Art Eggleton

[National Defence, February 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it was not stale. The labels were not changed. It was all tested. It was all found to be safe. I visited the HMCS Toronto in Kuwait harbour. I took the vaccine and I have never felt better.

[National Defence, February 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I said our doctors had approved the use of the vaccine and they have.

I have discussed this matter with them. They have thoroughly gone over this matter with the testing company, an independent testing firm hired by the United States department of defence. We also had that same company do very thorough testing. Our doctors consulted with it. Health Canada has been part of this picture. They have all been consulted. They all approved the vaccine.

[National Defence, February 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, that is totally untrue. The safety of our troops is of utmost importance to us.

We made sure the vaccine which was obtained in the United States was tested, supplementary tested, as did the Americans. They got their vaccine from the same source.

We made sure doctors in the Canadian military approved it. We made sure that Health Canada was very much in the picture and approved it as well. We gave that vaccine only after it had been properly tested and we ensured it was safe and effective.

[Motions For Papers, February 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that this Motion for the Production of Papers be transferred for debate pursuant to Standing Order 97(1).

[National Defence, February 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as I said in answer to the other question from the other side, we will only give vaccinations when they are safe and effective. They are all fully tested. It is our medical people, the doctors, who determine that it is safe to give them when they are given.

[National Defence, February 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, all vaccines that are given to Canadian forces personnel are tested regardless of whatever date may be on the container.

They are all thoroughly tested to make sure they are effective and to make sure they are safe. That has been the case in all the vaccines we have used and we will continue to use.

[National Defence, February 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the school was closed because we simply did not need three educational institutions across the country given the size of our force and given the budget cuts in order to bring about elimination of the deficit.

We have continued to use that property. There is a renewal coming up of the contract with respect to the use of it and we are presently looking over what our future use would be. We expect and intend to continue to use that facility.

[National Defence, February 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are determined to upgrade the education and training systems of the Canadian forces.

A year ago I announced that a university education, a degree, would be required for those entering into the officer ranks.

As the hon. member knows, there is use of the former CMR facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and there will continue to be use of that facility in helping to prepare our officers for their educational program.

[National Defence, February 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, following the Reform Party would certainly not help deal with these issues that we are facing today because in the last election campaign it was calling for further reductions in spending on the Canadian forces.

We are doing all we can to ensure the safety of our pilots. In this particular case we have said that some of them will not be able to fly for a period of time until we correct this problem. We want to make sure that when the planes fly that they are safe to fly and that we have in fact minimized the risk for our pilots.

[National Defence, February 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, of course the lives of our personnel are of utmost concern to the department and this government.

The seats are not the problem; it is the parachutes. We are putting new parachutes in the seats so that we can ensure the utmost safety of our pilots.