David Collenette

[Bosnia, June 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the 700 members of the Royal Vandoos Regiment in Visoko, it is rather regrettable and certainly unacceptable from Canada's point that these people are confined to their base.

We will be making the strongest protest to the Bosnian government. The local commander has been trying to negotiate the passage of goods, food and personnel to the base. There is no reason to fear for their safety, but that is a matter we will be concerned about and we will be negotiating with the local commanders.

With respect to the general policy, the Prime Minister has made the government's commitment to the United Nations force absolutely clear. We believe the force can continue to do its job with the goodwill of the parties to start negotiating again.

[Communications Security Establishment, June 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the hon. member did not hear my first answer.

We are not talking about espionage. We are not talking about signals intelligence. We are talking about the security of telecommunications. Every company, every agency, every government in the country has a concern that its data banks and its telecommunications are kept as secret as possible to preserve their integrity. That is what we are talking about. We are not talking about foreign espionage.

[Communications Security Establishment, June 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, what we are talking about here is not signals intelligence, we are talking about the information security program, or INFOSEC. It is within the mandate of the CSE to give security advice on government telecommunications. It is an expertise that is probably the best in Canada and the CSE has been approached by other levels of government, other agencies and indeed people in the private sector to give advice.

It did occur to some officials that there should be some cost recovery associated with giving the advice. That was simply a working document with no government or cabinet approval.

[Bosnia, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, we have had this question asked a number of times in the last couple of weeks and the answer has been the same. We are considering the question of the rapid reaction force and Canada's participation in it. We certainly believe that force should have been set up. Canada supported it at the NATO meeting a few weeks ago.

The Prime Minister will be reflecting on whether or not it is in not only the best interests of Canada but the best interests of the UN if we participate in that force, as to whether or not even a small contribution would make a difference. Also, we are concerned about further implicating ourselves in that particular crisis with larger numbers of people. We have 2,100 people in the conflict.

All of these things are being reflected upon. As for the peace process at the moment, it may be true that no formal negotiations are going on between the parties, but as was said last night on behalf of the G-7 leaders, and I think everyone in this House would share that sentiment, the parties must get back to the negotiating table. They must bargain, because that is the only way to resolve this very difficult problem.

[Bosnia, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has said on a number of occasions, and all of us on this side agree, that the continued presence in the former Yugoslavia of the United Nations forces is perhaps the only way we can avert a very difficult situation and more lives being lost.

The Canadian government undertook to continue its engagement until next October. We fully intend to discharge that unless circumstances prevent us from doing otherwise.

I realize that at the moment it is very awkward, it is very difficult, and the situation is unacceptable, but we still believe this mandate can get back on track with the willingness of the parties to start talking to each other and start working toward a lasting settlement.

[Bosnia, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, last night the Prime Minister said on behalf of the G-7 leaders that the only way out of this very difficult situation is to reopen negotiations for the parties to come to some kind of an agreement.

The international community has protested very strongly the actions that have gone on with the hostage taking and also with the build-up of the forces of the Bosnian federation. This matter is of grave concern and will be the subject of discussion throughout the day.

With respect to what we can do at the moment, given the fact that our people are there not as belligerents but as peacekeepers, we are concerned that they take all precautions at the base in Visoko to minimize any damage should any artillery or any other type of shelling occur. It is to that end that extra fortifications have been erected and precautions have been taken by the commander, Colonel Redburn.

I am pretty confident that the people in Visoko, although we do not accept the situation at all, will be fine and are not in any immediate danger. I continue to be preoccupied with the safety of the 11 people detained in Ilijas because of the growing conflict in and around that town and the fact that the Bosnian federation has said they want to liberate Sarajevo and that town is between the concentration of forces and Sarajevo.

I also want to add that we remain concerned about Captain Rechner but we have had information over the last few days that he is okay and is near the Bosnian Serb capital of Pale.

[Bosnia, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister raised this matter in Halifax and the final decision is up to him. We need assurances on the command and control of this force and on all the other factors related to deployment. The decision to take part or not should be made today or over the weekend, therefore soon.

[Bosnia, June 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I should point out that 699 soldiers remain on the base at Visoko. They are in good shape. Their safety is not at risk, but Muslim forces do block access to the camp.

In addition, 115 members of our team are at Kiseljak with British and other forces. There is no problem, and movement is not restricted. Unfortunately, we also have 11 soldiers at Ilijas. We are very concerned about their safety, because of the concentration of Muslim forces. This is the reason I strongly registered our objection with the Bosnian Serb authorities in a meeting this week with the chargé d'affaires of the Yugoslav government.

[Emergency Preparedness, June 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government does provide assistance through a program called financial assistance arrangements. The province of Alberta this morning did apply for assistance with respect to the very serious problems it has had in that province in the last few days. That application will be considered in the normal way according to the normal formula. I do not anticipate any problems in complying with the government's request.

The financial assistance is usually directed toward the cost of replacing public infrastructure, but also does have application for individuals, farms, and businesses for the essential parts of their homes or businesses that have been destroyed by floods in this particular case.

[Bosnia, June 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should know by reading reports from the NATO meeting a couple of weeks ago that the establishment of the rapid reaction force is a measure designed purely to assist UN personnel in danger. That is why it is being put together.

Whether a country is part of that or not does not lessen the fact that the UN force is there not in a belligerent capacity but as one leading the search of peace. That is Canada's position. We intend to stay and finish the mandate unless it becomes absolutely impossible for us to continue. The Prime Minister has made that clear in the House many times.

While it is true that in the last few weeks there have been some considerable difficulties in helping to discharge the mandate we believe the situation can be resolved.