Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 27th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes, I tried strenuously, but it was turned down--and yet national defence got a green light for double the money; go figure.

Anyhow, such is life.

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

There's so much politics involved...[Inaudible--Editor]

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That said, Mr. Shipley has a list of some of the bases to travel to.

Two, Mr. St. Denis has a notice of motion for the next meeting.

Three, I'd like to briefly talk about whether or not we want to see a VIP, a report, prepared for Christmas or what-not, with regard to all the study we're doing.

And four, Mr. Stoffer wanted to talk about veterans affairs paperwork to be distributed to committee.

So we have a lot on our plate. I'm not sure we'll have the time.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

I have a motion I just want to table.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes, I understand.

First off, Mr. Shipley.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Thank you.

This won't take long. Maybe we can just discuss it; we'll get it in French and English, so everybody has the opportunity to look at it.

When we're looking at the bases to visit, it has to do somewhat with obviously wanting to talk about where veterans may be on bases, so that we would have the opportunity to talk to them.

For your consideration, I'll just lay out five that we talked about over here: in B.C. it would be Wing Comox; in Alberta, Wing Cold Lake; in Ontario, Petawawa; in Quebec, Valcartier; and Newfoundland, Wing Gander.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Gander?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

You have a problem with Gander?

[An hon. member]

Isn't that in your riding?

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

No, 5 Wing Goose Bay is in my riding. It's a much more active base than 9 Wing.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

How many wings do you have out there?

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Two; we can't fly on one.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

How many do we have in here?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Before we get totally out of hand, I note there is some debate over the Newfoundland and Labrador situation.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

You're talking the 5 Wing Goose Bay.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Shipley, am I assuming then these are just air force bases you're talking about?

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

These are just Canadian Force bases that we had.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Okay. The Comox base operates under the command of 12 Wing Shearwater. Shearwater is the home of the new Sikorsky aircraft, as you know, coming in soon.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I knew this was coming.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

If you want to talk to veterans and military people, my riding has about 24% currently serving or retired military personnel, along with a naval base and the army contingent. They would be honoured to see you.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

It sounds like a pitch for everybody to go to my riding....

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Well, there's Halifax--not necessarily my riding. Geoff Regan's there, Mike Savage, Peter MacKay, Gerald Keddy, Bill Casey—

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Are you talking about CFB Halifax?

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Yes, sir.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

We went there as a committee—