Lost his last election, in 2008, with 36% of the vote.
National Defence May 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, as I have already indicated, the government has made substantial investments and will continue to make substantial investments in terms of the housing stock at Canadian Forces bases.
I should say as well that as part of the plan, in terms of the $120 million that we are going to be spending over the next number of years, there will be approximately 190 units on nine bases dealt with this summer.
National Defence May 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the government remains committed to a good quality of life for members of the Canadian Forces. We have taken some significant steps to improve the housing for members of the Canadian Forces.
Since 1998 for instance, the government has spent something in the order of $400 million to improve the housing stock of members of the forces. As well, over the next three years we expect to spend another $120 million. Those houses that are deemed to be substandard are taken off the market as quickly as possible.
National Defence May 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of discussing with the Americans some very complex topics related to missile defence. No decision has been made. I repeat that with respect to the Norad amendment.
With respect to the hon. member's assertions about the weaponization of space, I think we have dealt with that question many times in the past, but let me say again that the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and I and the rest of the government are opposed to the weaponization of space.
National Defence May 3rd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is in error. In fact, we have not committed to a Norad amendment at this point. The Prime Minister made it clear in Washington last week when he indicated that there are two decision points here, one in June or July with respect to a possible Norad amendment, and the other to follow in the fall.
Search and Rescue April 30th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, there are no plans whatsoever to change the location of that particular search and rescue squadron.
National Defence April 30th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, there were two elements to the so-called training that occurred last October. One was a simulation exercise on missile defence, the likes of which has been conducted on a regular basis going back a number of years because that is one of the things that Norad does.
The other, as I indicated to my hon. colleague from the NDP, was a table top exercise for decision makers so they could understand the potential impact of ballistic missile defence on Norad.
They were not operational training.
National Defence April 30th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has indicated very clearly that there are two key decision points here. One is in relation to the possible amendment to Norad and the other is a final decision on missile defence, which will be taken this fall.
The potential amendment to Norad does not in any way prejudge the final outcome of this decision.
National Defence April 30th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, we have been through these stale arguments from the NDP before and I expect I will be called to answer on these questions again.
Let me repeat. We are opposed to the weaponization of space. The Prime Minister has said that on a number of occasions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has said that and I have said that. The NDP members still do not get it.
National Defence April 30th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the opposition is drawing conclusions from news stories written by people who either do not know or are not interested in the facts.
I was able to confirm the facts this morning in a conversation with our Canadian representative at Norad, General Findley. He informed me that the so-called training that has been referred to was actually a simulation exercise for decision makers so that these decision makers could get a better understanding of the potential impact of BMD on Norad. It was not, and I stress very strongly, it was not operational training.
National Defence April 29th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the NDP keep exaggerating on this issue. It has used the figure of $1 trillion, for instance, in terms of the cost of ballistic missile defence. It keeps using this term star wars. I have to say that star wars is a 1980s concept, just like Ed Broadbent.