Mr. Speaker, to shed some light on the matter raised by the Reform Party today and to ensure all Canadians are clear about what we said to Quebecers, I will read the press release. You may then accuse me of sedition if you want.
Ottawa, Thursday October 26, 1995. The Official Opposition Critic for National Defence, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Defence and MP for Charlesbourg, Mr. Jean-Marc Jacob, put forward his position today concerning the national defence policy of a sovereign Quebec. According to him, "Quebec will have the moral obligation to participate in collective security by means of international alliances. Obviously," he said, "because of its financial constraints, Quebec should not aim to equip itself with an army capable of protecting the integrity of its immense territory. It is unrealistic to think of maintaining or creating a costly military (army, navy and air force) similar to the Canadian structure, given the current economic situation," he added, "especially in light of the Quebec population's marked tendency to favour a more peaceful option than the rest of Canada in defence matters".
No doubt he was thinking of the Reform Party, when he said that.
Mr. Jacob recalled that Quebecers have never questioned the value of UN peace missions. All the same, he considers that in order to participate and collaborate in international security "Quebec must devote itself to having an adequately trained defence force".
Quebec's participation in collective security could never be compared with that of the United States, France or England and "a realism dictated by financial logic will lead us to determine our priorities and possibilities", emphasized the MP for Charlesbourg, who believes that the government of a sovereign Quebec should made the best use of the resources already deployed on its territory "in order to allow all military responsibilities to be carried out at the least cost".
Mr. Jacob believes that Quebec needs a defence force, especially to watch over and intervene on its territory, to participate in strategic international alliances and in certain peace missions as well as to respond to all civil security needs, such as natural disasters and search and rescue. The MP for Charlesbourg believes that to properly carry out its functions, Quebec will have need of all Quebecers presently enlisted in the armed forces. As well, he added that Quebec will be part of NATO,
"which has standards of democracy, respect for civil and human rights that we share".
At least I hope it is shared by everyone here.
"The day after a yes win," he says, "Quebec should immediately create a Department of Defence, the embryo of a major state, and offer all Quebecers serving in the Canadian Forces the chance to integrate into the Quebec Forces "while keeping their rank, seniority and retirement funds as a means to ensure a better transition," he assured.
Mr. Jacob explained that Quebec already pays 23.5 per cent of the Canadian military budget, being more than $2.6 billion a year. It will not spend more upon becoming sovereign, he says, even predicting a saving of approximately $700 million since "Quebec will no longer have to pay for Canada's extravagances, buying too much for too high a price".
The Bloc Quebecois MP continued by emphasizing "the professionalism and the quality of officers who are Quebecers, the exploits of the 22nd Regiment and the 5th Brigade from Valcartier, as well as the air force from Bagotville who were able, with brilliance, to fulfil the peace missions with which they were entrusted". As well, he pointed out, the St-Jean Military College, which had acquired an international distinction, should re-open. "All of this expertise will not disappear with Quebec's accession to sovereignty and, personally, I think that soldiers of Quebec origin will respect the people's decision and will transfer their loyalty to the new country whose security they will ensure", Mr. Jacob concluded.
This is the end of the press release.