Art Eggleton

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, no deal has been made except an agreement that we would consult and have discussions. We started those last fall, long before the hon. member indicated his concern about this matter because we wanted to ensure that the status of Norad remained at a high level, a binational command. We wanted to ensure we would have an opportunity to look at an enhanced defence and security relationship with our neighbour, the United States, and that is what we will do.

They have announced the position but the fleshing out of it is yet to happen. The discussions with the United States and Canada are still ongoing.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we want to get to the bottom of this just as quickly as we possibly can. I can assure the hon. member we want to know what happened. We want to take further measures to reduce the risk to any of our troops, and I know the families do too. We owe it to the families and to the Canadian people to find out what happened.

Yesterday I had a call from Secretary Rumsfeld. He indicated that he wanted to join with us and co-operate to the fullest extent possible in getting to the bottom of this matter so that corrective action can be taken and so people will understand what really happened.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we take every precaution possible to reduce the risk levels. We know that going into a high risk area is inherent in the military operations that they engage in, but we do everything possible to reduce that risk. It goes into their training. It goes into the rules of engagement. We expect that our allies do the same thing as well.

Unfortunately, there are these accidents that do occur. In this particular case, we will have a board of inquiry, a full investigation to determine what caused it and what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we still have every sovereign right with respect to our territory.

I think there is a misunderstanding as to what this matter is all about. It is an internal organization where they want to protect the United States. Of course they are interested in what happens in Canada and other parts of the northern area.

We have been having discussions with them since last fall. They have said they are going to have a northern command. It has not been officially started and will not be until October. We have plenty of time to continue with the discussions we have been having as to how we can enhance our co-operation in the interests of both of our citizens, their safety and their security.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are not disengaging from the northern command. The northern command is an internal United States military structure. It is one of 10 commands. No other country is involved with any of the other commands, even though the geographic interest covers the entire globe.

In our particular case, the general who will hold northern command will also doublehead as the head of Norad. Norad will continue to have the same kind of high level binational reporting structure.

Meanwhile, since the details have not been worked out about the northern command, we continue to explore how we can work together and enhance co-operation between the two countries in the interests of our people.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, yes, there will be that opportunity. The details of that are being worked on right at this point in time.

Certainly the defence department, myself as the Minister of National Defence, or the local MPs of any party would be happy to receive and forward to the Canadian forces and to the families any sympathy statements. As for other means, those are being worked on and will be announced shortly.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the families were all contacted during the night to advise them of the accident. There will be an ongoing communication with them. The Prime Minister will himself this afternoon be contacting the families on behalf of the government and all members of the House to express condolences.

Furthermore, with respect to an investigation which the hon. member asked about, there will be a board of inquiry, the normal kind of procedures that are followed by this. Details of that will be announced soon.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the sympathies that are expressed by the hon. Leader of the Opposition. I know all members of the House have their thoughts, their prayers and sympathies with the families and the loved ones of those who have been killed and injured.

We will fully look after the families. The veterans affairs programs for pensions and services and health care services will be provided to them. Certainly the rear parties of the battle group and the family resource centres are helping look after their present needs with respect to funeral arrangements and appropriate honours will be given in the traditional military fashion by the Canadian forces.

[National Defence, April 17th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the government has given the resources to the Canadian forces on recruitment. The auditor general went in last fall to do the audit before the recruitment year. Since then we have recruited a considerable number of people and have bettered the target in many different occupations. We still have more to do in terms of engineers, doctors and various other trades. We are working on those areas.

[National Defence, April 17th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I had a hard time hearing all the question. We have had a very solid recruitment program in the last year. We have reached about 50% higher numbers than the year before, successfully recruiting some 10,000 people.

We are working on certain occupation groups, such as engineers, to attract more of them into the system; more flexible terms of reference and various other means of attracting people that we need, as well as retention. Our retention is working quite well because our attrition rate has substantially lowered some 20% in the last year.

We are on our way to resolving the problem.