Art Eggleton

[National Defence, June 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, that is nonsense. The Reform Party alias the Canadian Alliance came out with a new defence policy paper today, but it is hard to take it seriously when we consider that in the last election, those members were saying there should be $1 billion in further cuts to defence.

It is hard to take it seriously when that party on the one hand says we should cut, cut, cut our tax revenues and on the other hand it says we should spend, spend, spend. Where will the money come from? Canadian Alliance members should tell us that. One of their recommendations I find particularly meanspirited, because they are saying we should not try to get—

[Fort-Saint-Jean Campus, June 6th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, we are developing an officer development program that could involve facilities in Saint-Jean. We have the base in Saint-Jean, called the Megaplex, as well as the campus of the former military college, which is still used for various programs and could be used in an expanded way.

We have started discussions and negotiations with the operators of a campus for Saint-Jean. We hope to come to an agreement very shortly that will be satisfactory to both them and the Canadian Forces.

[National Defence, June 6th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, that is simply not true. The chief of the air staff made it quite clear at each stage of the way as we engaged in the Kosovo air campaign that he had the people and the equipment that could do the job.

They were not asked to do anything they were not capable of doing. Safety precautions were always kept in mind and in place to ensure that they could do the job, and they did the job in an outstanding fashion.

[National Defence, June 6th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, they were properly equipped for the job at hand. We knew full well what the capabilities of the CF-18s were. In fact they performed admirably. They were involved in over 600 missions. They were asked by the U.S. general in charge of the air operation to lead half of those missions. That is a clear indication of the kind of expertise, training and equipment they had.

That equipment needs upgrading and is going through an incremental modernization program at this time. However, when it came to the call in Kosovo, they performed exceptionally well.

[National Defence Act, June 5th, 2000]

moved that Bill S-18, an act to amend the National Defence Act (non-deployment of persons under the age of 18 years to theatres of hostilities), be read the first time.

(Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time)

[Marine Liability Act, June 5th, 2000]

moved that Bill S-17, an act respecting marine liability and to validate certain by-laws and regulations, be read the first time.

(Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time)

[National Defence, June 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the director of military prosecutions within her jurisdiction has filed an appeal. Quite frequently there are decisions of courts in both civilian and military courts where one side just simply does not agree with the judge's ruling and therefore appeals it.

There are implications here in terms of the conduct, the cohesiveness and the discipline of the Canadian forces that are felt by the director to be important. Therefore an appeal has been launched.

[National Defence, June 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, all allegations will be looked into. As I pointed out, the four person review group has one regular military officer, General Joe Sharpe, who did a good job with respect to the previous inquiry on Croatia, plus other civilians who will be part and parcel of determining what action is necessary.

We will get to the bottom of it and ensure that all information comes out and the right remedial action is taken.

[National Defence, June 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have indicated quite clearly that we will do what is necessary to get to the bottom of this matter. We will leave no stone unturned. We will ensure no matter where the fault lies, in whatever rank, that we will in fact seek out that information and weed out any people who have not been properly following the procedures that are expected of them.

We will do that expeditiously. I do not rule out or rule in any particular mechanism at this point, except that over the next two weeks we will have a special review group, of which one is a regular military person, one is a civilian with links into the reserves and two are totally civilian.

[National Defence, June 1st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, no matter where people are in the chain of command, if they have done something that is in violation of the code of conduct of the Canadian forces we will in fact weed them out.

Let me say that we are on a direction now that will move quickly, fairly and decisively to do that. Let me also point out that we should not smear the many because of the actions of a few. Most of the men and women of the Canadian forces provide vital and essential services to Canadians and do so with great honour.