Debates of May 17th, 2007

National Defence—Main Estimates 2007-08

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

No answer again, Mr. Chair, and the people of Happy Valley Goose Bay want answers.

Why did the minister cancel $25 million in upgrades for the practice target area, including threat emitters at Five Wing Goose Bay?

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, that was a promise made by the previous government to cover the closing down of Goose Bay. There is no requirement for the emitters. As no fighter aircraft fly there, there is no need for the emitters.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Chair, the minister promised to encourage increased flying training operations, which means foreign military training, at CFB Goose Bay.

What has he done to encourage this, which would have included the threat emitters? Have flying training operations at CFB Goose Bay increased since he took office, or decreased?

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, in fact flying operations have been maintained in Goose Bay as opposed to the plan of the Liberal government, which was to close the base.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Chair, will the minister table the documents that the Liberal government was to close Five Wing Goose Bay?

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, as I said, the plans of the Liberals were to close Goose Bay. They also had plans to close other bases. That is where it stands.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Chair, in the calendar year 2006, what was the net gain in CF personnel, that is recruits minus attrition?

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, 1,015.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Chair, it took 25 years to get to 13,000 regular force personnel and 10,000 reservists.

The minister or his office has given people in Happy Valley, Goose Bay the idea that they would now make the base an operational requirement. When I wrote the minister about this, asking for documentation on this operational requirement, he sent me a copy of the Canadian Forces organization order for the base of—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I will have to stop the hon. member for Labrador there. We have run out of time for the question.

I will allow the Minister of National Defence 15 seconds for a response.

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, I find it the height of hypocrisy for the Liberals to be talking about building the armed forces. They allowed the armed forces to run down year after year.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

You have done nothing.

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

We have done nothing? I have news for the member. We have made incredible changes.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

You have done nothing. You are the minister. We are still waiting.

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, if they would give me a minute or two, I will explain them all.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Chair, could the minister tell the House how much the Canadian Forces spent on its advertising blitz that took place earlier this year?

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, it was in the range of $15 million.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Chair, I am speaking about the recruitment advertising blitz.

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, that is the answer.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Chair, according to the public documents it in fact was $4 million for an advertising blitz that took place January 8 to March 31. I would suggest the minister may wish to further consult with his defence public affairs.

Could the minister tell us what percentage were TV ads, what percentage were newspaper ads, how many were in English and how many were in French?

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, the amount is $15 million for the advertising for recruiting this year. If the member wants all those details, I will have them sent to her as quickly as I can acquire them.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Mr. Chair, I think the minister is mistaken. The documents actually show a $4 million plan for January 8 to March 31, which included—

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

You said for the year.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

No, I did not. I said at the beginning of the year, the first quarter of the year.

Mr. Chair, what was the objective of this recruitment advertising blitz, which took place in the first quarter of this year?

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Mr. Chair, I will get these detailed answers for the member as soon as I can.