Art Eggleton

[Canadian Armed Forces, March 9th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the matter is still under investigation. We must bear in mind that lives needed to be saved here. The aircraft sent in by the military went in under some very bad weather conditions. The pilot had to make a judgment to disperse the fuel so he could get in and out with the passengers at a lower level than would normally be the case. He did it in as safe a way as possible in a remote area north of the airfield. He got in and was able to rescue people who were then able to get to hospital.

[National Defence, February 26th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the fuel was dumped at a low altitude because the weather was terrible. The Hercules needed to get in to rescue people, to save lives.

They did not have enough time to go to a higher altitude. They dumped it at a lower altitude in as safe a way as they possibly could. The matter is still under investigation, but they did it so they could get in there and save lives.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 24th, 1998]

The defence planning guide, DPG, 1998, did not direct any new military personnel reductions. Nor did it assign any new civilian workforce reductions. However, DPG 98 mandates the continuation of reductions resulting from departmental strategies to cope with previous budget reductions and to meet the personnel targets of approximately 60,000 military and 20,000 civilians assigned in the 1994 white paper.

The Canadian forces and the Department of National Defence must be able to deliver the missions which the government defined in the 1994 defence white paper in the most cost effective way possible and within the constraints of available funding. The department is embarking upon new initiatives that may impact upon employment in the support functions of the department and the Canadian forces. Options being considered are various alternative service delivery, ASD, mechanisms such as: inter alia, private sector contracts; in house bids; employee takeover; partnering and collaboration between government and the private sector; and privatizing. Our reviews of ASD initiatives will allow for fair consultation and involvement of all stakeholders and interested parties including management, employees, unions, industry, local communities, and other government departments. Principles are in place to guide decision making on ASD initiatives, and the review of these initiatives from analysis to implementation may take up to 24 months.

It is too soon to tell what the impact upon jobs will be, but the Department of National Defence and the Canadian forces are committed to fair consultation and close involvement of all stakeholders.

[National Defence, February 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I think we have an obligation in our department to meet our budget reduction targets. We have an obligation to perform our services in an efficient and effective fashion. If we can do so and save the taxpayers money, we should do that. That is what we can do with the alternative service delivery program.

However, at the same time, this government and our party have an obligation and a desire to make sure that our employees are treated humanely. We have demonstrated that with the way we have gone about downsizing the public service. We will demonstrate it again in terms of how we treat employees in the alternative service delivery program.

[National Defence, February 18th, 1998]

It sounds like the same question again, Mr. Speaker.

In the process of providing for this new clothing there has been a period of time when there has been a shortage. That shortage is coming to an end and all our troops will get the proper clothing and will not have to go through that kind of procedure.

[National Defence, February 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party is always looking at information that is quite old.

The clothe the soldier program, which is what he is referring to, is in fact moving on. Funds are being provided all the time to increase the amount of new clothing and new equipment, the latest up to date equipment and clothing for our soldiers.

[National Defence, February 17th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, obviously no. I find this very puzzling. For years the NDP has wanted to cut defence spending. Here is an opportunity to save the taxpayers $20 million a year and it wants the defence department to spend more money, not less.

We are out to save the taxpayers money, to provide support services to the Canadian military in a more efficient and effective way and to do it in a way that is fair and humane to our employees. We intend to do that.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 16th, 1998]

The two prime contractors, Paramax and E.H. Industries Limited, committed to providing $3.2B, 1992 dollars, in industrial benefits from the contract to pruchase 50 EH-101 helicopters. Since the contract for the acquisition of helicopters was subsequently cancelled, it is not possible to determine the exact value of the indirect industrial benefits out of $3.2B 1992 dollars that would have accrued from this contract.

E.H. Industries Limited advises that there are currently firm orders for 83 aircraft. The date of award of these orders is not known. The cost of the purchases is also unknown as it is priviledged information between E.H. Industries Limited ans its customers.

[National Defence, February 16th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has the wrong focus on the program. We are attempting to save money for the Canadian taxpayers and to do it in a way that treats our employees in a fair and humane way.

In the case of Goose Bay, if we did not put this program into effect we would be too high in our costs. That means we would lose some of the air forces we have in foreign countries which are vital to the economic well-being of that community.

I know that concerns have been raised by people in that community. The hon. member knows that I have met with people from Happy Valley-Goose Bay in an effort to resolve them.

[Iraq, February 12th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the risk is low for the HMCS Toronto in the gulf. However all precautions as I have indicated to this House have and will be taken.

It is not true what hon. members are saying about these inoculations. The first inoculation has in 85% of individuals an effective factor and until the subsequent inoculations are taken there are antibiotics that will cover the situation quite adequately. The medical doctors of the Canadian forces and I have discussed this matter. I am quite satisfied that our troops are properly protected.