Art Eggleton

[Kosovo, June 10th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the initial group that will go into Kosovo, hopefully tomorrow, will involve approximately 100 Canadians who will accompany the British fourth brigade. They will be the engineers who will go in to help clear the roadways and routes for the troops who will follow them.

We also have a reconnaissance contingent. Part of them are already in Macedonia. Some of them are leaving Greece where they picked up the equipment, the Coyotes, the helicopters, et cetera, and will now be moving them in.

I expect the full contingent of 800 will be there in just a matter of days. They will stay there until the peace and security for the people of Kosovo are secured and the refugees can return to their homes safely.

[National Defence, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are not talking about a change of use or a change in the practices from what they have been for some 30 years. The area we use is necessary for these purposes, but every provision is made in order for pleasure craft and other boaters to be able to pass in and out, as has been the case for many years. We are not talking about any change at all and we are not talking about seizing anything. We are going through the appropriate expropriation process which involves giving fair market value for the property.

[Kosovo, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, demilitarization and disarmament are not incompatible. We will need both of those things to happen. Disarmament of the KLA will happen in the initial stages. It is in the interests of the KLA to disarm so that the peacekeepers can go in to allow the Kosovo refugees to be able to re-enter their country in peace and security. It was foreseen that way in the Rambouillet talks to which the KLA agreed.

[National Defence, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what part of my response the hon. member does not understand. I made it quite clear that we want to replace them. We are waiting on the statement of requirement. All of the entities, as the hon. member knows, are working on the statement of requirement. If we could get it out today or tomorrow, I would love to do that. I would love to do that here and now. We are going to get it out just as quickly as we possibly can.

[National Defence, June 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is not gathering dust anywhere. We are putting the final touches on it and hope to be able to bring it forward soon because we want to get on with the replacement of the Sea King helicopter. It has provided yeoman service for the Canadian forces and it continues to be well maintained, but eventually it has to be replaced and we need to get on with doing that and we intend to.

[Health, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in my capacity as a private member on this occasion. I do so to very strongly support my hon. colleague who has so eloquently spoken about the difficulties and challenges faced by so many people in our society as a result of various environmental illnesses. These include multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

The hon. member speaks with great knowledge. From a personal standpoint he has had his own challenges in this regard but he has also studied this subject matter well.

I would hope that some way could be found for the House to support this motion. I know there is a procedure involved. I understand only the Reform Party members have indicated some opposition to it. I do not know why they would.

This motion should get the support of all members of the House. It is not a matter that is going to involve, as some might suggest, an additional expenditure of money outside of moneys already allocated for such purposes. I should think that all members would want to support this motion.

An increasing number of Canadians are being afflicted. I also have personal knowledge of that. Two people are here from the Environmental Illness Society of Canada, Judith Spence and Maggie Maier. I know there are other people as well who deal with these matters on a day to day basis. They deal with the many challenges that are involved in chemical sensitivities, allergies respecting food and inhalants such as mould. Many people suffer from mould difficulties in different buildings in this city and other cities right across the country.

An increasing number of people are affected by the results of what we as a society are doing to our environment. This matter requires some serious attention.

I have talked with my colleague the Minister of Health on this matter. He is quite sensitive to this need to move forward to establish some ways that this government together with our colleagues in the provinces will be able to treat people who are in these circumstances.

Much conventional medicine, much of what is allowed now under medical plans does not recognize many of the problems and symptoms that people with environmental illness are encountering. It is time we got that kind of recognition for environmental illness and these various components of it that are noted in the motion by the hon. member for Ottawa Centre.

I would hope that all members of the House, including those in the Reform Party, would have another look at this matter. I hope that we can come to the conclusion of this with a votable motion on something which I think is very important for all Canadians.

[National Defence, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are working on this project. As I have said before, we are developing our procurement strategy. This is a very major purchase. It is very complicated too in terms of the missions system, so it is taking some time to put all the pieces together.

I am hopeful that at the very earliest opportunity we will be able to announce that we are proceeding, but certainly the matter is still under consideration.

[National Defence, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have regular meetings either by phone or in person with Secretary Cohen to discuss general matters relevant to the effort in Kosovo. Secretary Cohen informed me that the position of the ministers he met with is as we all understand and as we all agree, that the air campaign must continue.

We must put continuing pressure on the Yugoslav government while the diplomatic effort is also ongoing and involves the Russians. Hopefully it will all come together and we will be able to get peace and security and a return of the Kosovars to their homeland.

[National Defence, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, it was a meeting of the European Union. We are not a member of that.

There were a few on the side who decided to have a meeting with Secretary Cohen. I am told that General Clark was not there. In fact there was no NATO official there.

It was not anything more than an exchange of information, an exchange of views, which is the same thing that goes on, on a bilateral basis every day, including a meeting my colleague had with Secretary Albright last week. The decisions are in fact made at the NATO council in Brussels and we are a full participant.

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I had a bilateral meeting with Secretary Cohen by telephone today. I have had numerous meetings with him. My colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, met last week with the Secretary of State for the United States, Madam Albright. We did not receive any complaints from the Europeans because we had these informal bilateral meetings. It is part of the ongoing process of keeping each other informed.

However, when it comes to deciding what needs to be done, when it comes to mapping out the plans for NATO, that is being done in Brussels with the full NATO council of which we are a full participating member, and we will continue to be a full participating member in this fashion.