Mr. Chair,
I move the motion.
We have done some pretty exceptional work respecting the policy on the procurement of military equipment. Some events, meanwhile, have meant that we could fine-tune our report before submitting our recommendations. I think that we could do everything the same day. Of course, we do not know whether we will sit next week.
We have completed the report on Afghanistan, and now it is about the policy on the procurement of military equipment. First of all, I think that we must take into consideration the fact that the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives this week published a major report on the procurement process pertaining to the mission in Afghanistan. I think that it supported the recommendation in the Afghanistan report and we have always said it was essential and important, insofar as there were specific and immediate equipment procurement needs to be met for the mission, for our troops to have all the tools they need to defend themselves.
This being said, we had some reservations. The mission in Afghanistan was being used to procure other things. It would seem that since then comments have changed politically. Nevertheless we want a report that shows all sides of the picture. The report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, to my mind, is complete and interesting. For the sake of intellectual honesty, we have to look at this side of the picture.
I also think that it is right to be able to add elements from the Rideau Institute and other think tanks. I saw that some retired colonels or generals have often played a role in connection with the Department of National Defence. Even if he and I were not of the same stripe, Colonel Michel Drapeau did a considerable job on many levels. He could come and explain certain elements to us.
There is also the recommendation to create an inspector general’s position within the Department of National Defence. In England, in the U.S. and in many other countries, this inspector general’s function exists. It could protect the politician from the system and the system from the politician. Having
Or it could be a man or a woman in uniform, or a civilian, but somebody with the same judicial power of inquiry and to lay charges, to look at the training, to look at every level. But you would have that function for the sake of the contracts. I believe Canadians are ready for that kind of discussion.
Colonel Drapeau has already suggested this idea. I think that it would be interesting and important to do so.
With regard to the Airbuses, we have always said that as long as the contracts have not been signed... I think that when we had this discussion with the Auditor General, she agreed to audit certain contracts.
The contract for the Lockheed Martin C-130J airlifter has not yet been signed. There are other sorts of contracts. We can talk about the Chinooks. Some people have a hard time accepting the way that was done, saying it was on account of the Afghanistan mission, notably with respect to the contracts without bid. I think it would be appropriate to accept the request by the EADS group and let it make its proposals to us about what it would like to suggest as a convincing alternative to the Hercules aircraft.
We are not experts, that is true. I think that Canadians are entitled to know whether we would save money if there were calls for tenders. Are there other alternatives with regard to equipment? How can we find the best equipment for our troops while showing respect for taxpayers?
We do not want to hold 25 meetings. I think that one two-hour meeting would enable us to hear all these guests. Then we would be prepared to submit our recommendations and have a thorough discussion about how to proceed.
I think that all the committee members have done an excellent job on the procurement policy issue. Obviously when we are talking about billions of dollars, it is important to make sure that we have covered all the angles. The other element is that for most of the equipment, the service life is 15, 20 or 30 years. I think that before signing a contract it is important to see whether we have really done everything to comply with the criteria we have adopted as responsible politicians and to make sure that the troops can get the equipment they need.
Mr. Chair, I am proposing this motion so that we can properly complete our work pertaining to the report on the military equipment procurement policy.
Thank you very much.