House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 71% of the vote.
National Defence March 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the purpose behind alternate service delivery as it relates to Goose Bay is to save the base, to save as many jobs as we possibly can and at the same time reduce the cost of providing the service to the taxpayers and to the users of the base.
National Defence March 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any other letter that has been sent in this connection.
In this case there was a long history. There was an error in judgment that was exercised. I might say that some 1,700 people have appeared before the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans' Affairs to talk about this issue. They have done so without feeling any threats whatsoever, and they have no reason to fear any threat whatsoever.
National Defence March 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the facts are simple. There was an error in judgment. A letter was sent that should not have been sent. The letter has since been withdrawn and an apology has been issued.
Furthermore, we have once again sent a message to all of our employees, all of the members of the forces and their families, encouraging them to appear before the Standing Committee on Defence and Veterans' Affairs to talk about the issues that affect their social and economic needs. It is a process that this government solidly supports.
National Defence March 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, that is a good example where again they have it wrong. There is no harassment. Poor judgment was exercised in this case. The letter has been withdrawn and an apology issued.
Members of the Canadian forces and their families should feel free to appear before the SCONDVA committee and to testify before it.
National Defence March 12th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the letter was sent and there has been an apology. In fact, the apology was sent earlier this week, long before the matter was raised by the opposition.
There is also a long history of a complaint by a former employee no longer hired by the community centre that she worked at on the base. She has grievances against different employees and supervisors. It has had a long history.
It was in that light that the letter was sent, but the letter should not have been sent. It has been withdrawn and an apology has been issued. The legal adviser involved is also being counselled on the matter.
National Defence March 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the research behind the statement before the question is wrong. What we are attempting to do is in fact save the base, save jobs and provide a service to our allies who use the base for low level flying in an efficient and effective way in the hopes they will use the base in the future.
We have to cut costs to do that. However, in doing that we are treating people fairly and humanely. We are giving them options under the EDI and ERI departure incentives as well as options for other possible jobs.
As well, the company which is taking over the contract has a plan to offer most of them a job.
National Defence March 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to look at the facts of this situation, but from the way this member and other hon. members in the opposition have approached these subjects in the past, they certainly do not get their facts right. We need to get to the bottom of this, look at it properly, and not rely upon their kind of information.
National Defence March 11th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I do not know of the specific case the hon. member is referring to but I will say one thing. It is our policy to treat people fairly and humanely and to make sure that in any of these cases we get to the bottom of the truth and treat people in a fair fashion.
Canadian Armed Forces March 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member had been following the news, he would know that the threat in the area is even lower than it was previously and it was very low to start with.
With the agreement that secretary-general Kofi Annan has been able to work out, hopefully we will see the appropriate diplomatic resolution of this matter. Meanwhile, any of our people in the area will receive the appropriate medical support that they require. There are antibiotics and other inoculations for other possible diseases. Anything that our allies get we will be getting as well to ensure that we give the maximum support to our troops.
Canadian Armed Forces March 10th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we have medical professionals who are administering inoculations, the first dose of which has already been given. They ensure that anything we give to our troops is safe.