Mr. Speaker, the problem of that individual was brought to our attention. It is being thoroughly investigated. The matter will be dealt with accordingly.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 71% of the vote.
National Defence November 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the problem of that individual was brought to our attention. It is being thoroughly investigated. The matter will be dealt with accordingly.
Veterans Affairs October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs is very concerned about this matter and he has indicated before in this House that he is looking into it. He is trying to come to a resolution of this matter as quickly as possible.
National Defence October 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as usual the hon. member's research is faulty. He is basing his comments about a $1 billion deficit on an article that is completely wrong. There is no deficit. There is no overspending. There are no plans to reduce the number of staff or to reduce in fact the equipment that is provided for them.
Helicopter Purchase October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we have the crews and the equipment we need to do the search and rescue job. We not only have Labrador helicopters, we have Griffons, Sea Kings and fixed-wing aircraft like the Hercules and the Buffalo. We have expert crews that are anxious to get back into a full search and rescue operation. They will do that and they will do it with safe equipment.
If we need other machinery, we have it there as a back-up to call on when necessary. But we have the tools to do the job.
Helicopter Purchase October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we do not put lives in danger.
The previous Conservative government was willing to waste an awful lot of taxpayers' money to buy a very inappropriate helicopter. This government did the right thing. It cancelled that contract. It is in the process of tendering for another helicopter that better meets our search and rescue needs, at a fraction of the price.
National Defence October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the cause is not known but there is no evidence also to support any systemic failure. So it has been decided by the chief of the air staff, and I fully support his position, that these helicopters can go back in the air.
The majority of the search and rescue crews want to get back in the air, want to get back to providing this service for Canadians. Some of them were part of the squadron where the six deaths occurred. They will be given a little more opportunity to make their decisions before going back into the air and I think that is a good way to move it.
National Defence October 27th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am not prepared to put any lives at risk. Search and rescue is about saving lives and we do not put up aircraft unless it is safe to use, safe for crews and safe for the people who will be recipients of this service.
The chief of the air staff has examined this situation very carefully. He is a professional man, a very caring man. He knows the circumstances under which this decision had to be made. He believes, after consultation with crews, that this is the right decision to make and we will fly these aircraft only after further inspection and when they are fully safe to fly.
United Nations Day October 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is United Nations Day and I cannot think of a more appropriate way to commemorate it than to honour our peacekeepers, those Canadian men and women who have served in UN missions abroad, some 107 of them who have lost their lives.
I invite all members of the House to join us tomorrow morning at the peacekeeping monument on Sussex Drive at 9 a.m. for a commemorative service as we honour those who have worn the blue beret.
National Defence October 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we do not gamble with people's lives. Safety is our utmost concern; safety for our crews and safety for those Canadians who require the search and rescue operations that we will continue to operate using safe equipment.
National Defence October 9th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, this report was filed yesterday by the parliamentary secretary here in the House.
This report is important for a couple of reasons. It is, first of all, the government living up to a commitment it made that our military and its operations would become more open and transparent, more reports like this would be filed with this parliament, they would be made public, they would be available for public discussion such as at the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs.
With this report we have delivered on that. There are more reports to come. This report gives us the state of the Canadian military.