Art Eggleton

[National Defence, April 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if the hon. member read the same report I did. I read the auditor general's report. I talked to the auditor general.

As I said a few moments ago we are implementing improvements and changes. We go through very extensive analysis as to what is required for the Canadian military. We do not have all the money to do all the things we would like to do, but we are buying the best equipment. We are trying to provide our troops with the best equipment possible to make sure they can do their job.

[National Defence, April 28th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, that is simply not the case. We have less resources. We have to learn how to operate within less resources, and our people are doing that.

Yes, a lot of improvements need to be made in the system and have been in fact made over the last number of years. We are in accordance with the recommendations that the auditor general presents. We are working with them to bring about improvements in our system in terms of procurement.

[National Defence, April 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to offer the hon. member a vaccine that may do him some good.

There has been re-testing. This matter has been properly looked into. The vaccine is safe and has been administered to our personnel to safeguard them.

[National Defence, April 23rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the vaccine is safe. It has been re-tested. It was re-tested before I took it myself. I did take it myself and our troops did as well. It was provided for them for their own safety and it is keeping them safe.

[Land Mines, April 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I have been pleased to work with my colleague the Minister of Foreign Affairs on this great Canadian initiative to try to rid the world of anti-personnel land mines.

Our own Canadian forces have seen much of the terrible incidents that occur as a result of land mines taking limb and life from many innocent victims in places like Bosnia. They have worked with the local forces. They have worked with the local police in de-mining activities. We are beginning again, as the summer approaches, to participate by assisting, by training and by giving information to these local forces so they can, in fact, protect the people in their communities.

[Acquisition Of Submarines, April 20th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, these submarines are state of the art. They were commissioned by the royal navy of the U.K. at a time when that was part of its defence future. It has since decided to go to nuclear submarines.

These were very slightly used in the days when they were part of that defence department program. We have acquired them for a quarter of the cost needed to build new ones. That is a great bargain. At least we can replace our 30 year old submarines. We have the capability to patrol our shores and the Arctic.

[Peacekeeping, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has again been asked to participate in peacekeeping by the United Nations. The United Nations pays great tribute to this country's involvement in peacekeeping by asking us to do so. This is a great tribute to our forces.

Our forces will be providing some 45 personnel, 25 of whom will be signals personnel who will be able to manage the communication system on this mission. They will be part of a 1,350 troop mission to help bring peace and security into the central African republic.

[Acquisition Of Submarines, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in the House yesterday, this matter is still under discussion with the British government and until that matter is finalized we are not in a position to announce a decision one way or the other.

[Acquisition Of Submarines, April 3rd, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, there is absolutely no connection between the two. The question of the equipment that is necessary for the Canadian forces has been a matter of long discussion. It is a matter of where we deal with these equipment purchases within the budget, within the allocation of funds for defence purposes. It is part of protecting the sovereignty of our country on land, in the air and at sea.

I think the health minister has advised members of the House well with respect to the very fine position the government is taking in dealing with hepatitis C.

[Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985, April 3rd, 1998]

moved that Bill S-3, an act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.