Art Eggleton

[Canadian Forces, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to update the House on the Canadian Forces' most recent contribution to the international campaign against terrorism.

Since September 11 Canada has provided important military support to the U.S. led coalition. We have known from the beginning that the overall campaign would be long and multidimensional, not just military. Our commitment to it has been firm and unshakeable.

Six weeks ago I announced the first of our contributions to the military effort aimed at eliminating the continuing terrorist threat posed by the al-Qaeda organization and its supporters and followers, including the Taliban. In doing so, Canada is acting within and with the support of the United Nations charter.

Article 51 of the charter preserves the inherent right of individual and collective self-defence. Security council resolutions 1368 and 1373 have expressly reaffirmed this right in the context of the tragic events of September 11. Canada has informed the security council that our international military response to terrorism is to collectively exercise the right of self-defence with our allies against the Taliban and the al-Qaeda, but we are also mindful that one of the objectives of the coalition is to assist with the humanitarian needs of the Afghani people.

In recent weeks, the situation in Afghanistan has evolved very quickly, and it remains fluid and unpredictable.

The Afghan people have suffered the effects of war for many years. Since 1997 they have suffered further under a stifling and repressive regime. They should suffer no longer.

As the Prime Minister has stated, all members of the coalition of nations have a responsibility to “provide a safe and secure environment for the Afghan people as soon as possible”. We are now taking action to fulfill our part of the commitment.

Our proposed contribution to the international coalition will include the 1,000 strong Immediate Reaction Force which comprises members of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry from Edmonton and a company of the 2nd Battalion of the PPCLI from Winnipeg. They are on a 48 hour notice to deploy.

This battalion consists of three infantry rifle companies, one engineer squadron, a headquarters, a combat support company of heavy weapons and an administrative company.

Current plans would have our ground forces working side by side with our coalition partners. Acting as a stabilization force in Afghanistan they would help create conditions that would allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered to the people of that country. Their role in securing entry points and corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid by the United Nations and NGO organizations could be critical.

Our forces are ready and able to help restore safety and security to the country as required. Their actions will fully accord with the laws of armed conflict and Canadian rules of engagement.

The precise details of our role are still being determined in consultation with our allies but our reconnaissance team is prepared and ready to deploy. We are currently consulting with our coalition partners on the exact deployment schedule. The rest of the troops are prepared to deploy following completion of the reconnaissance mission.

Meanwhile the naval task force is in the Arabian Sea; the air force contingent to support an Airbus aircraft has been deployed to Germany as of last week; and three Hercules aircraft are ready to deploy with the Immediate Reaction Force.

The situation is not without risk for our Canadian force members but they are trained and equipped to meet the task that lies before them. At the same time our thoughts and prayers are with them and with their families whose support is vital to this mission.

Let me reiterate our continued commitment to the international coalition against terrorism.

Operation Apollo represents the largest deployment of Canadian troops since the Korean war. The size of our contribution is proof of our resolve in this effort.

We are committed to eliminating the threat of global terrorism so our citizens can live without fear. We are committed to rebuilding international peace and security. We are committed to ensuring the well-being of the Afghan people.

We will succeed because we are united in a common cause with our coalition partners. We will succeed because of the professionalism, dedication and skill of our Canadian forces personnel. We will succeed because we are secure in the knowledge that our cause is just and necessary.

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolute nonsense. We have made no decision with respect to cutting any regiments whatsoever. The army is always looking at different options and its modernization and what are its needs for today and tomorrow. No such recommendation has been made by it to me. No such decision has been made by the government.

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member has answered her own question. There are those capabilities of doing this in other parts of the forces. In fact, all of the capabilities that were once with the airborne regiment do exist in various parts. They better suit our needs and what we need today in the Canadian forces. We have no intention of putting an airborne regiment back in place.

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I think that kind of fearmongering is also a shame. We have fine, dedicated men and women who are using these helicopters, flying these helicopters. They have families back here who are concerned that they return safely. Their own pilots are saying, as I pointed out just a few moments ago, that they are safe to fly and they can do the job.

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I would have thought that the first words of that particular member of the House would be to apologize to Nelson Mandela.

As I have just quoted from one of our pilots, they are safe to fly and they will operate--

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the helicopters we have now are safe, or as one of the captains who flies one said, “I have no concerns. I have all the confidence in the world in the aircraft. I have no concerns whatsoever with regard to maintainability and operation ability of the Sea King. It is quite a robust aircraft. It is...good” and it does the job.

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, that is simply not the case. They are equipped to do the job they have been assigned to do. They are not going directly into battle. They certainly are in an area where they will extend the surveillance of the frigates that they serve with. They have the kind of equipment they need to do the job.

Certainly as their own members have said, they are well equipped, they are well trained and prepared to serve Canada.

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, first, there is absolutely no intention to disband the Princess Pats. They are a proud regiment of the country. They will continue to make us proud in Afghanistan and in the future.

Second, we will get them over there as we have always done before in all of our missions. We will get the transport they need when they are called upon.

[National Defence, November 19th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition is distorting a lot of this situation as usual. If our troops go to Afghanistan, they go as part of a stabilization force. They go to help open corridors for relief and humanitarian assistance. If they are fired upon, they will defend themselves. However they are not going over there for frontline activity in an offensive manner. If they suddenly face that kind of situation without the proper equipment and preparation, it would only be appropriate to pull them back.

It is the mission they are going over for that they will do, and they will do it well.

[National Defence, November 9th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, normal processing of such claims under the DFAA involves the province, first of all, setting up a plan from which they reimburse people. They in turn make a claim within the policy to the federal government.

It is our endeavour to expedite all such claims where people have gone through this kind of suffering. We are certainly sympathetic to the problems that have existed.

As quickly as the provincial government gets information to us, we can respond accordingly.