David Collenette

[Canadian Armed Forces, February 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member obviously knows that with respect to the privacy of the individual concerned, while investigations are pending I cannot make any comment.

[Canadian Airborne Regiment, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I dealt with all these questions three weeks ago. I am sorry the hon. member is now just addressing them.

With respect to operational costs, there probably will be some operational costs involved. On the other hand, most of the activity at CFB Petawawa will be retained simply because in the white paper we announced an augmentation of the army capability. Therefore those people in that particular area should not feel too badly from an economic point of view.

[Canadian Airborne Regiment, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the actions in those videos are subject to investigation. Once we have the answers I will make them available to the hon. member.

[Canadian Airborne Regiment, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I was detained for a few moments. Perhaps the hon. member could repeat his question.

[National Defence, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, certainly as far as I am concerned this is the type of question that should be for the Order Paper. When it is put down we will give all the details and costs of any particular program.

I remember some facility in Labrador was closed a couple of years ago. It had the name eagle in it. Perhaps this is the one. Certainly I will take notice of the question and get back to the hon. member.

[National Defence, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of question, as you have advised members before, that should be reflected in an Order Paper approach rather than in question period.

[National Defence, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, that particular decoration was decided a number of months ago by a panel in the military following normal practices and will go ahead as planned.

[National Defence, February 14th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does not obviously listen to answers that I have given before.

The removal of General Vernon was a decision taken by the chief of the defence staff. It is his and his alone. It is a decision in which I concurred.

[Canadian Armed Forces, February 13th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I think the unfortunate events shown in the videos relating to ceremonies involving the airborne have enlightened Canadians, perhaps somewhat in a negative way, as to some of the traditions in the armed forces.

Another tape was released a few days ago. I am glad the navy was quick to correct the record. It felt that ordinary members of the public would have the reaction I had which was that at first blush it seemed to be quite offensive. It corrected that impression.

Because of all of these questions that have been raised, the chief of defence staff will be bringing all of the commanders to Ottawa this week to talk about these matters: what is permissible, what is not permissible; what is in the military tradition and what is not. Once he has a chance to talk with the commanders and they then inform the troops under their command across the country, this matter will come to rest.

[Canadian Armed Forces, February 13th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Airborne Regiment was disbanded for the reasons given a couple of weeks ago. There will be no reconsideration of that decision. It is firm, it is fixed and it is final.

With respect to the airborne capability to which the hon. member refers, that can be discharged in any number of ways. General Reay, who is in charge of land forces, has been tasked to come up with alternative arrangements to ensure there is the airborne capability in the armed forces.

Last, I have repeated this so many times. A full inquiry which will be public and will be headed by a civilian will look into all the matters concerning the deployment of the airborne to Somalia in 1992 and 1993. That will begin as soon as the last court martial is terminated.