Mr. Speaker, military personnel who live on bases in single quarters or in permanent married quarters must contend with old and deteriorating accommodations that are among the worst to be found in this country. Those are not my words but those of the report of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs.
The quarters in some regions were called dilapidated by the committee and that was being very generous. From leaking roofs to cramped, old deteriorating spaces, Canada's forces personnel deserve much better from the country that they so admirably serve, and in particular from the Liberal government responsible for these decisions.
In one letter written to the forces publication The Maple Leaf we find the words “In the last 40-plus years some things never change. Morale seems to be every bit as low as it was then, and housing hasn't changed since the 1950s”.
Just listen to the Ottawa jargon with which the minister responded to these Canadians in need, “developing long range plans” and “we have long term plans”. The Liberal government's response to the report is equally unclear and noncommittal. It said “Over time, access to accommodation that meets these requirements will be realized”. Over time anything is possible but what is impossible is accepting this so-called response.
Canadian forces accommodation policy cites the need for well maintained quarters respecting dignity, privacy, safety and security. The Liberal government's policy is tough luck, you lose.
The Minister of National Defence announced last October that his Liberal government had cash on hand to spend $15 million building a brand spanking new armoury in Shawinigan which by great coincidence happens to be in the Prime Minister's own riding. A brand new armoury when Canadian forces troops live in unacceptable conditions.
I wonder if there is any money whatsoever in the $4 billion the government plans to spend on equipment over the next four years. This is money which may be better suited to meet the immediate needs of Canadian forces personnel condemned by the Liberal government to unsafe and rundown housing. The government has responded to a real crisis in Canada's forces with the words “long term plans”, “accepts the intent of their recommendations” and “over time, access to accommodation that meets these requirements will be realized”. Fancy words but empty words. Jargon at a bargain.
For married troops quarters, $40 million will be used to repair and maintain existing rundown housing. The Liberal government has decided to say to the families of Canadian troops, “Yes, we heard how bad it is. We even spent taxpayers' dollars to tour the country and find out just how bad it is, but we will not build one single new residence for you as a result, not one”.
I expect the government will respond to my comments touting this $40 billion band-aid and once again spouting jargon about how it supports in principle the needs and is working toward a long term plan.
I would like the government to respond to these comments with a step by step plan as to what quarters will be replaced this year, next year and the year after. By what month, in what year, will all forces personnel be able to live in acceptable conditions? I await the response to this challenge. The issue has been studied to death. Now is the time for action.
An annual report of the Canadian Forces Housing Agency from years ago said, “Without access to capital funding, little real progress can be made toward improving the quality of the crown housing portfolio”. Capital funding, not empty promises and more studies.