Bob Mills

[Bosnia, June 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we are all concerned about the hostages. We want them released. We want all Canadians withdrawn, including the hostages.

We welcome the news that Bosnian Serbs will be releasing the hostages tomorrow without condition. The Reform Party hopes that will happen. There would not have been hostages if we had acted on this much sooner.

Given the escalation of the situation in Bosnia and the potential for further hostage taking, will the government make a commitment to withdraw our troops once the hostages are released?

[Bosnia, June 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, civil wars are very messy and they get even worse when other countries join in the fighting, and the situation is escalating in Bosnia.

Given that our troops are not equipped for a high intensity conflict, what is the exact position the Canadian government will take tomorrow in Paris? Will it be the position of the foreign affairs minister or the defence minister, because a definite question has to be asked?

[Bosnia, June 2nd, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the defence minister said he was looking forward to finding out how the U.S. forces would be deployed in Bosnia. Today the world got a clear indication of where the U.S. is headed when one of its F-16 fighter planes was shot down over Bosnia earlier this morning. Everyone knows this act could escalate the conflict even further.

For the second day in a row, my question is this. Will the government assure the House that it will not let our troops get dragged into a war for which they are neither equipped nor mandated?

[Bosnia, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Lord Owen, the chief European negotiator in Bosnia, who is himself withdrawing from this war torn country, argues that if there is no peace settlement by autumn then UN forces will be forced to leave Bosnia.

Given the circumstances and that Canada's commitment to Bosnia ends in September, will the government assure Canadians today that after three and a half long years in Bosnia all our troops will be home with their families by fall or sooner?

[Bosnia, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, as we speak, the U.S. and Europe are sending squadrons of F-14 Tomcats, F-18 Hornets, Harrier jump jets, Cobra attack helicopters, an amphibious battle group, and even U.S. nuclear powered, fast attack submarines. Mr. Speaker, does this sound like a humanitarian peacekeeping mandate to you?

Given this rapid escalation, how can the government assure Canadians that our troops will not be inextricably drawn into a war for which they are neither equipped nor mandated?

[Bosnia, May 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, Reformers or Canadians do not leave hostages behind when they conduct a retreat.

This morning, the Bosnian ambassador to the UN commented on the uselessness of the UN operation. He said: "Under these circumstances, the humanitarian mission is over". Considering this, will the Prime Minister admit that no humanitarian aid is getting through and that this reality is a direct contradiction to what he argued yesterday in this House?

[Bosnia, May 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we have a defence minister who is sending a double message to Canadians. On one hand he is beating his chest and talking tough about a beefed up mission to Bosnia while in reality his poor leadership and defence cuts have reduced the morale and effectiveness of our military.

The minister cannot have it both ways. Is he going to cut the military or is he going to beef it up?

[Request For Emergency Debate, May 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the case that I am trying to present is why you should rule in favour of us debating this now. I am asking for your guidance. Can I present a case for why the Canadian people are asking for this to be debated immediately?

[Request For Emergency Debate, May 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, as you have mentioned, Standing Order 52(2) allows members to rise on a point of order when they feel it is in Canada's best interest that we debate a subject immediately.

For Canadians the lightning rod that created this urgency was the picture of Captain Patrick Rechner chained in that ammunition dump. That is the lightning rod that has Canadians demanding action. To them it was like that GI dragged through the streets of Somalia for the U.S. citizens.

The Canadian people have started to speak. Polls are asking us as parliamentarians to make-

[Bosnia, May 29th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we agree we have the best soldiers. They should also have a say in the decisions.

The Reform Party warned the government not to renew Canada's mandate. The situation was unstable and the lives of Canadians would be placed in unacceptable danger if they were recommitted to Bosnia. The government ignored this advice and for a third time Canadian soldiers are being held hostage.

Canadians are demanding action. According to a recent poll of thousands, 90 per cent wanted Canada to pull out now. Why is the government refusing to listen to Canadians? Why is it showing such a total lack of good judgment in setting its policy toward Bosnia?