House of Commons Hansard #71 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cuba.

Topics

Bertrand LitigationOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as I said last Monday in response to the same question from another hon. member, we intend to decide what we will do within the next few days.

I hope to have an answer on the government position on this by next week.

Bertrand LitigationOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC

Mr. Speaker, speaking of the Bertrand litigation, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Mr. Johnson, told the daily Le Soleil , and I quote: ``I find it is not appropriate to start up the legal squabbling over sovereignty all over again''.

Can the minister tell us whether he shares that opinion?

Bertrand LitigationOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, we have said from the outset that there are important legal principles to be considered. This is both a political and a legal matter.

We said also that we would take whatever steps that may be necessary to fulfil our commitment. If there is to be another referendum the question will be clear, the discussion will be full, the process will be fair, the consequences well understood and that all Canadians will have a role to play in deciding the future of their country.

Those are our objectives and we shall take what steps are appropriate to achieve them.

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Lethbridge Alberta

Reform

Ray Speaker ReformLethbridge

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

The Minister of National Defence has been asked very clearly whether General Boyle was involved in drafting the terms of reference for the inquiry. The minister has not indicated the names of any officials who were involved. By inference General Boyle was involved in drafting the terms of reference.

Would the minister confirm that, if not, confirm very clearly that he was not involved?

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for the hon. member for Lethbridge. He should know after all his years in government something about parliamentary democracy in this country.

There is ministerial responsibility. We do not attack, we do not berate public servants on the floor of the House of Commons, no matter who they are.

Questions are asked of the government. The government is accountable for all of the actions within the respective departments.

I have answered the question two or three times. I, and I alone, take responsibility for the terms of reference on behalf of the government. I consulted cabinet colleagues and it was a collaborative effort in that particular-

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Reform

Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC

Then he'll have to go.

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Cover up, cover up.

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Reform

Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC

Resign.

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

David Collenette Liberal Don Valley East, ON

-it was a collaborative effort on that particular score. In a parliamentary government the ministers and the ministers alone take responsibility. Those terms of reference are comprehensive, they are thorough and they will get the answers Canadians want.

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Lethbridge Alberta

Reform

Ray Speaker ReformLethbridge

Mr. Speaker, I want to say very clearly to the Minister of National Defence that by not answering the question there is a cover-up.

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

The Speaker

Colleagues, we must not impute motive in our questions. I would ask the hon. member to withdraw the word "cover-up".

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Lethbridge Alberta

Reform

Ray Speaker ReformLethbridge

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw it in that context.

My question is very straightforward to the minister. Will the minister table the names of those officials who were involved in drafting and recommending the terms of reference for the inquiry so that it is clear to the Canadian public who is involved and so that we clarify the matter that there was no conflict of interest and that there was no inferred, assumed or perceived cover-up in any way? Would the minister table those names next Monday in the Parliament of Canada?

Department Of National DefenceOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, again the hon. member and his colleagues ignore a fundamental principle of

responsible government in the parliamentary context. I would invite him over the weekend to go back and look at some textbooks to see how our parliamentary system has evolved.

The fact is that ministers elected by the people are responsible for the actions within their own department. I and I alone am responsible for those terms of reference.

The Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

Pierre De Savoye Bloc Portneuf, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

The latest in a long list of scandals involving the armed forces was made public yesterday on TV. Several senior officers at the Valcartier base have developed a system involving embezzlement and kickbacks. Worse yet, it is alleged that this practice, which has been going on for at least 15 years, is common place in several other military bases across the country.

Given the fact that this kind of systematic fraud is part of the already long list of scandals we know about, what is the Prime Minister waiting for to clean up the armed forces command, starting with the defence minister and his protégé, the chief of staff?

The Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, these allegations of fraudulent practices at CFB Base Valcartier have been known for some time and have been the subject of some investigations. A number of people have been charged and other charges are pending.

Again, we have to let the investigative and judicial processes take effect. Obviously we are concerned when anything of this nature occurs, especially since the allegations are that these practices have been going on at least for ten years.

The Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Bloc

Pierre De Savoye Bloc Portneuf, QC

Mr. Speaker, this latest scandal, which is costing taxpayers a fortune, is in fact part of the ongoing waste of public funds in the department nine months after the appointment of General Boyle. For instance, over $31 million are literally squandered every year as the result of an inefficient pay system.

Can the Prime minister not see that this is the direct consequence of his insistence on keeping General Boyle? The armed forces are floundering while the general is wasting time fixing up his blunders with his lawyers.

The Canadian Armed ForcesOral Question Period

11:40 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, as I have said in answer to earlier questions, this is a department that needed much

reform in its administrative practices. Apparently now we have had allegations of fraudulent practices which obviously cannot be accepted and cannot be tolerated. They have been investigated. There are charges that are about to be laid and some that have already been laid. Actions have already been taken against at least one individual.

The key thing is that once the information comes to light, no matter how disquietening, one must act and act with alacrity. That is what the department is doing in this particular case.

BosniaOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West, ON

Mr. Speaker, the opposition seems so preoccupied with taking over the work of the Somali inquiry that everybody seems to have forgotten our hard working men and women serving in Bosnia.

I wonder if the minister could tell the House, when he attends the meeting of defence ministers of NATO next week in Norway, what our position will be on the continuing commitment of Canadian men and women to Bosnia.

BosniaOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, obviously this is a matter that will be the subject of cabinet discussions. My colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be leading that discussion.

I am glad the hon. member made a tribute to the hard work of the men and women now serving in Bosnia.

The Canadian government's position has always been that we want stability in that region. That is why we committed 1,000 troops to the IFOR force. It is quite obvious to most people that some continuation of the force will be required once IFOR's mandate terminates. That will be the discussion between ministers next week.

Once it is determined what is required, Canada will have to decide whether we shall continue to participate and at what level.

Somalia InquiryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Reform

Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB

Mr. Speaker, we have had a regiment disbanded, we have had key people, witnesses, taken out of the country at the last minute. We now have a general who appears to have an obvious conflict of interest.

Will the minister file now a list of those people who were responsible for drawing up the frame of reference for the Somalia inquiry?

Somalia InquiryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, this says something about the mentality of the members of the Reform Party. They are not content just to attack ministers. But that is fair ball because we run for office and we have to defend our policies.

The mentality of the Reform Party is not to stop with the politicians, which is an acceptable part of our democratic process. These people want to attack public servants who are doing their job, public servants who are unable to defend themselves here on the floor of the House of Commons like I am.

This is why the Reform Party approach is being rejected by Canadians every single day.

Somalia InquiryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Reform

Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB

Mr. Speaker, this minister talks about ministerial responsibility. He also talks about accountability. He also talks about perception. Right now it is perceived by all Canadians that we now have a conflict of interest in the very terms of reference of the Somalia inquiry.

Why will this minister not answer, yes or no, was General Boyle involved in setting the frame of reference for the Somalia inquiry?

Somalia InquiryOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have a perception of the Reform Party as one that does not understand parliamentary traditions. It does not understand that public servants work for the government and do not have the right to defend themselves in a political arena.

I think the hon. member would be much more comfortable sitting in the House of Representatives in Washington than he is sitting in the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa.

Irving WhaleOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Bloc

Monique Guay Bloc Laurentides, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.

Last week, we learned that there are still large amounts of PCB-contaminated sediments on the site of the Irving Whale wreck. Before the operation to lift this barge, concentrations of 400 to 900 parts per million had been found in contaminated samples.

Given the substantial and troubling presence of PCBs, what does the minister intend to do in the very short term to correct this situation, which directly threatens all the fishery resources in that part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence?