Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise tonight and expand on a question that I asked the Minister of National Defence on February 7, 2003.
As Canadian Forces Base Camp Petawawa makes its home in my riding of Renfrew--Nipissing--Pembroke, members from all sides of the House will appreciate the sincere and profound interest I take in the well-being of the women and men who serve in the Canadian armed forces, as well as that of their dependants. I wish to congratulate and give thanks to the men and women who have performed so well in making do with years of federal cutbacks.
As Petawawa is the former home of the now disbanded Canadian Airborne Regiment, I take an equal interest in Joint Task Force 2, JTF2, because many of the former members of the Canadian Airborne Regiment have either served or are now serving in the JTF2.
We treat our military neighbours as family and it was in that context that I asked my question of the minister.
The federal government has sought to avoid accountability when it comes to talking about JTF2, under the guise of national security. This excuse is not acceptable in a democracy. Secret military organizations have no place in Canada and it is accepted in other democratic countries that the public has a right to know.
This is why public scrutiny, particularly when government is responding to questions from the official opposition, is important for democracy to work in Canada. The scrutiny that is provided by the official opposition improves democracy and it is with that fact in mind that if the government is sincere about a commitment to JTF2 as an important strategic asset it will be more forthcoming about what is happening in JTF2.
While the minister refuses to officially acknowledge the fact, there is a high burnout and stress rate within the JTF2 unit. The purpose of my question was to address that fact.
The chief of the defence staff has confirmed an expansion in the capabilities of JTF2 and the government was quick to confirm an increase in the budget of JTF2. However, there was a lack of response when it came to the soldiers who serve in JTF2. The unit is suffering from a manpower shortage.
Canadians are aware of the efforts to recruit the unit and that it was necessary to lower recruitment standards to try to overcome the attrition rates. It is a sad reflection on the problem of recruitment to JTF2 that Canadian Forces members privately refer to JTF2's inadequate training facility on Upper Dwyer Hill Road in the City of Ottawa as divorce university. Equally as serious is the fact that the specialized training and the secrecy inherent in clandestine missions means long periods of separation from loved ones.
The second part of my question dealt with the lack of manpower to fill an increasing number of commitments due to the government's decision to put JTF2 in charge of more missions, using it to deflect criticism away from the overall deteriorating rate of our military. Expecting individuals to run flat out all the time means they burn out sooner.
If Canada is going to commit JTF2 on a regular basis to an increasing number of missions, it needs the manpower to do it. In the past, the minister has talked about being more open about JTF2 and sharing some of the exploits of the little known group. Today would be a good day to act on those promises.