Art Eggleton

[National Defence, February 20th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the protocol involving the JTF2 is different from the balance of the Canadian forces because of the nature of the work that it carries out in stealth or covert fashion and the need for security for its operations and security for its personnel.

What I have previously reported in the House is exactly the procedure of that protocol which comes from the JTF2 commander to the chief of defence staff to me. If there is any diversion from government policy then I would consult the Prime Minister on the matter. That is what is in fact government policy and the JTF2 follows government policy.

[Foreign Affairs, February 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I said no when I was asked this question previously. There certainly are no formal discussions.

Does someone informally mention it one military officer to another? I do not know. Not to my knowledge. Certainly there are no formal discussions whatsoever, none.

[National Defence, February 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we are moving as quickly as we can. It is our number one procurement priority. Before this year is out, we will know what the helicopter will be that will replace the Sea King.

Let me say that our Sea Kings are operating. There are in the Afghanistan campaign. They are doing yeoman service. In fact, in the case of the HMCS Vancouver , its particular Sea King helicopter has had 100% availability rate. Over 500 hours have been flown by the Sea Kings in this mission, and they are doing a terrific job with their crews.

[National Defence, February 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, all the units, whether it is JTF2 or whoever it is who are sent abroad, go there with terms of reference, with rules of engagement, with instructions with respect to Canadian law and what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do. I have the responsibility for that. That is quite clear. If anything out of the ordinary happens, I certainly report to the Prime Minister and to the government.

There has not been anything out of the ordinary. Those troops are doing their job.

[National Defence, February 19th, 2002]

Actually not, Mr. Speaker. The JTF2 were sent over there to help to capture the al-Qaeda, the terrorists responsible for the murderous actions on September 11. That was the purpose for which they were sent over there. They are continuing to do their job. As long as they do their job in accordance with Canadian law, then they are following the proper rules that have been set down by the government. I have the responsibility to the government and to parliament to make sure those rules are followed and report accordingly.

[National Defence, February 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the JTF2 in its operations reports through to the chief of defence staff, who in turn reports to me. They have a very clear, defined mission. They have rules of engagement. They follow Canadian law.

If any of those things are violated, if there is anything out of the ordinary, then certainly I report that to the Prime Minister.

[Foreign Affairs, February 19th, 2002]

No, Mr. Speaker, not to my knowledge.

[National Defence, February 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, over the next five years, we are putting more than $5 billion into defence spending. I do not know of any other department or any other program, outside of health care, that will be getting more money over that period of time.

In terms of the uniforms, they have the uniforms they need to do the job. They show innovation in camouflage. That is a normal thing to do. They are intelligent. They do have their own initiative in doing these kinds of things. That is normal for the military to do.

The dramatics from the hon. member are absolutely hollow.

[National Defence, February 8th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, they have the tools they need to do the job. Perhaps the commander of the army had the hon. member in mind when he said:

Ill-informed and alarmist rhetoric surrounding the decision to send our soldiers to Afghanistan in the new green CADPAT...uniforms does little to inform the public and is corrosive to the morale of soldiers deploying on this important operation.

[Minister of National Defence, February 7th, 2002]

No, Mr. Speaker. What I said was that while any prisoners were in our custody they would be treated according to the Geneva conventions in the standard of a prisoner of war, but that we would turn the detainees over to the United States. That is where the determination would be made.