Mr. Speaker, all of the activities contained in the videotapes with respect to the airborne regiment are now being investigated by the military police.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 67% of the vote.
National Defence February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, all of the activities contained in the videotapes with respect to the airborne regiment are now being investigated by the military police.
National Defence February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I answered that question. I quote from the chief of defence staff that the reason General Vernon was removed from his duties was because the report, which I have just mentioned, contains inaccurate and misleading information that caused the chief of defence staff to misinform the Minister of National Defence.
National Defence February 13th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the chief of defence staff today relieved Major-General Vernon of all of his responsibilities as commander, land forces command which is in effect Ontario central command.
He did this because General Vernon was the author of a report to the chief of the army, Lieutenant-General Reay, to General de Chastelain and myself concerning the activities of the airborne regiment with respect to what has become known as the second video.
The three of us were misled. As a result the chief of defence staff, who is the one responsible for all disciplinary measures within the Canadian Armed Forces, has taken the appropriate action today.
National Defence February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member's question. There is no mismanagement of medical facilities with respect to our soldiers in Bosnia and Croatia.
If he has evidence that in some way the facilities we had operational up until now have been mismanaged then I ask him to please give us the evidence.
National Defence February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the army command in the former Yugoslavia recommended to the chief of defence staff that it was unnecessary for the Canadian team to continue in that particular theatre of conflict because they had full confidence in the facilities supplied by the Czech armed forces.
It is not unnatural in multi-operational theatres of war that one shares expertise and functions. Certainly the best advice is that the facilities available to Canadian forces in Bosnia and Croatia are comparable to those that would be offered by Canadian forces personnel.
National Defence February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, as I have said before, all the matters dealing with the deployment of the airborne to Somalia in 1992-93 will be the subject of an inquiry. Therefore it is inappropriate for me to comment any further.
National Defence February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I think people know that yesterday I was somewhat agitated having been informed of the extra charges in this video just before question period. In fact as soon as I received the information I informed my staff. I sent a message to the chief of the defence staff saying that I would report this to the House. That was within a few minutes of question period starting.
If hon. members want to proceed with detailed questions as we have had earlier I will try to give the answers. However, if they want to make silly procedural points then there really is no use continuing the discussions.
National Defence February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I am not going to proceed with an answer until the hon. member obeys the rules of this House and withdraws that allegation.
National Defence February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is somewhat rhetorical because we do have an investigation. We have military police investigations. Now the military police are investigating the tape on which we have been speaking this morning.
National Defence February 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I am somewhat amused by the question. Obviously if I had had the full description of that tape when I gave the press conference announcing the decision of the airborne, I would have made that public. The existence of the tape with the unacceptable acts as it has been embellished by the viewing by officials yesterday actually confirms the government's decision to disband the regiment.