House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 71% of the vote.
Minister of National Defence February 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of operations that our troops are involved with and will be involved with. There are a lot of things they do every day to help in this campaign against terrorism.
As long as they do it in accordance with policy, the rules of engagement, which are clearly established and clearly in place, following government policy, which they are doing, not everything needs to be instantly reported.
It was done in accordance with policy. That is the important thing.
Foreign Affairs February 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated already, matters with respect to the JTF2 come to me. If there were any variance from the policy I could say that immediately I would be notifying the Prime Minister. There was no variance from the policy. The policy was fully followed.
It is a policy that has been in place for a great number of years. We do not have detention facilities. We turn them over in accordance with the Geneva conventions. That is what was followed.
Foreign Affairs February 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there is a frequent flow of information that goes to the PCO, the PMO and foreign affairs with respect to the involvement of our troops in the field.
The one exception made to that is the JTF2, the commando group. That just comes to me.
Minister of National Defence February 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I have been getting some lovely comments, e-mails and telephone calls from members of the Canadian Forces.
The one thing they say quite clearly: is that it is time to focus on the mission they are carrying out abroad. It is time to support our troops, not this kind of garbage.
Minister of National Defence February 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the JTF2, our commando group, was involved in this matter. Everything was done according to policy. Certainly when I heard about it that is when I wanted to know: were our troops safe, had they carried out the mission successfully, had they done this according to policy, all of which was true. They had done it that way.
National Defence February 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, with respect to how our troops are treated when they go to the theatre of operations, they get all the training, equipment and support they need. When they are there they continue to get it. They will receive a great amount of support in the operation and also when they return.
We give our troops the support they need before, during and after, and we will continue to do that.
Minister of National Defence February 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the United States gave us assurances that it would be following international law. It continues to do that.
There is a dispute over the question of status determination and status determination tribunals. The United States is saying that the people it has are unlawful combatants. There is the question over whether any of them may be prisoners of war. That needs to be clarified. That is a matter we continue to dialogue with the United States to clarify. The United States has made it very clear that it intends to follow international law. It intends to treat these people and are treating these people humanely.
Minister of National Defence February 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, that is simply not true. We are following international law.
There are people that are being sought because they are terrorists. They have inflicted a great deal of pain on the people of the United States through what happened on September 11. These people should be brought to justice. That is what this is all about. That is what we are involved in doing. It is not only the United States, though; it involves the protection of our own country, the safety and security of Canadians from any possible terrorist acts.
We want these people brought to justice. We are following international law and Canadian law in doing it.
Minister of National Defence February 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, what is important is the policy was in place. When prisoners were ultimately taken, they were taken in accordance with that policy.
We follow international law. We follow the Geneva conventions. We expect the United States to do the same. The United States had clearly told us that it intended to follow international law and the Geneva conventions.
Minister of National Defence February 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, for some period of time it has been the policy to follow international law, Canadian law, and to turn over any detainees to the United States. This was a position I enunciated before the foreign affairs and defence committee. That is the situation we have followed.