House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 67% of the vote.
Air Traffic Control May 15th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I think we have to emphasize that this contract was initiated by the former government. My colleague, the Minister of Transport, has done the government and the Canadian taxpayers a real service in conducting an internal audit on this project. It is an audit with which we at national defence are co-operating.
Air Traffic Control May 15th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I believe I addressed this question on Friday.
The air traffic control system is primarily being developed under the auspices of the Department of Transport, and it appeared only logical for the former government to have the defence air traffic control systems at Canadian military bases developed in co-operation with that being developed by the Department of Transport.
Royal Military College In Kingston May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, all the promotions for the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston are in both official languages. If for some reason what the hon. member has said is true, I will certainly look into it.
I have to underscore the fact that all the promotional material and all the required documentation in training is in both languages. In fact, I think I will invite the member to watch a film we have prepared to attract French language students. I think it is something he will want to watch for his own edification.
Royal Military College In Kingston May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, it seems that during my week's absence when I was in Europe the hon. members of the Bloc Quebecois missed me. I certainly did not miss them.
I said several times in the House of Commons that the Royal Military College of Canada we established in Kingston is fully bilingual. We put in place all the procedures required to make the college fully bilingual. Most courses are given in both official languages, French and English.
In the future, most of the teachers will speak both official languages, and I think that if the hon. member paid a visit to the city of Kingston, he would see for himself that the Royal Military College of Canada is a truly bilingual institution.
National Defence May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, as I have said, the lead on the air traffic control system comes from my colleague, the Minister of Transport. He has taken certain steps with which I concur. Certainly the Department of National
Defence will be co-operating with him and with any investigation done by the auditor general on these contracts.
National Defence May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, national defence has been working alongside people in Transport Canada and I along with my colleague, the Minister of Transport, on these matters.
Should any changes be required to the defence air traffic control side of these contracts those changes will be made.
National Defence May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, unlike hon. members in the opposition, we do not convict people simply on wild insinuations and accusations. If the hon. member or anyone else has proof of wrongdoing involving anyone, including a public servant in an international forum like NATO, then those people, including the hon. member, should make that proof public.
National Defence May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, this is somewhat reminiscent of the earlier questions from the Reform Party.
As I understand it, certain accusations have been made and levelled against members of the party of Mr. Claes when he was a politician in Belgium. To my knowledge, none of those accusations have been proven. It is rather unfortunate that people in public positions have to wear guilt where no guilt has actually been proven.
In the case of Mr. Claes, he is discharging his duties well. He recently visited Canada and met with my colleague the Minister of Foreign Affairs and myself. Unless we have any other reason to believe that Mr. Claes would not be an appropriate person to head NATO, Mr. Claes will continue with the full confidence of all the member countries within NATO.
Somalia Inquiry May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has just made a very serious charge.
The government has appointed a commission of inquiry under part II of the Inquiries Act. The terms of reference for that inquiry have not been challenged by anyone in the House, by the media or anyone else in the country. Two of the three members of the inquiry are learned members of Canada's judiciary.
I want the hon. member to come forward with absolute proof. Bring the proof to the House of Commons as to why those honourable people on the inquiry are in some way unable to discharge their functions. This inquiry will get to the bottom of all the allegations regarding our deployment in Somalia. I would ask the hon. member that unless he has proof, please do not come to the House and cast aspersions against hon. members especially of Canada's judiciary.
Somalia Inquiry May 12th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I answered that question in the following way.
Dr. Armstrong is a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and has certain skills. People have to be posted from time to time. Dr. Armstrong and anyone else who has relevant information will be made available to the inquiry. I will give my hon. friend that assurance.
I do resent the member and his colleagues continually asserting that members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence and the government in general do not wish to get to the bottom of all the sorry events that unfolded in Somalia. That is false. That is why we have set up and called for the creation of a commission with the most wide
sweeping investigative powers probably in Canadian history. He and all Canadians will get the answers to all their questions in due course.