Art Hanger

[National Defence, February 4th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Major General Romeo Dallaire has been promoted to lieutenant-general. We in this House are all familiar with the allegations surrounding the deaths of the 10 Belgian soldiers who were executed while under General Dallaire's command. However, the public has not heard about General Dallaire's decision to send unarmed men on a reconnaissance mission, a mission that led to the death of a Uruguayan peacekeeper and the wounding of a Bangladeshi.

My question is for the defence minister. In light of these incidents and allegations, would it not be more appropriate to wait until these matters have been resolved before granting his promotion?

[Helicopters, February 3rd, 1998]

The list of excuses, Mr. Speaker, grows on and on and on.

This minister and the prime minister have used every excuse in the book. They have played politics with public safety and now they are trying to weasel out of it.

The government documents, the original EH-101 contract, clearly show that the government squandered $200 million more than it had to. We know it. They know it.

What is the Prime Minister going to do about it?

[Helicopters, February 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the people of the country have heard nothing but Liberal flim-flam about the helicopter contract ever since the prime minister made his cynical 1993 election promise.

The fact of the matter is that if we compare the bare bones search and rescue helicopter of 1992 with the bare bones Liberal chopper, the numbers speak for themselves. The government spent $200 million more than it should have.

What possible excuse could the prime minister give for buying the same choppers for $200 million more?

[Helicopters, February 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, that sounds like another chopper whopper from the Liberals. Only a Liberal can pay more and call it a bargain. I think Canadians deserve better.

The Liberal helicopter deal is costing taxpayers $200 million more than the 1992 deal. Look at the contract.

Will the prime minister explain to Canadians just how he managed to buy a Chevy helicopter and give it a new name for a Cadillac price?

[Helicopters, February 2nd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have here a copy of the original EH-101 helicopter contract. It is clear from this document that the government has just spent $200 million more on the present contract than the deal was worth back in 1992.

My question is for the prime minister. Will he explain to Canadians how he managed to buy a Chevy helicopter and pay a Cadillac price?

[Search And Rescue, December 11th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it has everything to do with search and rescue helicopters, machines the military can use so that it can do its job.

We all know why the cabinet is in turmoil over this issue. It spent four years. It spent half a billion dollars and risked the lives of troops and of Canadians. Military experts long ago informed them which helicopter is the best. They are just trying to save political face.

Would the prime minister set aside his petty political concerns, do what is right for public safety and announce a helicopter deal today?

[Search And Rescue, December 11th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, we can all learn lessons from the terrible plane crash that occurred in Manitoba. It is painfully obvious to the public and to this House that we need search and rescue helicopters now. Why do we not have them? Because of a squabble taking place between the Department of National Defence and the cabinet.

I ask the Prime Minister this. How long is the Prime Minister going to allow a cabinet squabble to interfere with the safety of Canadians?

[Search And Rescue, December 10th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe this minister and his lack of knowledge of what happened there today and last night. One plane took off with three injured yesterday and a Sun helicopter landed today. The military circled around. The minister said that they did not have the equipment to do the job properly. Nor did the military say that.

I ask this question of the Prime Minister. Were there any helicopters on the ground at CFB Winnipeg? If so, why were they not dispatched to go and do the job?

[Search And Rescue, December 10th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will recall that in our budgets we at least allotted $2 billion more for the military and it would have those helicopters now if we were sitting over on that side. This government has been playing partisan politics with the search and rescue helicopters for so long now that civilian organizations have to go and do the job.

We salute the initiative taken by the Winnipeg Sun and the brave pilot who flew that mission, but Canadians should be able to count on their military. I ask the Prime Minister when he will stop playing games with public safety and give our military the equipment it needs to do the job.

[Seaforth Highlanders, December 5th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious the parliamentary secretary is not aware of the situation.

I met Mr. Smokey Smith, one of only two living Victoria Cross recipients. I know the prime minister and many cabinet members have also met him. Smokey Smith is a proud Seaforth Highlander, still proud of his regiment, still proud of representing and fighting for Canada.

Will the prime minister apologize to Smokey and every other Seaforth Highlander who put their lives on the line in defence of freedom in this country?