Jim Hart

[Upper Nicola Indian Band, June 1st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the constituents of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt to inform the House that the illegal roadblock by the Indians at the Douglas Lake ranch is escalating. The Indians threatened violence when the RCMP tried to enforce the court injunction to dismantle the blockade.

My constituents and I have been here before. Last year, the minister of Indian affairs refused to get involved when a similar situation arose at Apex Alpine. The minister is again shrugging off his constitutional responsibility for Indians and lands reserved to Indians.

The minister has tried to excuse himself by declaring that he has received no request from the Indians to intervene. Yet, my constituents are desperately calling for intervention from this government.

I demand that the minister get involved. The roadblock has been declared illegal by the courts. The RCMP have been unable to dismantle the roadblock.

The Liberals must act. If this illegal blockade is not taken down, then the minister should exercise his authority and suspend federal funds to the Upper Nicola Indian Band.

[Upper Nicola Band, May 31st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, clearly the Constitution Acts of 1867 and 1982 state in section 24 that the federal government has a statutory responsibility for Indians and lands reserved for Indians. Clearly this is a federal government responsibility. These people are breaking the law.

Will the government desert the people of my riding, as it has done before, or will the government cut off the funding to the Upper Nicola Band until it removes the roadblocks?

[Upper Nicola Band, May 31st, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 27, the Indians of the Upper Nicola Band erected barricades and dug trenches on the Douglas Lake Ranch road. The RCMP were met with threats of violence when they served a court injunction to remove the illegal blockade.

What action has the government taken to stop this illegal roadblock?

[Bosnia, May 30th, 1995]

Given that the minister disbanded the airborne regiment, Canada's sole rapid reaction force, what resources does he have left to send over?

[Bosnia, May 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am amazed at the responses from the Minister of National Defence and the Prime Minister today. Are we talking about the same conflict? When we listen to them we think "now we have them right where they want us". That is the situation we are in.

The Minister of National Defence said that Canada has no plans to send additional troops at the moment. This is what he said: "Unless there is a need for a withdrawal of forces under the auspices of NATO, and then of course we would be part"-

[Bosnia, May 30th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, since the defence minister is so certain about the security of our Canadian troops, maybe he would like to suggest exchanging himself for the 55 Canadian peacekeeper hostages in Bosnia.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence have stated that Canada is not prepared to commit any more resources to the former Yugoslavia. In fact, Canada has no more resources. Maybe we should talk about the lack of helmets or the lack of flak jackets or our outdated, obsolete armoured personnel carriers.

My question is for the Minister of National Defence. I would also like to remind him that we have troops who have spent three and four terms in Bosnia. Will the minister admit that Canada has no more resources to commit, that we are stretched to the limit and that we should be out?

[National Defence, May 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, surely the minister must understand it is all well and good that the deputy minister is looking into it but the Minister of National Defence is responsible for this.

The problem is deeper than Ms. Cardinal's speech. These are the views of senior management at DND. The director general of public affairs does not speak off the record. She is responsible for disseminating national defence positions and policies.

What action will the minister take with respect to his supervision with his entire senior management team at DND?

[National Defence, May 16th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

The director general of public affairs, Ms. Cardinal, has left the perception that her comments to the Media Club represent the views of the Department of National Defence senior management team. The problem is greater than one person's irresponsible comments and points to the leadership culture at the Department of National Defence which shows ignorance of Canada's frontline soldiers. There is no respect for the minister's authority at the senior management level at DND.

What does the minister intend to do to gain control over his department?

[National Defence, May 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the minister should be reminded that the former Yugoslavia is considered a war zone. News reports indicate that the situation is escalating. At this very moment the Sarajevo airport is not even open.

How can the Minister of National Defence guarantee the safe and timely return of Major Armstrong for his testimony to be heard before the commission?

[National Defence, May 15th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, this morning at 10.50 a Canadian forces liaison officer with the Somalia commission attempted to contact Major Barry Armstrong at his home.

What was the problem? As everyone in the House knows, today is the first day of a six-month tour in the former Yugoslavia war zone for Barry Armstrong.

It seems that the Somalia commission was just as surprised as members of the House that the doctor whose testimony first sparked the inquiry has been removed from the picture.

My question is for the Minister of National Defence. Is it not as obvious to the minister as it is to the Somalia commission and to members of the House that Major Armstrong being posted to this war zone compromises the investigation into the events in Somalia?