Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of National Defence.
The Auditor General is critical of the Department of National Defence because of its ad hoc approach to closing military bases, and I quote: "The budgetary process provides no opportunity to prepare the labour force or the communities for change, and to plan a strategy for government assistance". That was a reference to the 1994 Budget, not the budget of the previous government.
Will the Minister for National Defence admit that these closings are the result of ad hoc political decision-making that is having a harsh impact on local communities, since it does not include a strategy to help them diversify their economy?