David Collenette

[National Defence, May 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that this has been underlined in a number of reports by the human rights commissioner and others in recent years. The armed forces is taking very strong steps to combat discrimination and harassment of women in particular in the armed forces.

In fact, this morning I was at a workshop in Gananoque of the spouses of Canadian forces personnel. They are working as a group within the department but also are volunteering their time to educate others in the wider military community to make sure this horrible trend of harassment in Canadian society does not spread any further or certainly any deeper in the Canadian military.

[French Language Education Rights, May 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister answered the substance of the hon. member's question and I thought she did so very effectively.

With respect to the consolidation of the military colleges in Kingston there will be no change to our decision. There will be one military college that will be located at Kingston.

In fact I was in the area this morning talking with the local press. I am really quite heartened by the attitude that the people of that area have toward making Kingston a showplace of bilingualism as a federal institution.

[Canadian Forces Base Shearwater, May 12th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I was as shocked as the hon. member when this letter came to my attention. Certainly that was the position of the previous government, but as you know we cancelled the EH-101 helicopter contract. Therefore the position as stated in that letter no longer is government policy.

I am sure there is a future for all military installations in Nova Scotia, including the greater Halifax area. However that will have to wait for the defence review which is under way.

My colleague and I visited the repair this week and the work being done at CFB Shearwater especially with the Sea King helicopters is ongoing. It is good work and will serve the Canadian Armed Forces well in the months and years to come.

[Department Of Labour Act, May 11th, 1994]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-30, an act to amend the Department of Labour Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[National Defence, May 11th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 22(2), as promised in this House on May 2 in response to a question by the hon. member for Charlesbourg, I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, documents setting out the Department of National Defence's policy on environmental protection.

They are entitled: NDHQ Policy Directive P5/92 "Canadian Forces and National Defence Policy on the Environment", Canadian Forces Administrative Order 36/50 "Environmental Protection and Management", and Canadian Forces Administrative Order 36/55 "Hazardous Materials Management".

[Ministerial Travel, May 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. This morning in the

Globe and Mail

[Ministerial Travel, May 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, first I should like to say that I have no specific knowledge of any chartered flights taken by any of my colleagues.

Again, the hon. member should have looked at the entire review. Had she been there when I did the entire 20-minute taping she certainly would not have got that impression. I would like to ask her a question.

[Ministerial Travel, May 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry I was not here yesterday to answer the hon. member's question which was based on a faulty premise.

I am surprised that she watched "Le Téléjournal" and "Le Point", when I gave an interview, given the attitude of her party on bilingualism. It is a great surprise to me that she understood the French I was speaking that evening.

I want to say to the hon. member that yesterday the Prime Minister made no such admission in question period. Certainly the remarks I gave in that interview were entirely out of context.

[National Defence, May 10th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that a joint committee of the House and Senate is studying defence policy at the moment. Certainly any recommendations it has with respect to force structure will be greatly received by the government.

The reserves have provided an integral part of Canada's armed forces for many years. In fact in Bosnia in the last rotation 20 per cent of those serving were reservists. We want to encourage that tradition remaining within the armed forces. To what degree I am not sure; it depends on the advice I get from my colleagues. At the moment we have about 30,000 and whether or not that is raised or lowered depends on the defence review.

[National Defence, May 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, again I will get that information for the hon. member.