were unacceptable.

We will try to move ahead as quickly as possible, and I hope to be able to get back to her in the near future about concrete action taken in this regard.

[Royal Military College In Kingston, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as far as the French-speaking military or young people looking to train and carve out a career in the Canadian Forces are concerned, we will do everything we can to make sure they get the best possible training.

Regarding the other part of the question, where the hon. member implied that we tend to spend recklessly, I must say I gave that up long ago.

[Royal Military College In Kingston, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague will understand that I do not have at the tip of my fingers every available detail pertaining to every aspect of the Canadian Forces activities, whether at the military college in Kingston or elsewhere.

I undertake to provide this information to my hon. colleague. Just so I am clear, I would appreciate it if he could let me know exactly what details he is looking for concerning the funding of the military college in Kingston. We could also provide him with figures to enable him to make a comparison with the military college in Saint-Jean.

[Canadian Armed Forces, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I want to say to my hon. friend that under no circumstances at any time have we ever attempted to influence the choice of witnesses who should be heard before the inquiry.

The Somalia inquiry was extended now on three occasions. Upon the last request made by the commissioners, the government determined that we would extend the period of the inquiry until the end of June allowing for hearings to be held until the end of March.

There is absolutely no reason why the commissioners cannot ask the people to whom my hon. friend has just referred to appear before the commission. There was also no reason why they were not able to hear them over the last nearly two years now that this commission has been conducting its business.

However, I have never commented on either the roster of witnesses nor their testimony, nor do I intend to. That is entirely within the purview and prerogative of the commissioners of the Somalia inquiry.

[Canadian Armed Forces, February 6th, 1997]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I agree with my hon. friend that the incident in Somalia and much that has gone on since is indeed troubling for members of the Canadian forces, both present and past. I know that my hon. friend is very much aware of that.

I have been to the base in Edmonton and that I do not share his view that the men and women of the Canadian forces are ashamed of their uniforms. As a matter of fact, I hold quite the contrary view, that the men and women of the Canadian forces in Edmonton, or in Bosnia where I was last week with our troops over there, are very proud not only of what they are doing today but what men like

my hon. friend and other men and women of the Canadian forces have done for the last 100 or 125 years.

[Public Documents, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am amazed that the hon. member, who represents a party that has people sitting around her who have served honourably in the Canadian forces, would stand in her place and say that there is a cloud over everybody in the Canadian forces. You have no respect for the Canadian forces. You do not care-

[Public Documents, February 6th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting to hear the hon. member discuss alleged shredding.

For all of us to understand what has gone on in a number offices and a number of departments, perhaps what the hon. member is proposing is that RCMP operate the shredders right across the country, including perhaps the one in her office.

[Somalia Inquiry, February 5th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is getting easier and easier to respond to the ethics manual produced by the Reform Party in question period. When you get that kind bafflegab in a question, you can actually respond on the basis that the Reformers have told their supporters what they would like to have.

In the guidance given to members before this session Reformers were told that questions should not be used to get straight information. I do not think that means you cannot ask a straight question.

[Somalia Inquiry, February 5th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely no reason for the hon. member to attempt to prejudge the testimony or what went on at any of the events. That is for to the commissioners to look into.

I find it rather unusual that the hon. member has already decided, for whatever reason, that the person to whom he has referred will not be called before the commission of inquiry. The commission can continue hearings until the end of March.

The hon. member is making known his views as to who he thinks should be called. I have said it is not my intention to comment on the roster of witnesses nor on the testimony given before the inquiry because I do not think it would be appropriate. If the hon. member wishes to continue with his campaign to have certain people heard, he has until the end of March to make sure they are, if the commissioners believe it is in the best interests of getting to the bottom of this affair.

[Somalia Inquiry, February 5th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the obvious answer to the hon. member's question is that it is totally within the purview of the commissioners to ask whomever they wish to come. I am sure that the people to whom the hon. member has referred are more than available to come before the commission if, in the wisdom of the commissioners, they feel these are the appropriate witnesses to hear.

The hon. member knows, because she talks about flip-flops, that in this very place, Mr. Speaker-and I say this to you because I am sure you would have been here-on September 17 the hon. leader of the Reform Party said, from page 4308 of the Commons Debates :

Mr. Speaker, to ensure that there is no ultimate cover-up in the Somalia inquiry, will the Prime Minister guarantee to this House that the results of the inquiry will be made fully public before the next federal election?

We are trying.