Bill Graham

[Canadian Forces, February 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, what the government is committed to is bringing forward a defence review that will allow the House and Canadians to judge the best investments we can make for our military.

I will not commit today to the purchase of any one asset. What the government has made clear and what the Prime Minister has regularly emphasized is that we will have the best equipment and the best trained troops to do the job that we have to do both in Canada and around the world. They are doing it now and in the future they will be able to do it better thanks to the efforts of the government.

[Canadian Forces, February 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, in the transport of troops to a given location at any one time we always find the best way to do it. This was the most efficient way to achieve it in that particular circumstances.

We are always able to do that. We always look for the best way to achieve this type of situation and that was what we did in that circumstance.

[Financial Administration Act, February 14th, 2005]

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

[Financial Administration Act, February 14th, 2005]

moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.

[National Defence, February 14th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to answer in the House on behalf of the finance minister, but I think that all members who are anticipating the budget would agree that would be a very hazardous thing for anyone to do.

I can say that the finance minister is committed to rebuilding our forces along the vision that General Hillier is articulating and which we will lay out with our defence review. We will be getting the funds. We will be getting the resources. We are getting the backing of this government so that our forces can play the meaningful role they are wanted to do in the world and which they are doing in the world.

[National Defence, February 14th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I want to recall for members of the House, including members of the opposition, that the Prime Minister appointed General Hillier precisely because we wanted a strong voice to tell us how we can have the right strategic vision for this country and how we can acquire the assets.

I beg hon. members to wait until we get the defence review. Watch the budget. We are turning the corner. We will be delivering, as we have indicated, the resources our forces need to play the role that they do in the world. General Hillier will be there to lead them. We are very proud of the direction we are taking.

[National Defence, February 14th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, members of the House know full well that in the government's acquisition plan we have a joint supply ship that has been there. The Prime Minister announced that we were looking at this for several years.

The chief of the defence staff has said that we have to look at exactly the nature of the confirmation of this ship. It bears no relationship whatsoever to the extravagant and absolutely insane idea of acquiring aircraft carriers that was brought forward by the opposition during the last election campaign.

[Iraq, February 8th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the UN absolutely wants Iraq to be rebuilt. We are working closely with the UN. This is precisely why we provided our expertise to the UN, specifically to consider what to do in Iraq. We will work with NATO. We will work with the UN. We will work with anyone to ensure that Iraq can once again be a member state of our civilization, for the well-being of the whole world.

[Iraq, February 8th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is involved in helping rebuild Iraq. We pledged $300 million. We are currently helping train the Iraqi police in Jordan. This is a policy that we have been following for a long time. The Prime Minister said that we would not send troops to Iraq. However, we want Iraq to be a full-fledged member of civilization and we will try to help that country, though all possible means, achieve that result. We are continuing our efforts.

[National Defence, February 8th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we work very closely with the Senate committee on defence. We are very interested in having its input into our thinking. It is very valuable.

The fact is that we recognize that our air force has been performing tremendous duty under exceptional circumstances, and we really felicitate them on that.

I want to say that when we look at the CF-18 modernization, the Aurora incremental modernization program, measures to enhance the availability of our Hercules fleet and our programs to procure new maritime helicopters and fixed wing search and rescue aircraft, we are providing our air force with the capacity to do the job that it needs to do.