Art Eggleton

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat what I have said a number of times. We are not a member of the European Union. This was the defence ministers of the European Union getting together as they regularly do. On the side of that meeting there was an informal ad hoc meeting of three or four of those ministers plus Secretary Cohen of the United States. This was not a decision making meeting because decisions are made at NATO and we are a full participant of NATO.

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am on the job. The hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas was part of the NDP caucus that went a little AWOL not too long ago in going over to Belgrade.

I just had a meeting today with Secretary Cohen. I have had numerous meetings with Secretary Cohen and other defence ministers within NATO. I do not hear complaints from other NATO defence ministers that I did not include them.

We all know that we have informal discussions, but we also know that the decision making process is at NATO in Brussels and we are all full participants in it.

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the first thing that is false about that preamble is her suggestion that it was a NATO meeting. It was not a NATO meeting at all. It was a regular meeting of defence ministers of the European Union. They have been going on year in and year out and nobody has ever suggested that Canada should be involved in those meetings. They are strictly for the European Union. A group of them decided to have an informal ad hoc meeting on the side with Mr. Cohen. That is all it was. It was not a decision making meeting by any means. Decisions are made at the full NATO council in Brussels and Canada is a full participant.

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the premise of these questions is absolutely false.

When decision making is going on at the NATO council, we are there. When participation in terms of the peace plan involves the G-8, we are there. When decisions are made by the United Nations Security Council, we are there.

This was a European Union regular meeting of defence ministers. On the side of that, there were a few of them who got together in an ad hoc informal way. No decisions were made. Nothing came out that we were not involved in because the involvement and decision making goes on at NATO.

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I did not know yesterday simply because it was an ad hoc meeting. It was not a formal meeting. There was no decision making made there whatsoever.

There are lots of bilateral meetings. I have them with these same people. They have no official status whatsoever. What is important is that the decision making and planning goes on at NATO and we are a full partner in that process.

[Kosovo, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, first, we are involved with the planning because the decisions are made at NATO and we are a full partner in NATO.

Second, the meeting last week was a regular meeting of defence ministers of the European Union. On the side of that meeting, a few of them met with Secretary Cohen of the United States. It was an informal meeting. It was by no means a meeting attended by any NATO officials. No decisions were made. It was an ad hoc meeting. In fact, I had an ad hoc meeting on the phone today with Secretary Cohen to discuss the matter.

[National Defence, May 31st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we are developing an enhanced leadership model program because we want to make sure that the Canadian forces of the future have the most effective leadership possible. We want to make sure that ethics and Canadian values and all of the things that are important for Canadians to have in military leadership are part of the development of our future leaders.

As it turns out, one of the facilities that is being looked at is the facility in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. We have made no decision with respect to the final aspects of the program or to the facility that it will be operating.

[Publishing Industry, May 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of ramifications that would affect other countries. Certainly the kind of policy direction we have set in trying to protect Canadian culture is a very good one and one that I think will be very beneficial to both American publications and our own, as well as any other country's.

[Publishing Industry, May 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the WTO encourages countries that have disputes such as the one we had with the United States to get together to settle their differences. This was a difference between our two countries which has now been settled. It has no other ramifications that should interest the WTO. I believe that this particular issue has been resolved and resolved in a very good way.

In fact an article in the Toronto Star , if I can mention a publication from my home city, stated that a negotiated settlement was the only realistic—

[Publishing Industry, May 27th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister for International Trade is at this very moment in Budapest having discussions with some 20 other countries as they prepare for the third round of WTO negotiations starting in Seattle this fall. Certainly that issue and how to deal with the issue of subsidies is part of the ongoing discussions in terms of international trade.

Let me say that what has been decided upon here will in no way disrupt the Canadian position with respect to trade and subsidies. In fact, it is a very good resolution.