David Collenette

[Canadian Armed Forces, November 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the hon. member, I base action on the facts.

At this point in time no evidence has been unearthed that supports the contention that this particular dinner occurred. In fact documents which related to the investigation were turned over to the commission on Somalia and we have not found anything documenting the dinner. Investigations are going on. Obviously if such an event happened-and I have expressed in the House how abhorrent that would be if it did happen-the fact is that matter would not have been sanctioned and therefore there would be no record. To actually confirm that it took place will require some time because it will require interviews, depositions and investigations by the military police.

[Defence Industry, November 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago I was asked the same question. The hon. member obviously does not have faith in the very innovative, excellent aerospace industries in Quebec right now which I am sure will compete well in this whole contractual process.

[Defence Industry, November 20th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is unaware of what I stated in my press conference two weeks ago.

While the government will no longer make acquisitions solely on the basis of regional industrial benefits, those benefits will be one criteria considered as part of the specifications and process in the acquisition of these helicopters. The member should get his facts straight.

[Purchase Of Helicopters, November 10th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we have stated as government policy that we will get the best deal for Canadian taxpayers. Where possible, we will buy off the shelf, and we have done that.

As I said the other day, the hon. member and his party do not have much confidence in Quebec companies, many of them world class, that will easily be able to compete and offer their services to provide components for these helicopters. He does not have faith in their own industries in Quebec. That is shameful.

[Purchase Of Helicopters, November 10th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member forgets that, a few years ago, the previous government awarded a contract worth more than $1 billion to Bell Helicopter, in Mirabel, to build helicopters for the Canadian army. This was a major contract for 100 helicopters. But that is something he failed to mention in the House.

Quebec has a large part of the aerospace industry. Bell Helicopter has received the world product mandate for the construction of certain types of helicopters it is now delivering to the Canadian army. It was because of the government's decision-perhaps this is one of the few things the previous government did correctly-that Bell Helicopter company was able to get the world product mandate and bring jobs to Canada, to Quebec, for the making of these helicopters to serve Bell's worldwide market.

The hon. member conveniently forgets that, when he criticizes the announcement I made on Wednesday.

[Purchase Of Helicopters, November 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I find it quite interesting that Bloc members condemn the government for yesterday's announcement to buy search and rescue helicopters, while many critics, analysts and others in Quebec actually congratulated us for it.

Just this morning, I read the following in Le Devoir : ``Yesterday's announcement is good news. As for the price of the helicopters, it should not exceed $40 million per aircraft, three times less than the EH-101''.

That is on the one hand. On the second point that the hon. member raised with respect to why there was a sole source contract for the armoured personnel carriers and a competition on this equipment, we have in Canada, with General Motors' diesel division in London, the only Canadian manufacturer. It is well known. It has a worldwide product mandate for the making of armoured vehicles. It was quite logical to have the contract awarded and negotiated with that company. Many companies in Quebec will benefit because many of the suppliers are located in the province of Quebec.

When it comes to the helicopters, we do not have that same kind of capability, although there may be some offshoots for various companies that may compete. Therefore, it makes sense to get the best deal by having an open competition and invite people from around the world to bid.

[Disaster Assistance, November 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the disaster and financial assistance agreements were established so that provincial and territorial governments could receive assistance in the case of natural disasters.

In the case of the Manitoba flooding this spring, the normal rules were put in place and the procedures followed. Similar things have happened in Saskatchewan recently.

I understand the minister responsible in the Manitoba government has been saying that for some reason the federal government has been changing the rules and regulations and that somehow the people of Manitoba have been deprived of their rightful share under these programs. That is totally and absolutely false.

[National Defence, November 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, once again the hon. member is attacking procedures in the Department of National Defence. In many cases the attacks are without much information. He attacks members of the armed forces of various ranks. He attacks the military police and their ability to do their jobs. He attacks general officers as he did in the House yesterday.

I would like to know from his leader, the hon. member for Calgary Southwest, how the member from the Reform Party, the opposition critic, can go outside the House and malign 87 general officers by calling them bandits, which means they have committed criminal offences, and sit in the House as a critic for the Reform Party.

[National Defence, November 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, once again there is a distortion of the facts.

We have been working with the information commissioner with respect to providing the documents that have been requested under access to information. It is very onerous for us right now because of the Somalia inquiry and all the attendant curiosity that has gone on. We are working with the information commissioner. I believe the information commissioner will agree that we are certainly trying to meet the expectations he has and conform to the law.

With respect to the matter the hon. member raised referring to allegations he made yesterday against two top general officers, I wish to tell him that Lieutenant-General Boyle, who he named on the floor of the House, has served notice in writing to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation of his intent to seek legal opinion and perhaps proceed in action against the CBC if there is no retraction on that story.

[Purchase Of Helicopters, November 9th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, this is another attempt at revisionism in history.

In the 1993 election campaign the Liberal Party campaigned against the acquisition of the EH-101 helicopter because we felt that deal was too rich for the pocketbooks of Canadian taxpayers. Upon a subsequent examination once we came into office we had those original feelings confirmed. It is for that reason that we have decided to proceed with the search and rescue helicopters.

We have decided to have an open competition, which will allow any bidder who has the particular equipment and can meet the specifications to have an opportunity to take part in this initiative.