House of Commons Hansard #136 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was youth.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, during this same week, the U.S. government was publicly stating its disagreement with respect to the status to be granted to prisoners taken in Afghanistan.
A special federal cabinet meeting was called. There were two and a half days of caucus meetings, and the minister never thought that it was becoming important to warn the Prime Minister.
Is this the story the minister wants us to swallow?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated previously, I was looking at different details of the matter prior to bringing the matter to the attention of the Prime Minister and cabinet, which I did on Tuesday morning after I had finished my examination of the matter.
Cheryl Gallant Canadian Alliance Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister has asked whether it would make any difference if the Prime Minister knew about the capture of terrorists a few days earlier. It matters, because on Monday the Prime Minister told the Canadian people that the capture of al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters was only hypothetical.
My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister or Prime Minister's Office already know on Monday that the capture of prisoners was more than just hypothetical?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Mr. Speaker, there was a full description by the Minister of National Defence earlier today in the House about who knew what and when.
I think it was made clear that he disclosed this information to the Prime Minister and cabinet on Tuesday. Again I say it would not have made any difference if the Prime Minister had known sooner because the troops that were engaged in the capture were doing exactly what they were expected to do.
They turned over their prisoners to the United States in accordance with international law, which we believe will be fully respected.
Cheryl Gallant Canadian Alliance Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, when caught in a lie, tell the truth. It was only after the Minister of National Defence was challenged in the House on November 22 that he was prepared to admit days later that JTF2 was not in Afghanistan when he had led Canadians to think that it was for months.
When will the Prime Minister and this minister follow the lead of our coalition partners and be open and honest with Canadians on exactly what our role is in Afghanistan?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, it is about time we talked about what our role is in Afghanistan instead of this kind of nonsense.
We are there because in fact for the first time this continent became vulnerable to terrorist attacks when the attacks in New York City and Washington occurred on September 11. That is in the country next door. It is part of this continent and it is important that we engage in this mission to suppress terrorism, to be able to bring the al-Qaeda terrorists to justice.
That is what this mission is all about. It has to do with the protection of Canada and Canadians and of working with our allies to help ensure that.
Pierre Brien Bloc Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister stated that the Afghan prisoners were handed over to the Americans pursuant to an agreement signed between Canada and the United States.
Will the Minister of National Defence tell us if he is the one who informed the Prime Minister that there was an agreement between Canada and the United States regarding the Afghan prisoners?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I think the Bloc Quebecois is misconstruing this question of agreement. There is agreement not in the sense of a written document but in the sense of an understanding and agreement by the United States that it will follow international law and that it will do things consistent with the Geneva conventions.
Not only do we expect it to do that. We intend to continue to monitor the situation to make sure it does that.
Pierre Brien Bloc Témiscamingue, QC
Mr. Speaker, who, on behalf of Canada, negotiated this alleged agreement on the fate of prisoners in Afghanistan that was announced by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, January 29? When was it concluded and who informed the Prime Minister about it?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, I went through the chronology of events on the question of privilege in the House this morning. The matter is on the record.
Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister asked what difference it would make to tell the Prime Minister about what Canada's troops are doing in Afghanistan? Probably in the case of this Prime Minister it would not make any difference at all.
If it does not make any difference if the PM is aware of issues that are critical to our foreign policy, why do we bother to tell him anything?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Mr. Speaker, Canadian forces were engaged in the conflict in Afghanistan. This should not be a surprise. They were doing the job that they were expected to do. This should not be a surprise.
The fact that the Canadian forces apprehended certain individuals and that it was not conveyed immediately to the Prime Minister would not in any way have changed the fact that people were apprehended. Nor would it have changed the fact that they were turned over to the United States in accordance with international law.
I think the Minister of National Defence has made it clear that he believes he should have told the Prime Minister sooner. If he had the chance to do it again he probably would, but--
Minister of National DefenceOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. member for Medicine Hat.
Monte Solberg Canadian Alliance Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, that was completely incoherent. Let me switch from one incompetent minister to another.
Premier Harris has correctly pointed out that the feds have shafted the provinces on health care by billions of dollars since 1993. In Ontario alone it is $10 billion. The government has no right to hint that it wants to soak back the $3.3 billion that it recently lost through its fingers.
When will the minister assure the provinces that the government will not try to recoup its $3.3 billion Enron size accounting mistake?
John McCallum LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, the facts of the matter are clear. The error has been discovered, but we do not have all the information going back to 1972.
That information is in the process of being collected. At the appropriate moment the government will have conversations with the provinces and make a decision on what to do.
Alan Tonks Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, in addition to focusing on their studies right now many young Canadians are looking ahead and thinking about finding summer of employment.
Would the Secretary of State for Children and Youth outline what plans the government has to assist them in finding summer employment?
Ethel Blondin-Andrew LiberalSecretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, we know that summer employment is important to students to help them pay for their education and gain valuable work experience.
We also know through the summer career placement program that we expect over 55,000 students to find jobs this year. Through this program we offer wage subsidies to private, public and not for profit employers to create jobs related to student career interests and fields of study. This program is very important for young people.
Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK
Mr. Speaker, earlier both in committee and the House the defence minister consistently refused to answer questions about troop deployment on the grounds that joint task force 2 is a top secret, covert force. Once under political pressure covert becomes overt, as the minister says. Yes, indeed, those are members of JTF2 splashed on the front pages of the Globe and Mail .
Could the minister explain the contradiction about hiding behind total security when it suits him and then his willingness to reveal confidential information once his political career is at stake?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, that is absolute nonsense. I fully consult with the chief of defence staff on anything that is said with respect to JTF2.
I am trying to provide as much information as I can to Canadians to understand what their troops are doing, but this organization within the Canadian military operates in a covert fashion and is involved with special operations in Afghanistan.
With respect to its operations and the details of its operations, it is not in its interest or in the Canadian interest to talk about those details.
Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK
Mr. Speaker, the minister admitted a few minutes ago that he had misled the House, albeit inadvertently. Let us listen to what he said on October 17 in his farewell speech to the Canadian naval task force. He said to the troops:
--you are the silent and unseen partners of this campaign against terrorism.
They are not unseen and certainly not unidentified any longer, thanks to this minister. He has violated his oath of office. For the sake and safety of our troops abroad, will the minister now do the right thing and resign?
John Manley LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Crown Corporations
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member would be wise to return to the basics in this regard and understand the role the Canadian armed forces are playing, why they are playing it, and recognize the distinction, the professional competence and the skill they have shown in fulfilling their duties, something of which all Canadians should be proud.
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Yesterday the Minister of National Defence confirmed that he had received a significant incident report about Canadian soldiers taking prisoners early last week. He was in Mexico, I believe. I did ask him why he did not use the phone. I checked with Mexico. It does have a phone system there.
Given the confusion on this issue and the changing nature of the minister's own version of events, could the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House if procedures have now been changed? Is the Prime Minister now receiving significant--
Minister of National DefenceOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of National Defence.
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, significant incident reports are within the military and do come up to the minister of defence, but in this particular case it was part of a daily briefing. I get a briefing every day on what our troops are doing and what the situation is with respect to the campaign in Afghanistan.
Our troops have operated in a very professional fashion. They are people whom we can be very proud of.
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, nobody is questioning the competence of the troops. The minister has just stated that he gets reports every day. If that is the case, how come the Prime Minister and the cabinet did not get it until eight days later?
Hundreds of our military men and women are leaving tonight for Afghanistan. In view of what has taken place in the House this week, Canadians as well as those men and women in uniform need to know who is in charge of the department of defence.
My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. How can they do their duty when the minister of defence is not doing his? How can Canadians--