Robert Bertrand

[Committees Of The House, March 17th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts entitled “Department of National Defence: Equipping and Modernizing the Canadian Forces, and Buying Major Capital Equipment”.

[Official Languages, March 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Canadian Heritage announced that an additional $70 million a year would be put into official languages support programs.

These $70 million that will be reinvested in this area will allow us to reinforce our support to official languages communities as well as our support to the provinces and territories for the teaching of official languages and for the provision of services in the minority language.

The announcement was well received by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne, which believes that the minister kept her promise to increase direct support to communities, and by a number of associations, which are pleased to see that funding for official languages support programs is being restored.

I would also like to mention that the member for Dauphin—Swan River took a stand in favour of Canada's linguistic duality before the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages by congratulating the government on its decision to invest in education. I applaud him for supporting our official languages.

[Film Industry, March 8th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was an historic evening in Quebec. It marked the first “Cinéma d'ici” gala.

It was a unique and emotion-filled event at which tribute was paid to numerous writers, actors and actresses for the talent and unstinting commitment to quality that characterizes their work.

Film is very much a part of our culture. Without it, society has no soul and would be without a vital means of proclaiming its existence to other nations.

Quebec's film industry is active and draws on considerable talent. It is up to us, the public, to seek it out, to appreciate it and to challenge it so that it can more easily make the transition from within Quebec's borders to the international stage.

Once again, bravo to all the participants and best wishes for what promises to be an increasingly successful future for this cultural industry.

[Points Of Order, March 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, for your information, at that particular committee it was voted unanimously by all five parties represented that any document or any motion be brought forward in both official languages. I find it strange that this is brought up today. As I said, it was voted unanimously that this be done.

[Premier Of Quebec, March 4th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the inaugural speech by the Premier of Quebec was far from impressive. In it, he announced that he would step up efforts to attack the federal government and to sell the concept of separation.

This sounds more like a speech to a partisan sovereignist group than a speech by a government.

One would have liked the Premier of Quebec to state his intention to work in good faith with the federal government in order to settle some major issues.

One would have liked to hear his proposals for at least attempting to improve Canadian federalism.

One would have liked to hear Lucien Bouchard telling us whether he would respect the decision taken by Quebeckers in the last referendum, as well as telling us that he had properly understood the meaning of the results of the last election in Quebec.

Instead, we were treated to the prospect in the months to come of nothing but disdain and confrontation from the sovereignist government. A pleasant prospect indeed.

[Division No. 326, March 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, our government remains committed to making the most of the surplus property and the associated potential economic benefits at Shearwater Canadian forces base. The transfer of the surplus property has begun.

Since reducing its activities on the airfield, the department has done its best to maintain the property's viability, pending an official transfer.

As a local development agency, Shearwater Development Corporation has had some successes, including the Fisherman's Cove project.

Shearwater Development Corporation is no longer in the picture, but the tenants, which are still operating commercially on the property, are being accommodated to the extent possible by the base commander.

The Province of Nova Scotia is interested in acquiring the surplus property.

The Province of Nova Scotia and Public Works and Government Services Canada, representing the Department of National Defence, are now negotiating the transfer of the surplus property.

At the request of the Nova Scotia government, negotiations are taking place behind closed doors. Information on the transaction will, however, be released when an agreement has been signed.

The economic impact of the Shearwater transfer has always been the prime concern of national defence. As the Minister of National Defence previously stated in the House, our main objective with these negotiations is to use lands that are no longer required by the department for the benefit of the people of that province and that community and to create economic development opportunities so that jobs can be created there.

It is important to remember that the Canadian forces still have a strong operational requirement for the land we are retaining. Moreover, there are some 1,000 military and civilian personnel who operate out of the site and the resulting economic benefits cannot be overlooked.

[Division No. 325, March 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the anthrax vaccine administered to members of the Canadian forces deployed in the Gulf had not expired.

It was tested according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration directives in 1996 and its expiry date extended to 1999. Before it was used to vaccinate Canadian and American troops, it was also tested for strength, safety, sterility and purity.

The U.S. defence department asked Mitretek, an independent American firm, to supervise testing and to audit the results of testing by the manufacturer, Michigan Biologic Products Institute, in January and March 1998.

Finally, the vaccine we received was again tested on the orders of the U.S. defence department, in accordance with FDA directives. These additional tests confirmed that the vaccine was both safe and effective.

The vast majority of those vaccinated against anthrax suffered no ill effects. A very few experienced a small local reaction, comparable to that caused by other vaccines currently used in Canada.

Our policy for pharmaceuticals is to obtain from Health Canada approval to import, store and distribute vaccines licensed in other countries but not in Canada before DND gives them to our personnel. This is exactly what we did with regard to the anthrax vaccine last year.

We must remember the operation in the gulf was potentially dangerous. The government has worked in good faith and in the best interests of the men and women of the Canadian forces to provide them with the best protection possible.

[The Economy, February 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this House has received two pieces of good news concerning the economy this week.

First, a budget that reflects the Liberal government's commitment to administering public funds efficiently and providing maximum support to all regions of Canada.

The second news came to us just this morning. According to Statistics Canada, exports have increased by 7.4% in 1998 over 1997, to $320 billion. This growth remains comparable to that of the last two years, which have actually been excellent years for Canada.

These statistics get us thinking. To maintain its unique place on the world stage, today more than ever, as we move toward the year 2000, Canada must remain united.

If we want them to represent a viable economic force in the future, all Canadian provinces must continue to co-operate in a spirit of consultation and negotiation, making Canadian federalism evolve in the interest of quality of life in Canada.

Long live Canada.

[Peacekeeping, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I will share my time with the hon. member for Nepean—Carleton.

I am pleased to address the motion moved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding Canada's possible role in Kosovo and the changes that could be made to our peacekeeping activities in the Central African Republic.

Canada has been a promoter of internationalism for a long time. We fought tyranny during the two world wars, and also in Korea and in the Persian gulf. We are a founding member of the League of Nations, the United Nations and NATO.

Over 100,000 Canadian men and women have served in peacekeeping operations all over the world. In fact, Canada has participated in almost every UN mission. We have made exceptional contributions to international peace and security during missions in various countries around the globe, including Cyprus, Afghanistan, Rwanda and Haiti.

The Canadian forces can really be proud of that tradition of commitment and courage. Today, we have once again an opportunity to publicly express our support for that tradition and our determination to maintain it.

Let me first discuss the fragile peace established by MINURCA, the UN mission in the Central African Republic.

Established in 1998, MINURCA started carrying out its initial three month mandate with 1,350 soldiers from Canada, France and six African countries after a series of military mutinies in 1996 and 1997.

At a meeting of the Standing Joint Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs in April, committee members recognized the contribution Canadian forces could make in the context of this sort of mission. They unanimously passed a resolution recommending Canada's participation in MINURCA.

MINURCA's mandate consisted in helping the government of the Central African Republic maintain security in and around the capital, look after the arms given up by demobilized factions, ensure the safety and freedom of UN personnel, establish a civilian police force and provide limited advice and technical support for the legislative elections.

MINURCA made a lot of gains and in so doing paved the way to the political progress necessary to national reconciliation. Nevertheless, despite improvements, the UN secretary general indicated that a very fragile peace had been established. He considered that an extension of MINURCA's mandate would help consolidate the progress made to that point. The secretary general also pointed out that it would be vital to maintain an ongoing UN presence to ensure that the presidential elections, slated for the fall of 1999, are free and fair.

By deploying 47 members of the Canadian armed forces to MINURCA, our country has made a vital contribution since the start of this mission.

Provided that certain conditions are met, I think we should extend our participation in MINURCA. Because we are providing the signals component, we are pivotal to the mission. Our bilingual soldiers are getting along well with their counterparts from other countries also taking part in the mission.

We have a wide range of experience to share with African nations regarding all sorts of peacekeeping and peacemaking operations. Our tradition of and commitment to adopting multilateral solutions to peace and security challenges naturally inclines us to provide assistance to others when we can change something. And, in my view, we can still do this in the Central African Republic.

For these reasons, we feel that a response to the secretary general's request to extend the MINURCA mission is imperative.

We also recommend that Canada continue to supply a contingent to MINURCA, provided that security, logistical and sanitary support services are put in place.

As for possible participation by Canada in Kosovo, although the details are different, the broad principles are similar to those mentioned earlier.

Members will recall that, during the special debate on Kosovo last October, all parties agreed that the crisis had taken on a humanitarian dimension. Members also agreed that Canada should continue to support its allies in this struggle against aggression and human rights violations.

I for one had given many reasons in support of Canada's participation in the peace restoring effort in Kosovo. First, we have an obligation to support our allies and to respond to the acts of violence and human rights violations in Kosovo. Canada's commitment to freedom and respect for human rights would become meaningless if we failed to act.

Second, Canada should be part of any peacemaking force mobilized by NATO following the negotiations because of the alliance's proven expertise in carrying out this kind of mission. On the eve of NATO'S 50th anniversary, we must continue to co-operate with our NATO allies in maintaining peace and stability in Europe.

Third, our participation would be in line with our foreign and defence policies, which are based on promoting Canadian values abroad and contributing to international peace and security.

Finally, I had indicated that Canada's participation would constitute a logical extension of our prior and current contributions to UN and NATO peace operations in that region since 1991.

My position has not changed since our debate in October. Unfortunately, the situation has deteriorated in many regards. We cannot accept human rights violations like the ones in Racak, nor can we ignore the serious geopolitical problems associated with this crisis. I am more than ever convinced that the international community, of which Canada is a member, must be prepared to take action in favour of peace and stability.

During my first trip to Bosnia in 1994, I was able to see the damage caused by years of war to the people and the country. I witnessed the contribution of the NATO stabilisation force in Bosnia when I went back to Bosnia in November 1997 as part of a delegation of members from the defence and foreign affairs committees. At the time we met with members from the Canadian armed forces and we saw all their efforts to promote peace.

The international community has taken several steps to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict which has been going on in Kosovo since hostilities first escalated in early 1998. We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Rambouillet negotiations hoping the leaders of the Albanians in Kosovo and the representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will be able to settle their differences at the negotiating table.

I urge all my colleagues to recognize the seriousness of the situation both in Kosovo and the Central African Republic. Under these circumstances, we would be well advised to maintain our presence in MINURCA in the Central African Republic. Moreover, if it is determined that a NATO led implementation force should be part of the solution to the crisis in Kosovo, Canada would be well advised to be involved in such a force.

[Peacekeeping, February 17th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have more of a comment than a question.

I have been hearing a lot of noise tonight about our government not giving enough money to the Canadian armed forces. In yesterday's budget there was quite an amount given to the Canadian armed forces. I believe it was the first time in 12 years that the Canadian armed forces have had new money. If memory serves me correctly, there was $175 million for the next three years and also about another $150 million a year in incremental terms. We are looking at close to $1 billion over three years.

The member from the Reform Party says it is a band-aid solution. I think $1 billion for the Canadian armed forces is a lot more than a band-aid solution.