Art Eggleton

[Terrorism, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, there were eight requests. We can meet a number of them now or have been meeting a number of them. For example we have been enhancing intelligence sharing and co-operation. Again the American ambassador says that our intelligence sharing was very good, but since September 11 it has been extraordinary.

We could go on with a number of these where we are already meeting or are prepared to meet it. We are prepared to consider other ones that are on here as well. We are also dealing directly with the United States with respect to other capabilities we can offer.

[National Defence, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we put $3 billion of additional money into defence. We have made it quite clear that we will provide the Canadian forces with the resources they need to be able to do the job.

With respect to the CF-18s, defence white paper 94 calls for between 40 and 60. We have 80 of them that are operational. We have additional ones that are not needed at this point in time. We use additional parts from time to time to make sure we get all the operational CF-18s ready to go when needed.

[Terrorism, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. At NATO a number of capabilities have been asked for and we have indicated agreement with them.

On top of that, we have been in touch on a daily basis with the United States in terms of what we can provide and in terms of a bilateral agreement with it.

We have been there. As the ambassador of the United States to Canada said, Canada has been there and Canada has come to the plate whenever it has been asked. We will continue to be there.

[Terrorism, October 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we volunteered any of our capabilities, either in a military context or any other context, right from the very beginning.

In fact, we were asked on September 11 to take airplanes out of U.S. airspace into Canada. We were asked on September 12 to put additional aircraft into NORAD. We have done both of those. We were asked on September 12, 13 and beyond that to help in terms of additional intelligence gathering and analysis. We have done that.

We have also offered many other ways of supporting this campaign against terrorism. We have been up to the plate and volunteered.

[National Defence, October 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I have not heard the United States talk about any particular number. The Americans have not asked us for any specific number of troops. The member has it wrong. Again, we have said that we are going to be a key part of the campaign against terrorism in a number of different ways, not all of them military. If we are asked to step up to the plate, we will be there.

[National Defence, October 3rd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, whatever the United States has asked of us in this campaign on terrorism we have delivered on. We have put additional jet fighters into the NORAD system. We have been providing valuable assistance in terms of intelligence gathering and analysis. We have given the Americans the wide array of capabilities that we have. They know what capabilities we have. We are in discussions with them as to what role we might play.

The hon. member mentioned the American ambassador. What he forgot was the bottom line of his speech yesterday when the American ambassador said, “Whenever we have asked, the Canadian government has stepped up to the plate. I have no complaints”.

[National Defence, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I made it quite clear the last time that when it comes to covert operations that special operations groups from any country, including our own, may carry out for reasons of national security we do not talk about them.

[National Defence, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, some of the comments of the Conference of Defence Associations are valid and some of them are not valid. When we add to that the distortions and exaggerations of the media and opposition, we get some statements that do not fit at all.

First, the Canadian forces are fit to carry out their job as a multipurpose combat capable force. Second, they can meet the provisions of the 1994 defence policy white paper. Third, the government is modernizing the Canadian forces. It has put $3 billion into the forces over the last three budgets. It has clearly stated that it will provide what is necessary for them to do their job.

[Terrorism, September 28th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, we are not aware of such action being taken at this point in time. I just came back from the NATO meeting. There has been a lot of discussion about it. Of course when it comes to special operations there is not a lot of information that would be divulged publicly for security reasons.

[Supply, September 25th, 2001]

Madam Speaker, the truth is that we are not afraid to take on our responsibilities. We will take on our responsibilities and we will be accountable to parliament and to the Canadian people for the decisions we make.

However, as has been the practice and what has worked well for the last eight years, is that part of making that decision will be listening to the members of parliament in the House of Commons.