Debates of Oct. 2nd, 2014

National Defence

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is the Prime Minister's job to engage Parliament and Canadians and make the case for the use of the Canadian Armed Forces; and he has completely failed to do so. Canadians know virtually nothing about this initial 30-day deployment in Iraq and even less about the Prime Minister's plans for a combat role.

Does the Prime Minister actually expect Canadians and this House to support a new mission if he continues his secrecy and evasiveness about the missions in which we are already involved?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a debate in this House; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and I have been before the parliamentary committee to talk about this mission; we have answered questions here in Parliament. I think what the hon. member is referring to about “no consultations” is that when her party was in office it did not bring these matters before Parliament. However, we have been very specific on our role in this matter.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is the minister who just yesterday said that the military budget had not been cut, but in fact the record shows it was cut by $413 million this year.

We are just hours away from the end of the 30-day deployment in Iraq. Beyond broad statements about training and advice, we have actually no idea what the troops are doing on the ground. The only information we get is what the government leaks to the media or the Prime Minister announces in New York.

Why does the government refuse to answer the most basic questions about our critical military role in Iraq? How can the current government be trusted?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, we have been clear that they are there to provide advice to the government of Iraq and the forces on the ground, and we have been very specific on this all the way through this. We have indicated that we have up to 69 members of the armed forces who can be and would be available when and where they are needed. We have been very specific on that.

However, I have to point out for the hon. member that the decade of darkness under the Liberals is over. We have increased military spending from $13 billion when we took office to over $18 billion. That is the difference between them and us.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Speaker, rather than speaking directly to Canadians about Iraq, the Prime Minister instead chose to make speeches in New York and speak to the American media.

Rather than openly making his case, the Prime Minister is dealing with this issue the same way he has dealt with every issue in what will soon be nine years, namely in a partisan and secretive way.

What criteria did the government use to determine that a series of air strikes was the best contribution that Canada could make to this conflict?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I would be very interested to hear exactly where the Liberal Party stands. It has had about three different positions on this over the last number of weeks, so it would be fascinating to hear where it lands on this.

However, we have been very clear. This is a 30-day mission in which we are providing advice. We have received a request from the United States for further involvement, and we are considering that.

Foreign Affairs

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is ignoring the needs of the victims of the Islamic State armed group. I would like to quote a United Nations report dated September 14, which reads:

Displaced persons included thousands of women, children, people with disabilities, and elderly. They had travelled long distances on foot and were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including water, food, shelter and medicine.

While the Prime Minister is preparing to introduce his war plan, where is the plan to provide immediate assistance to Iraqi civilians?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of International Development and Minister for La Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, not only is there a plan, but it has been executed.

Canada is one of the biggest contributors to Iraq and one of the most active countries. Through Canada's contribution, the most desperate people and those in need will be able to receive food, kitchen utensils, cooking equipment, bedding, medical supplies and other essentials. That is what they need and we are giving it to them right now.

[Hélène Laverdière, NDP, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the number of human rights violations committed by the Islamic State group is growing.

According to the United Nations, these could include war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Iraqi government needs immediate help to document these heinous crimes so that the guilty parties can be brought to justice before the international courts.

Canada has expertise in this area. A month ago, at our request, the minister promised to take action to support the Iraqi government.

What has been done since then?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, ISIL is a terrorist group that brutalizes and murders innocent people. That is why we are in this mission right now.

That is why we are contemplating another mission in that part of the world, and the members opposite should support us on these missions.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this new United Nations report documents a horrific pattern of sexual violence against women and children, including the sale of abducted women in Mosul.

These crimes are abhorrent, and Canada has the obligation and expertise to assist survivors.

It has been nearly a month since I asked the minister to help address sexual violence in Iraq. He agreed then, so where is the plan to provide help for these civilians right now? Where is that help?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the whole idea of the mission with which we are involved and the consideration of the request that we received is to go after the perpetrators of these crimes.

I do not know what it is about New Democrats that they do not get that.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

It is very simple, Mr. Speaker—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. The hon. member for Ottawa Centre now has the floor.

Order, please. I have great confidence that the Minister of National Defence will be happy to answer the question. I think his colleagues should give him that opportunity and let the member for Ottawa Centre ask the question.

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a combat mission will not bring justice or aid to these civilians, but we can help do that right now.

The United Nations has said that actions of ISIL amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. It has asked for countries to help ensure that perpetrators are held to account.

Again, Canada has the expertise to do that. Again, the minister agreed. Where is the action to help investigate and prosecute these horrific war crimes?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the action is to stop the killing, and this is why we are on the ground now, providing tactical advice to the Iraqis to make sure they have the ability to stop this kind of activity.

That is exactly why we are considering the request from our allies, because when it comes to standing up for people who are oppressed, people who are terrorized in this world, they know they can count on Canada.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. We are losing a great deal of time on this. Order, please.

Veterans Affairs

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, as they prepare to launch into another war, Conservatives are still failing to care for veterans who have served our country.

All parties unanimously back recommendations to fix the Conservatives' deeply flawed veterans charter, but the minister has refused to act on key recommendations. It seems that saving money is more important than fairness for disabled veterans or helping men and women struggling with post-traumatic stress.

Will the minister commit to the unanimous all-party recommendations to help our veterans?

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank the member and the opposition parties for working in a non-partisan fashion to produce a unanimous report.

Let us not forget that all sides agree that the new veterans charter is a great foundation upon which we can support Canadian veterans.

While benefits and investments in veterans' well-being have increased by more than $4.7 billion since 2006, our government agrees with the spirit and intent of the vast majority of the committee's recommendations.

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives want to involve us in another war even though they find it difficult to provide proper care for our injured soldiers and our veterans. That is completely irresponsible.

The government has finally recognized that its veterans charter does not meet the needs of our veterans, but it refuses to take action. The compensation is inadequate and the problem of our released soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome has not been resolved in any way.

Why is the minister once again trying to save money at the expense of our veterans?

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the member opposite to put those political games aside. As I just noted, the government agrees with the vast majority of the committee's recommendations.

Because of the leadership of our Prime Minister, our government will continue to build upon our strong record of new investment to support Canada's veterans.

We have invested almost $5 billion in additional dollars since taking office. It is the NDP and the Liberal Party that have voted against virtually every mission that we have been brought forward.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, these are men and women who risk life and limb to serve our country. They deserve our respect and our support, yet the minister rejected virtually every recommendation that could cost the government money.

The Conservative government seems only too willing to allow our veterans to fend for themselves once they become injured. Will the minister commit to spending the money needed to improve the lives of our veterans?

[Parm Gill, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, our government has a strong record when it comes to supporting Canada's veterans, our men and women in uniform, unlike the Liberals' decades of darkness.

Let me read a quote from the Conference of Defence Associations, which represents 51 associations across Canada. It says it, “is very pleased that action will be taken, in the first stage, to immediately address important issues affecting Veterans who are seriously ill or critically injured, and their families”.