Art Eggleton

[National Defence, April 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are proceeding with the helicopter purchase. That has been said many times in the House. As I indicated just a few moments ago, there will be an announcement of what the new helicopter frame will be by the end of this year.

Meanwhile the two new Challengers are an upgrade from what presently exists. They will have a longer range. They will have greater fuel efficiency, better avionics. That will help to make sure the government is able to better do its job when it is required to travel.

[National Defence, April 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a basing study done with respect to the maritime helicopter replacement for the Sea King which will be announced by the end of this year.

I am pleased to advise the hon. member that basing will continue in Shearwater, Nova Scotia for the east coast and in Pat's Bay, Victoria International Airport for the west coast.

[National Defence, April 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the comfort, the well-being and the proper supplying and training of our troops is foremost to me as Minister of National Defence and to the government. We will continue to provide what our troops need.

By the way, when we provide transport, we are transporting Americans around in our aircraft as well. We provide some of the services and they provide some of the services. It is a team effort.

[National Defence, April 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolute nonsense. I have just visited with our troops in Afghanistan. They are very proud of what they are doing. They are proud of their uniforms. They are doing a terrific job. And by the way, those Sea King helicopters are doing yeoman service as well.

[National Defence, March 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are part of an alliance such as NATO. We are allied with the United States in terms of this continent, and we work together. Yes, the Americans help us in a number of areas but we also help them. For example, we have the Coyote vehicle which is in Afghanistan. They do not have that kind of vehicle. We both contribute to the teamwork going on there. At one point not too long ago, we were leading an American force as part of the operations in Afghanistan. We work together as team and will continue to do that.

Instead of being picky like this, the hon. member should be focusing--

[National Defence, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, Operation Anaconda has ended with a meaningful Canadian contribution to the fight against terrorism.

Operation Harpoon began in the early hours of this morning. It involves an offensive against the al-Qaeda in the eastern Afghanistan mountains and involves a battalion, a coalition of Canadian and American forces, led by a Canadian. Lieutenant-Colonel Stogran of the PPCLI is the commander of the force. This is a major contribution to this campaign. Let us support our troops. Let our thoughts and our prayers be with our troops and may they return home safely.

[National Defence, March 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I got it the first time. Perhaps if he had not repeated himself so often, he would have got his question out.

I assume the member wants to know that we are paying attention to the reserves. We are indeed.

In fact, the head of the minister's monitoring committee, who is himself a reservist, says that the land force reserve restructure is on increasingly solid ground and is potentially a significant success story. In fact, we put a major general in charge of it. We have a project office.

The time for the reserves to improve is now and it is getting better every day.

[National Defence, March 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am announcing today a further contribution to the coalition campaign against terrorism by the sending of another infantry company to augment the battle group led by the Princess Patricia's.

This is part of the original 1,000 persons that were placed on notice to deploy in November. The additional company is 130 strong. It will come from the Winnipeg based second battalion, bringing the strength of the battle group up to 880, all ranks. They will depart by the middle of this month.

[National Defence, March 1st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, none with respect to the use of Canadian territory. We have not been asked in that regard. Nothing is really new from the last time the member and other members asked the question.

The United States has indicated determination to put such a system in place. The architecture of the system is yet to be determined. What role Canada would play, if it wanted to play any, has yet to be determined. We have not been asked. We have not made any decision with respect to the matter.

[Foreign Affairs, February 28th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I understand that in the passing of information on January 29 to the command centre, perhaps additional information was obtained by the foreign affairs representative on that occasion.