Art Eggleton

[National Defence, April 16th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, our new recruitment program is going quite well. We are passing our expectations. Last year we set the target at 7,000. This year we set the target at 10,000 and we have met it. Furthermore, the attrition rate is down 20% to one of the lowest rates in the NATO countries.

We are addressing that issue effectively.

[Government Expenditures, April 16th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, at the time in 1991 it was considered to be the proper course to take. It was properly designed. In the interim while we were waiting for the product to be delivered, we purchased a commercial one on a temporary basis. It turned out at the end of the day that it worked quite fine. Now there is an attempt to utilize the other system which had been ordered. The department is looking at how it might do that.

[National Defence, April 16th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I think the only marbles being lost are the ones over there.

We are providing our troops what they need to do their job. If one wants to talk about the Sea King helicopters, it does not detract one ounce of attention from that effort to replace the Sea Kings. Meanwhile, we have upgraded the Sea Kings and they are performing terrific service for us in Afghanistan.

[National Defence, April 16th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, they are not luxurious interiors. They are the same as the existing Challengers which many of the members of that party have travelled on. There is no marble, there is no gold.

We do look after our troops. We are making sure that our troops in Afghanistan, in the Arabian Sea, have the equipment and the training they need to do the job.

[National Defence, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is a complete disaster. A handful of comments from people who are leaving the service is not indicative of the entire service. He cannot generalize that kind of comment.

The fact of the matter is that attrition is actually down some 20% in the last year. We have one of the lowest attrition rates of any of the forces in NATO.

[National Defence, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member simply does not know what he is talking about. If he had visited the troops in Afghanistan he would have seen that they are making a very significant contribution. They do have combat capability.

Also, we have increased the budget by some 20% over the last three to four years. We are spending over $2 billion a year on new equipment. Yes, the replacement of the Sea Kings is advancing. I have said before in the House that by the end of the year we will have identified what in fact the replacement will be for the Sea Kings.

[Government Expenditures, April 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, that is not the case. We are proceeding with a replacement of the Sea King. The Sea King itself is still giving excellent service, as it is doing in the Arabian Sea at this very time. The process for the replacement is not in any way changed or detracted by the purchase of these Challengers.

[National Defence, April 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, these are not luxury aircraft. I have said it at least a dozen times and he does not seem to get it.

We are continuing to provide for the needs of the Canadian forces. We are supporting them with the kind of equipment, the training and the improvements to their quality of life that are necessary for a proper, functioning Canadian forces.

[National Defence, April 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the problem really is that the hon. member has asked the same question several times and he still does not get the answer himself.

These are not luxury aircraft. They are more efficient replacements for a couple of existing aircraft, but we continue with all of our military programs. It does not impact upon any of our procurement. The government has spent billions of dollars in the last few years in procuring new equipment or upgrading existing equipment. We have increased the budget of the Canadian forces by some 20% and another $5 billion to come over the next five years.

[National Defence, April 10th, 2002]

That is simply not true, Mr. Speaker. The safety of our troops is of utmost importance to the government. We have put 20% more money into the defence budget over the last four years. Another $5 billion in new money will go in over the next five years. We continue to make the changes and show the support for our Canadian forces personnel that is necessary so that they can operate in the way they do on behalf of this country. That is something for which we can be very proud.