Deborah Grey

[Taxation, May 12th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the government talks about a balanced approach. Here is some balance. It ripped $21 billion out of health care and social services and then it put $11 billion back in. It ripped out $42 billion more in taxes and then it says it will give us $16.5 billion back in tax relief. It looks to me like this is the new Liberal math, and taxpayers just do not get it.

Why does the Prime Minister not just get up off his big fat surplus and give taxpayers the money back that he owes them?

[Kosovo, May 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it would not hurt to tell parliament about that. I think the job to be done is now. That is the important point. That is exactly what we need to get to.

The implementation of the G-8 proposal will require a peacekeeping force of about 60,000 people. Our Prime Minister has pronounced that 800 of our troops will be going to the NATO mission, but we will likely be asked to commit more and very soon, and that will mean stretching our limited resources even further.

Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity right now to let parliament and Canada know that he will be injecting emergency cash into this specific mission because the job, the time is now?

[Kosovo, May 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Congress takes the support of its troops very seriously. Last Thursday it allocated another $13 billion for the NATO mission in Yugoslavia.

The Liberal government has yet to discuss any substantial increases for our forces even though we know that they are probably stretched to the limit as it is now.

Why has the government not announced an immediate increase in cash for our troops for this specific Kosovo mission?

[National Defence, April 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, our military is doing a tremendous job in spite of the government, not because of the government, and we thank it for that.

Troops are ready to leave for Macedonia as we speak. These men and women deserve to know that their government will give them the money and equipment they need to do the job over there.

The finance minister may want to answer this question because his hands are on the purse strings. Will he commit today to an immediate 10% increase in our defence budget? Yes or no.

[National Defence, April 29th, 1999]

No, Mr. Speaker. In the last election we said put $1 billion extra in. In 1994 we were operating a huge deficit. That was when we said maybe some cuts would be made. Our military is doing—

[National Defence, April 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, our fine dedicated men and women in the military have had $7.8 billion cut out of the defence department since the government took power in 1993.

Now that a war is on the defence minister is surprised. He tosses back a few dollars, but he is surprised to find out we are extremely limited in the support we could give to our allies. Our troops need money and more equipment and they need it now. We have invested $1 billion in this budget.

Will he commit today to an immediate 10% increase in the defence budget?

[National Defence, April 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the phrase reduce, reuse and recycle should not apply to Canada's military. Yet that is exactly what has happened after 30 years of neglect.

Things are so bad that even the defence minister is admitting that our forces are stretched to the limit. His military emergency fund is almost dry and we are only one month into the war in Yugoslavia.

If war is not a good enough reason to increase the defence budget then what is?

[Youth Violence, April 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition, I express our great sorrow for the tragic shooting yesterday in Taber, Alberta.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the two boys who were shot, to the community of Taber, and to Glenn McMurray, executive director of the Reform Party, whose nephew Jason Lang died as a result of that shooting.

I worked for many years as a high school teacher and this tragedy has affected me deeply. Next to being at home or in church, where else should young people feel more secure than when they are in school?

As the Leader of the Opposition has said, if we could legislate against these kinds of grievous acts, we would all do so tomorrow. But laws will not prevent random violence. We must look at the root problem. If we strengthen families, improve the support provided by social services and make it easier for police to do their job, perhaps troubled youth will feel that they have a place to turn before they turn to violence.

To the Langs, the Christmases and all of Taber, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Kosovo, April 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general takes some exception to the minister, and I know who I would believe in a pinch.

The auditor general has also made comments about the Griffon helicopters. They have a limited reconnaissance capability. Both the Coyotes and the Griffons are only suited for peacekeeping roles. It is one thing for the minister to say it is only going to be peacekeeping, but once they are on the ground there and if it heats up, I think the minister knows that they may be in for a bigger battle than they expect.

Can the Prime Minister guarantee—hello—that our troops and equipment will not be sent into the ground war, yes or no?

[Kosovo, April 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, if NATO sends in ground forces to Kosovo our troops will likely be asked to help. Unfortunately our equipment is limited to peacekeeping roles only.

The auditor general has pointed out that the new Coyote reconnaissance vehicles are not able to take enemy fire. I was in a Coyote last week and they still have the old VHF radios. That makes them sitting ducks.

Why will the Prime Minister not just admit that our troops do not have the equipment they need to engage in a ground war?