Madam Speaker, quite frankly I am not sure whether the provinces were consulted. However it is important to point out that Esquimalt and Halifax are key naval military installations and certainly warrant a higher degree of security and protection, as does the enhanced security of our country. There is no question about it. I certainly feel that it is within the powers of the federal government to protect those installations in that respect.
In the House of Commons on November 5th, 2002. See this statement in context.