House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 71% of the vote.
National Defence October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, at one time we had over 4,000 people mainly from the army in foreign operations. We are now down to about 2,000. The people we have recently sent into the Middle East in the fight against terrorism are largely navy personnel.
We have been able to balance to ensure the operational tempo is reasonable so we are not overstretching the limit. However we still have thousands more who are available in case they are needed in this country or needed in foreign missions.
Terrorism October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the CF-18s, indeed, the entire Canadian forces, are here to protect the safety and security of Canadians. The CF-18s have been redeployed from their usual places in Cold Lake, Alberta and Bagotville, Quebec to other parts of the country as well so that we can ensure, in fact, that we have protection of the entire country. This is a precautionary measure. They do exercises as part of that precautionary measure. There is no immediate threat to the country, but as low as that possibility is, we must take precautions. We can never take it for granted.
National Defence October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, there is no approved pay reduction at all.
Let me tell the House that the 21,000 reservists over the last three years have had very substantial pay increases, as have those in the regular force. There is a proposal that will involve some readjustment, some realignment. Some will get a reduction. Even more than that will get an increase.
Overall the entire reserve force of some 21,000 is receiving increases. Reservists will also receive better training and better equipment and they will play a very meaningful role in terms of the Canadian forces of the country.
National Security October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, there is a list of over 300 critical infrastructure facilities in this country. It is presently the subject of a discussion with provincial emergency preparedness organizations and with local responders as well.
In fact, through Emergency Preparedness Canada, which was the predecessor organization of the Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness, we had built up a very considerable base of information and training involved in helping to prepare people to deal with disasters. We have dealt with natural disasters in the past and can deal with man made disasters as well.
Terrorism October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, they are not being directed at civilians. It is unfortunate that in a military campaign sometimes civilians are injured or killed but that is not the intention here at all.
Every effort is being made to maintain that any use of cluster bombs or any kind of weaponry at all is directed at deteriorating the military capability of the Taliban, al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.
After all, those are the people who are responsible for the terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States. Those are the people responsible for the deaths of over 5,000 innocent men, women and children. We cannot give them rest. They in fact must continue to be pursued and that is the objective of the campaign.
Terrorism October 31st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, those cluster bombs are only being used in connection with the destruction of the military capability of the Taliban. They are being used in areas where there are tanks, artillery and military formations.
Canada has been a leader in terms of clearing up unexploded ordnance after any kind of military campaign. We would want to make sure those are cleaned up after, but they are a legitimate use if used in a military fashion against military targets, not against civilians, and that is exactly what is happening, use only against military targets.
National Defence October 30th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, our reservists would only be asked to report on a voluntary basis and of course they would have to consider their job situation when doing that. I must however point out that the Canadian forces liaison council has signed up thousands of businesses in the country to assist in giving reservists the time off that they need.
Furthermore, the hon. member should remember that back during the ice storm some 15,000 Canadian forces personnel, most of them reservists, were made available and helped Canadians in that disaster.
National Defence October 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, no, we will not be restoring the Canadian airborne regiment, but the first part of her question was about resources.
The government has over the last three years provided $3 billion more in resources. The government has made it abundantly clear that for anything that we ask our Canadian forces to do, we will make sure they get the resources to do that job. We will not ask of them something that they are not trained to do. We will not ask of them something for which we do not give them the resources. The government will give them what is necessary to fight terrorism.
National Defence October 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, that is a lot of nonsensical rhetoric.
The JTF2 will be involved in this endeavour. It is a well trained force. It has the equipment that is necessary to do the job. It is the equivalent of the organizations it will be working with from the United States, Britain and other allied countries.
I think we can be proud of what our forces can do. We should not run them down the way the Alliance runs them down. We should be supporting them.
National Defence October 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, not every aspect of a strategy is going to be discussed publicly, obviously. We are not out to telegraph to Osama bin Laden and his supporters what the next strategy will be in dealing with him.
It has been said right from the beginning that this campaign will not be a short one and it will not at all be just a military one.
We are absolutely determined, and I know the Americans are absolutely determined, to bring about the suppression of the kind of threat from terrorism that their country, our country and other freedom loving countries in the world are experiencing.