Elsie Wayne

[National Defence, April 24th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, they might have cost a quarter of the price, but they cannot be used. They do not even float. Two of the four subs have been delivered thus far. One leaks and the other has a dent. The government has spent $472 million upgrading these subs, yet none of them are expected to be operational until at least the year 2004.

How much more money does the Minister of National Defence expect to pay before all those subs are operational? What arrangement has been made with the British regarding the cost of these repairs? Will we get the money back that it is costing us?

[National Defence, April 24th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence. Yesterday it was stated and reported that one of the British submarines bought by the government had a dent in the hull. One military official stated that it was just by chance that they discovered this dent.

The minister today has said that these submarines were inspected before he paid $700 million for them. Will he table in the House that full report on that inspection on these submarines?

[Question No. 119—, April 19th, 2002]

As of March 11, 2002, what is the total expenditure on the submarines acquired from Great Britain, and when are these vessels expected to be in full service for the Canadian navy?

[National Defence, April 16th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, according to the news last week, a lot of our people are leaving the reserves every day.

The procurement procedure to replace the Sea Kings is a national embarrassment. Last week we found out that public works is still going through the bidding process to acquire desert camouflage uniforms for our troops who are fighting in Afghanistan. Those troops will be home before they even get the uniforms.

How can the minister expect to attract men and women to the armed forces when the Prime Minister's personal planes are deemed a national priority but safe helicopters and much needed uniforms are not?

[National Defence, April 16th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general commented positively on the use of a $20,000 recruiting bonus to attract new recruits to our military.

Will the Prime Minister now agree that the $101 million for his new jets would be better spent on recruiting 5,000 new skilled recruits into our armed forces? We could have had those 5,000 by the end of March.

[Child Pornography, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this week Canadians witnessed the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a document that has as its purpose to guarantee the equality and safety of our people.

I know that all members of the House will agree that we compromise the integrity of that great contract with Canadians when we allow it to be used to protect child pornographers instead of children. I am of course making reference to the recent decision of the Supreme Court of B.C. in the matter of the crown and John Sharpe, a decision that has shown us a critical weakness in our system of laws.

When sexual predators and pedophiles can use the charter and the laws of Canada to shield themselves from criminal punishment it is our duty as lawmakers to offer changes. Where there is vagueness we must ensure clarity. Where there are loopholes we must fill the cracks.

I make this appeal as a parliamentarian, but mostly as a mother and a grandmother. Above everything else let us never forget that our role is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, those little children.

[Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the minister for his kind words of remembrance. I appreciate the opportunity to rise today to honour an important day in our national history.

We are not only paying our respects to those who gave their lives at Vimy, but also to the Queen Mother. Being in the House of Commons as the representative for Canada's first incorporated city by royal charter, the only one in Canada, it is very dear to my heart to be here today and go to the Vimy memorial service as well as to the Queen Mother's service.

Eighty-five years ago it was the military men of an emerging nation, a Canada still in its infancy, who obtained a crucial allied victory where the ancient powers of Europe had failed.

I had the distinct honour of going to Vimy to bring back the remains of the unknown soldier. I believe it was the most moving experience in my life when, as the hon. member from the NDP mentioned, we went down into some of the trenches. I could not believe that our men had to go there for you and me to be here today, Mr. Speaker, and for all of our colleagues and people of Canada to have the freedom that we have today.

I remember pieces of a YMCA mug that were found in the trenches dating back to those days. I took a picture of it because the young people who are there and look after all of the area around the Vimy memorial found those pieces in the trenches and put them together.

It was a moment that defined us as a people, where our men in uniform were once nation builders and national heroes. The victory at Vimy Ridge solidified our military credentials and gave clear notice that Canadians would be the guardians of peace and freedom in the world, and they still are. The territory seized and occupied as a result of the Vimy offensive gave the allies an invaluable tactical advantage. Above all else it is the courage of our Canadian soldiers that history has remembered most vividly, and rightfully so.

The same dedication to duty and selfless risk that was present on that battlefield 85 years ago has found itself repeatedly clothed in the uniforms of our armed forces in the decades that followed. Even today our soldiers, in the defence of those values Canadians share with the majority of the world's people, have been a source of grave and constant pride to all of us.

The debt we owe to our veterans is a debt we will never fully repay. The sacrifices they made in the great wars, both for us and for future generations, have left us in awe of them.

This past weekend I had an opportunity to visit our veterans hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick. It is amazing to see those veterans as they sit in wheelchairs. I always smile because when I come in they seem to know that I am there to see if there are needs to be addressed for them. God bless each and every one of them. They have earned our respect and they deserve our praise, not just on November 11, but every day.

When we brought back the remains of the unknown soldier the dominion president himself at that time was here. When the remains were placed in the Hall of Honour the next day we were told that the President of the Dominion Commander of the Royal Canadian Legion had passed away. It was he who fought to have the recognition for those who served and gave their lives at Vimy for us.

The spirit of that April day has been forever etched in the French countryside as the names of the fallen have been etched in the stone of that great white monument at Vimy.

In a moment I will leave this Chamber along with minister and other colleagues to join with a group of veterans at the national cenotaph to mark in a more formal way the accomplishments of the Vimy victory.

On this solemn anniversary we remember all who have offered their lives in the service of our country and we pray for those who are, as we speak, carrying on that great military tradition in the defence of liberty.

We will remember them.

[Cenotaphs, March 20th, 2002]

Madam Speaker, I thank all my colleagues on both sides of the House for their comments and support tonight for maintaining and ensuring funding to look after our cenotaphs.

As we have all heard in the House tonight, there are rural areas that need support. In my city of Saint John, the largest city in New Brunswick, we have a lot of legions. All the legionnaires are truly great workers and they go into the schools on November 11. Veterans go into our schools to speak as well because it is so important.

Last year on November 11 we had a special ceremony in front of the cenotaph, the one on which the graffiti was put this week. The Department of Veterans Affairs brought in young people and we had a little parade of young students. We went to Saint Malachy's Memorial High School afterwards I was honoured to have been one of a number of people, some from Camp Gagetown, who spoke to the youth.

I thank all members. Let us all work together for what is best for the veterans, but tonight let us all agree that we will maintain our cenotaphs throughout this great nation.

[Dalton Camp, March 20th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to pay tribute to the late Dalton Camp.

When I think of Dalton Camp I am reminded of the book about John F. Kennedy entitled The Pleasure of His Company , for Dalton's company was always pleasurable.

He was intelligent, articulate, curious, pleasant and always interested in what people had to say, which is probably why he was such a great communicator. He attracted people to him and gained their lifelong loyalty. He was a proud Canadian and a proud New Brunswicker who took delight in having people come to New Brunswick to seek him out. He spoke countless times in New Brunswick and would not charge a fee. In fact the weekend he was stricken he was to speak at a student conference at the UNB.

A gentleman, a player and a politician turned journalist, Dalton Camp leaves an indelible impression of reasoned debate, a commitment to compassion and humanity for our Canadian society, and a treasury of intelligent, thought provoking columns and books. He will be sorely missed.

I wish to join with his many friends and my colleagues in extending to his family deepest sympathy. His funeral will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Fredericton at the Christ Church Cathedral.

[Veterans Affairs, March 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the French government is reviewing plans to build a third airport for the city of Paris on the battlefields in the Somme area. The proposed airport will disturb the resting place of more than 1,200 soldiers who died fighting in the great wars.

The graves of 412 Canadian soldiers, almost one-third of the marked graves which includes a Victoria Cross recipient, will be affected by the proposed airport.

Should this plan go ahead, regardless of where the airport is located, the airport will be on sacred land where the cemeteries sit, as it will be placed over the bodies of thousands of unknown soldiers.

I am happy to hear that the Minister of Veterans Affairs is committed to fight against the airports planned location.

This plan should stop in the planning stages. I would encourage the Minister of Veterans Affairs, in co-operation with the War Graves Commission and other affected Commonwealth countries, to make this a top priority.

Urban expansion is an issue that affects cities around the world but there is only one Somme battlefield and the marked and unmarked graves of thousands of soldiers should be left to rest in peace.