Bill Graham

[National Defence, November 15th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have spent considerable funds, some $400 million over the past few years, on housing on the bases, and we are committed to spending $120 million more in the next three years to renovate, improve and maintain military housing. Nothing is perfect on the bases, but we are working with our armed forces to make sure that the living conditions are correct.

As I said, I am working with the President of the Treasury Board to make sure that rents on the bases are fair in light of the conditions of the housing in which the members live.

[National Defence, November 15th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, that is entirely inaccurate. We know very well that many people in our forces choose to live on bases. We have spent considerable money on improving the housing on the bases. We will continue to spend money to improve the housing on the bases. Our priority is the well-being of our armed forces who live on bases, but we have to have a balance between what they pay on the bases and what the immediate concerns in the community are. I am working with the President of the Treasury Board to ensure that this relationship is a fair one to our armed forces.

[National Defence, November 15th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I think that 95% of Liberals think that the leader of the NDP does not know what he is talking about. That too is the truth.

A decision will obviously be made regarding the missile defence shield. The decision about Canada's participation will be made in the interest of Canada, taking into account the interest of the defence of North America and our American colleagues. However, before we do that, the whole issue will be put before the House and there will be a vote.

[National Defence, November 15th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, that is wonderful political rhetoric, but nothing could be further from the facts.

The fact of the matter is that the Prime Minister has correctly said that we entered into an agreement this summer to preserve Norad. It was only in respect of our role in Norad. There remains the discussion whether we will enter into the ballistic missile system with the United States. We are considering that in the light of the interests of Canada and whether it is appropriate for Canada.

It will be brought to the House for discussion and a vote. We will have a full opportunity to discuss it at that time.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, you cannot hear the minister because of the baying across the way. They do not want to talk about responsible government. They just want to talk about political cheap shots.

They heard yesterday in committee from the chief of the defence staff about how we have a plan to recruit 5,000 new members to make our military more responsive to the problems of the world. We will do it, we will do it responsibly, and we will do it in a way that is effective for Canada.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to make irresponsible promises. The military have told us that they will be--

[National Defence, November 4th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is extremely experienced in matters of the military and he knows we are not going to recruit 5,000 people in the first year. What I said in committee yesterday was that we are not going to recruit everybody in the first year but we are going to begin right now.

The government has promised it is going to have fresh money in the budget to enable us to recruit 5,000 new members of the armed forces plus 3,000 new reserves. This is one of the biggest investments the Government of Canada has made in our military in years. I think the member should be proud of it rather than attacking it.

[National Defence, November 2nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is not up to us to tell the Americans how to defend themselves. As I have said, and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs has said on numerous occasions in this House, we Canadians are looking at what needs to be done to protect Canada in the North American context, a context in which we have always had a very good relationship with our neighbour to the south. That is all. We are continuing our discussions. We shall see what the outcome will be.

[Criminal Code, November 1st, 2004]

moved:

That Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the DNA Identification Act and the National Defence Act, be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

[National Defence, October 28th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there is a Swedish submarine that happens to be in San Diego doing training exercises with our American friends. It is not there to defend Canada. I do not believe it is there to defend the United States. I believe it is there to work with us all in trying to make ourselves secure. We welcome this enterprise. We welcome all who want to work with us.

We are not like the opposition who think that we can pull a shell around ourselves and say that we do not want anyone else in our waters. We like our allies and we will work with all of them.