Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to nine petitions.
Lost his last election, in 2004, with 35% of the vote.
Government Response to Petitions March 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to nine petitions.
Order in Council Appointments March 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments made recently by the government.
National Defence December 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I do not think I can cover all those topics in 35 seconds. I will say that we are pleased with the solid things that the auditor general has pointed out in her report. We always appreciate getting her report and making sure that the items she states in it are looked after on an ongoing basis.
The Canadian military is in better shape now than it has been for 10 years. The recruitment program is over the top. The Canadian forces are doing what they have been asked to do time and time again.
National Defence December 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I once again thank the member for trying to get the military budget boosted.
Canada's defence policy calls for multi-purpose, combat capable forces. Time and time again our forces demonstrate their capability in a post cold war security environment: Kosovo, Eritrea, and now Bosnia. We are doing our part and doing it well. We should salute the Canadian forces and say job well done.
Auditor General's Report December 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I naturally thank the member for asking for more money for the military. Certainly that is being considered. The Prime Minister has indicated that it will be a security budget and that we will look at more funding for the military.
The military, whenever it has been asked, has done its job. The military should be praised, not denigrated as the member has said. The member should also take into consideration that the auditor general's report was written before September 11.
Auditor General's Report December 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, today the HMCS Toronto was deployed from Halifax. This is the sixth ship that Canada has sent out in Operation Apollo. Two thousand personnel have been deployed in this operation. The Canadian military is doing its job and doing it well. We should salute them.
National Defence November 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of attending the swearing in of Chaplain General Maindonald on a recent Sunday in Ottawa. All world faiths were represented. It was a true ecumenical service with a multicultural nature, a true representation of Canada.
National Defence November 20th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, let me make it very plain that the Sea Kings we have employed in Operation Apollo are appropriately equipped to defend themselves against any probable threats in the current situation.
Employee Benefits October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, Canada is acting strictly in accordance with article 51 of the United Nations charter and article 5 of the North Atlantic treaty and collectively exercising the right of self-defence.
The international military coalition, to which Canada belongs, has a simple, clear and just mandate to defend ourselves against terrorism. Within this mandate, we are working to identify the terrorist threat, disrupt and destroy its networks and bring its organizations to justice for the good of the free world.
Employee Benefits October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I am sure we all join with the member in sympathizing with the innocent victims of the war, however we did not start this. Here I am on Halloween night doing a late show with the member for Burnaby--Douglas, so that in itself is worrisome to some people.
There seems to be a misconception in the House that supporting the United States and our allies in this campaign against terrorism means that we are failing to support international law and the United Nations. This is simply not the case.
All states have the right to individual and collective self-defence under article 51 of the United Nations charter. The United Nations Security Council has stated very clearly that the horrific attacks of September 11 constitute a threat to international peace and security.
With specific reference to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the individual and collective right of self-defence was expressly reaffirmed by the security council of the United Nations on September 12 and September 28 through security council resolutions 1368 and 1373 respectively.
Consequently, rather than acting outside the UN framework and international law, the United States, Canada and its other allies are taking action with the support of international law, the United Nations and the United Nations charter.
Canada has informed the security council that it is acting militarily in accordance with article 51 of the UN charter. One of the ways in which Canada is working together with its allies in this effort is by committing 2,000 Canadian forces personnel to the campaign against terrorism.
Our contribution includes one Airbus, two Aurora maritime patrol, three Hercules transport aircraft, a component of our Joint Task Force Two special forces and a naval task force group consisting of four of Her Majesty's Canadian ships, plus another ship in a U.S. formation, all told over 1,000 sailors.
These deployed forces could be tasked and are capable of performing a wide range of missions, including surveillance, transportation, humanitarian aid, maritime operations and security and escort duties.
The international military coalition, to which Canada belongs, has a simple, clear and just mandate to defend ourselves against terrorism. Within this mandate, we are working to identify the terrorist threat, disrupt and destroy its networks and bring its organizations to justice.
The minister has made it very clear that terrorists and the Taliban regime are targets of the current campaign and that the Afghan people most certainly are not. The government is committed to helping the Afghan people and to this end has already allocated $16 million in humanitarian aid.
While the military contribution is an important aspect of the campaign against terrorism, it is by no means the only aspect. We are also contributing diplomatic, humanitarian, economic, political and military aid with the single objective of creating a safer more secure world, safe from terrorist attacks like those we witnessed on September 11.
We are acting with the sanctions of the UN and within international law so that we can continue to be a country and a world that is a safe place in which to bring up our children and our children's children.