Fred Mifflin

[Points Of Order, October 19th, 1995]

The hon. member for Red Deer in his question to the Prime Minister in the context of another country used the term "meanest junk yard dogs" in reference to members of the Canadian forces.

My concern is not just that he used that term; but in reference to the tenor of the questions from the third party that morale in the Canadian forces was so bad that perhaps we may not want to send the troops, this was totally out of context. In that context I ask the member to withdraw that statement.

[Points Of Order, October 19th, 1995]

I beg your pardon?

[Points Of Order, October 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on what I think is a genuine point of order. It is on the same subject with a slightly different twist.

[National Defence, October 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question. She is aware that this has been the subject of debate in the House for the last two years. I want to tell the House that it is still being debated and the discussion continues to go on.

I will tell the hon. member that the department has met with the Bureau of Competition Policy and with all the main players involved. I will have to tell her that a decision will be coming in the very near future on this matter.

[Bosnia, October 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has already indicated that before decisions are made, whether there is a vote or not, we will have a discussion in the House.

I repeat, the Canadian forces will be capable of doing what the government asks them to do. If the member is suggesting morale is

not good in the Canadian forces, he is not doing anything to help the morale by suggesting that Canadian forces are not capable of doing what their government asks of them.

[Bosnia, October 19th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am not really sure what the hon. member's question is pertaining to.

I am perplexed by his question. As a previous member of the Canadian forces he knows the resiliency of the Canadian forces and their capacity to do what is asked of them despite adverse conditions and despite tasking.

I do not think anybody would disagree that our troops have had more than their fair share of work. The Prime Minister has indicated the work they have done has saved millions of lives and we should be very proud of that.

The hon. member is suggesting the Canadian forces do not have the capacity to participate in whatever decision is being made. Inasmuch as that decision is being made, I would prefer not to comment on it right now.

However, I assure him that if the government decides to participate in the NATO peace implementation plan, in the reconstruction of Bosnia or in the help for refugees it will be able to do what it plans to because the Canadian forces will have the capacity.

[Ruth Flowers, October 17th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the singular contribution made by Ruth Flowers of Makkovik, Labrador, a recipient of the 1995 Governor General's award in commemoration of the Persons case.

The voice of the women in her community, she has sought to protect women victimized by violence, to involve women in community economic development and to preserve and promote the traditional culture of Inuit women.

A committed advocate of women's rights, Ruth Flowers was the catalyst behind the creation of Inuit Women of the Torngats and its first president. Under her leadership the organization established the first safe house for abused women on Labrador's north shore.

For her dedication and selfless efforts on behalf of the women of the north shore of Labrador, the Government of Canada has today honoured Ruth Flowers with the 1995 Governor General's award in commemoration of the Persons case. I ask all colleagues to join me in conveying our congratulations.

[Department Of National Defence, October 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised, disappointed and somewhat disillusioned not only by the tenor of the question but by some of the implications of the question.

The members of the third party talk about calling for this inquiry. I happen to have personal knowledge and I will inform the House of it. Other members will remember when we were in opposition-I want the hon. member to check the records-I asked for this inquiry in April 1993.

[Department Of National Defence, October 6th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member had a distinguished career in the Canadian forces before he entered politics. I am quite surprised and disappointed that he would ask that sort of a question. He talks about openness. The government has no axe to grind. We want the commission into the deployment of the Canadian forces in Somalia to get to the bottom of whatever happened. He talks about being terribly open. If he wants to know what I mean by terribly open I

can tell him. It means opaque, transparent, unfettered and above board.

[Cfb Shearwater, October 5th, 1995]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Dartmouth for his question.

As announced in the 1994 budget, the operation at Canadian Forces Base Shearwater has been integrated with Canadian Forces Base Halifax across the harbour. Certain parts of the operation, strictly air, are being moved to Canadian Forces Base Greenwood.

Savings have been effected essentially by reducing the air operation at Shearwater from a full airport operation, as the hon. member knows, to a heliport operation. This is a very viable operation as it turns out and there are no plans to move it.

In summary, I am advised there are no plans to close the Shearwater site at this time.