David Collenette

[Somalia Inquiry, April 26th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has heard my answers in the last couple of weeks on this issue. There is a commission of inquiry that is looking into all these matters, and the answers will be forthcoming.

With respect to the military justice system, it is a system of justice that is upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada. As the chairman of the commission, Justice Létourneau, said a few weeks ago, the hearings will go on and if there is any wrongdoing, either the military or the civilian authorities will then take their responsibilities.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 26th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the military police are investigating events in the division of our department concerned with documents. They are not investigating an individual.

It is usual for military police, as it is for the RCMP or any other police force in Canada, to reopen an investigation if there are new witnesses. It is standard procedure.

As regards the chief of staff, I have confidence in him. I met with him this morning. Canadian forces operations are going smoothly.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I have already answered this question and the answer is no.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered these questions, but I must point out that it is not proper for me, as a minister, to comment on the testimonies heard daily by the commission. It is not appropriate.

The military police has reopened its investigation in view of the new documents which surfaced. I think this is a normal process.

The military police have reopened the investigation. Obviously they had an obligation to this, as did the information commissioner. All these matters will be discussed at the inquiry. That is the forum for the answers.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I was worried because the hon. member has not asked me to resign in the last few days. I took that to mean something.

Again I have to assert that the only thing I am in the middle of is getting at the truth. The government wants the truth in this matter. We have established the inquiry. We have taken our responsibility by establishing the inquiry. We have a terms of reference which has never been challenged, which talks in the language used by the hon. member, "cover-up", "destruction of documents". All of that is in the terms of reference. The commission has the terms of reference to do the job, to get the answers. It will do it and it will do it soon.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, by the tone, demeanour and substance of the hon. member's question he certainly is not a player in the House for reliable questioning.

The subset of hearings over the next couple of weeks will deal with these the questions of the public affairs matter. Every question the hon. member has posed in the House will be answered in the appropriate way at the commission before those impartial commissioners. That is where Canadians expect to get the answers.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, we have covered this issue a number of times in the past couple of weeks.

I will not comment on any evidence presented at the inquiry. I will not engage in any public debate. The inquiry is to determine the truth of all the facts presented to it and all the evidence. It will do this in short order.

With respect to the chief of defence staff, he certainly is doing his job. He is doing it well and he will continue to do his job. I ask the hon. member to allow the Chief of defence staff the courtesy all Canadians expect, which is to allow him to go to the commission and to give his position.

[Veterans Affairs, April 24th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, this is a misunderstanding that has gone on for 50 years and has continued until recent days. I think all Canadians recognize the great contribution made by the radar technicians in the second world war when attached to the Royal Air Force.

Certainly if the British government is willing to recognize replicas of the original certificates, we will have a Government of Canada representative present those certificates to the survivors or to their families.

I hope this action will meet with the approval of the survivors and their families.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 24th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I am waiting for the process of justice to take its course. The process of justice established by the creation of the commission will allow all of the allegations and all of the questions to be answered over the next few weeks. It will allow those people who have been accused in a public forum, in the House of Commons, to have an opportunity to state their case. That is the way we do justice in Canada and I believe all Canadians support that.

[Somalia Inquiry, April 24th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to say that I share the sentiments expressed by the hon. member for Shefford on the death of former General Jean Victor Allard. He was a man of great distinction who served Canada well. He was the first French-Canadian chief of defence in our history. He was a great man.

Concerning the question of the hon. member for Charlesbourg, he knows I have been giving the same answer to that question for two weeks. I have answered the question for two weeks because that is what Canadians expect to hear.

They expect to hear that the commission that was established by this government, an impartial setting, will look at all of the allegations which have come forward.

The hon. member should have paid attention to the comments made by the counsel for the commission this morning who at the hearings warned Canadians not to be misled by partial evidence, not to jump to conclusions, but to allow the commission to come to its deliberations and answers in the fullness of time.