Bill Graham

[National Defence, May 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the hon. member could explain his remarks to the members of our navy and the members of those submarines who are anxious to go back to sea. The submariner fleet that we have are trained, professional superb submariners. They want to get our boats back to sea.

These will be very serviceable submarines in the Canadian navy. They have been refitted as a result of the Chicoutimi inquiry. They will be back to sea. They are an asset for us. Let us not denigrate them and the members of our navy. They are doing a damn good job of getting them back to sea.

[National Defence, May 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the whole point about what has been going on with our submarines has been a complete refitting and Canadianization of the submarines.

The hon. member knows we are working through this. The fleet does not go to sea unless it is safe. It is presently undergoing sea trials to make sure that all the matters that were looked at in the Chicoutimi inquiry have been thoroughly investigated.

The submarines will only be put to sea when they are fit and when they are safe and we know that. I know that they will be a great asset for the Canadian navy, the Canadian Forces and for our country.

[National Defence, May 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I totally disagree. That is a complete misrepresentation of what took place. This was a matter that occurred 45 years ago on a base where nobody understood at that time what the consequences were.

We have been learning now how members might have been affected by it in parts of the base, but we did not know exactly which parts were affected and who had gone through. These are circumstances that are very complicated.

We take this very seriously. I can promise the hon. member, who says he was at Gagetown, that we are working with our forces and we will make sure that anybody who is affected by this will be compensated. My colleague, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, has already done it.

[National Defence, May 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the hon. member has said that his party will be standing behind our armed forces. I lay out the challenge to him again to support the budget tonight and support the armed forces of Canada and where we are going in the future of our country. That is the way he can do it rather than with this empty rhetoric.

I can tell members that when it comes to agent orange, which happened in 1966 as he said, it was a defoliation program that took place in Gagetown. We are working to trace every member of the armed forces who was there.

The Minister of Veterans Affairs has made it clear. We have made awards to veterans who have made claims. Claims can be made. We urge people to come forward. We will support anyone who was affected by that program.

[National Defence, May 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. The defeat of this government in the House tonight would mean the defeat of the most important contribution to the armed forces of Canada in 20 years. Our colleagues across the floor are threatening to deny our men and women in uniform the resources they need to serve our country.

Let us not destroy the faith of the men and women courageously serving our forces today. Let us give hope to the future, which he and I will speak to tomorrow when we are in his riding in RMC. Let us pass the budget. Let us give them that sense of confidence in the future that we also want for our cities, for our housing, for our aboriginal community, for our--

[Sudan, May 16th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member was at the committee meeting this morning when General Hillier, who is the head of our forces, said clearly he has been in the region. He has been negotiating with the African Union.

We are providing exactly the support that the African Union members have requested. Everybody recognizes that it is their obligation and duty. They are the only ones who can effectively supply the support that is needed for the problem in Darfur. We are giving them the backup they need.

We will not send any troops into Darfur or into any region of any country if they are not properly protected. The chief of our defence staff made that very clear to everyone at the committee meeting.

[Government of Canada, May 13th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the actions of this government in Sudan, in international development assistance and in military initiatives in Afghanistan have enjoyed the utmost respect of governments of the western countries and the world as a whole.

Our reputation in the world is not defined by the events here in the House, but rather by the positive actions of this government in order to improve the lives of thousands of people around the world. They owe a debt to Canada. The separatists cannot stand that, but it is our doing, not theirs.

[Question No. 131, May 9th, 2005]

In response to ( a ) the government has no plans to close Bagotville.

In response to ( b ) there will be no reduction of operational capability or operational tempo at CFB Bagotville. This summer, as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain an effective wing organization and transform to meet today's defence needs, the air force will be reorganize the two residents CF-18 squadrons. As a result of this reorganization, two military positions will be transferred to the new Canadians Forces Air Warfare Centre in CFB Trenton and one civilian position will be reintegrated into the CFB Bagotville public service work force under the Treasury Board priority referral program. There will be no change in the number of aircraft at CFB Bagotville. Moreover, an additional 13 civilian contractor positions will be added in support of the construction of two new CF-18 simulators.

In response to ( c ) the role and function of CFB Bagotville will remain unchanged.

[National Defence, April 21st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that the Ontario health tax which is in place taxes every resident of the province and taxes, therefore, members of the armed forces. The members of the armed forces, however, receive their health care from our services, and on occasion go to Ontario hospitals, in which case Ontario is remunerated for these.

I have spoken to the minister of health in the province of Ontario. I have told him that I believe this is not fair treatment of the Canadian government, but our forces, as members of the House should know, are in no way disadvantaged. They receive the health care they need. It is the federal government that is missing out in the fact that we are paying twice for services they receive in Ontario.

[National Defence, April 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to repeat what I have said time and again in this House. We have absolutely no intention of reducing any operational activities at the Bagotville base.

Of course, there are always reorganizations taking place within our air and armed forces. We are currently discussing a very important policy to reorganize our air force and our Canadian forces, so that they can deal with threats. This is extremely important for Canada. We will do that, but there is no question of closing the Bagotville base.