John Richardson

[Supply, October 24th, 1996]

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure, and I thank the hon. member for Shefford for his question.

However, I have to put into perspective some of his concerns. When discussing the military justice system it is important to recognize that the system is there to support the stringent and often unique requirements of military discipline during peacetime, but more particularly wartime.

This does not mean that the military justice system exists in isolation. This is not the case, nor should it be.

Indeed the military justice system seeks to parallel the civil judicial system. As a result, the military justice system has and continues to evolve alongside the civil judicial system.

For example, Canadians can rest assured that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has applied to the military justice system from the moment the charter came into force and effect. Citizen soldier are treated no differently than other Canadian citizens under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

There should be no misconception, however, that the military justice system as it currently exists is somehow less rigorous and holds military members to some lesser standards of justice. In fact, recent judgments of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada have endorsed the independence of the court martial system but indeed the integrity and validity of the system as well.

We do recognize, however, that all justice systems are complex and must evolve in order to keep pace with the changing needs of the society they serve.

As I have already stated, recent Supreme Court rulings support the overall validity of the military justice system. Yet there is always a need for the legal system to be examined vis-à-vis a changing society.

We must seek to allay concerns that the military justice system may somehow be less than rigorous and unable to withstand public scrutiny. Toward this end I can assure this House that the prudent and measured examination of the military justice system will continue.

Of course, the work of the Somalia commission of inquiry concerning the military justice system will be an important element of any examination. It is therefore with anticipation that we look forward to receiving the recommendations of the commission upon the conclusion of its work on March 25, 1997.

[Canadian Armed Forces, September 27th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member opposite has imputed a lot of motives. The facts do not flow directly or logically. He is trying to evolve a web here that is so convoluted it is very difficult to answer his question.

Simply put, the accident that took place with Corporal McKinnon was a tragic accident. Upon its discovery, immediately the armed forces took forthwith a board of inquiry to get to the bottom of it. They have followed through to the very end with charges. People have been charged with negligence of duty. One cannot be more responsible than that.

[Drayton Festival, September 27th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Drayton Festival. Located in my riding, the Drayton Festival will conclude its sixth season on Sunday, October 6.

A true success story, the festival has quickly grown from 16,000 tickets sold in 1991 to 60,000 this year. Running from May to October, the 21-week season is the third longest running summer theatre in Ontario.

This season the most popular show was a Canadian musical play about the second world war as seen through the eyes of six Canadian soldiers. Extremely popular with all audiences and heavily supported by the Royal Canadian Legion, the show was 98 per cent sold out.

The theatre, which receives no government money, recently launched a $1.5 million capital campaign to renovate its historic building. To date over $500,000 has been raised.

As you can see, Mr. Speaker, the success of the theatre is phenomenal, especially when you consider it is located in a village with a population of 1,300.

[Somalia Inquiry, September 26th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, because of the nature and the detail required, had I been given advance notice of that question, I would have answered it. I will take it under advisement.

[Somalia Inquiry, September 26th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the question from the hon. member. Because of the detail of that question, I will take it under advisement.

[Government Contracts, September 25th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the minister had a requirement for some assistance in handling some communications issues and a contract was processed by the Department of National Defence in accordance with Treasury Board policies.

The company in question was determined to have the unique qualifications required to do the work.

[Canadian Armed Forces, September 24th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, talking about leadership, I would think that the member who asked the question should take a good look at himself first.

The wheels were put in motion by this government when it took office to look at and to have a review of national defence. Flowing directly from that review was a new white paper for the armed forces. Flowing directly from that was the restructuring of the forces to bring them into the 21st century. Flowing directly from that we brought in private enterprise practices in our purchasing methods to ensure we received the best value and that they were more efficient. That is what we did. That is why they will not resign.

[Breast Cancer, September 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak on a topic of great importance: breast cancer.

Statistics tell us that in their lifetime, one in nine Canadian women will be diagnosed with this disease. They also tell us that one in every three women diagnosed with this disease will die. However, the statistics do not begin to tell the real story behind this disease: the fear, the pain and the uncertainty.

Two constituents of mine, Paul and Mary Knowles, understand fully the terror of this disease. Mary is a breast cancer survivor. Recently the Knowles published a book entitled Close to the Heart , an anthology of Canadian poetry and short stories supported by poets across this country. All the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Canadian breast cancer research initiative.

I congratulate Paul and Mary Knowles for their hard work and dedication to this cause. I encourage all Canadians to give generously to the fight against this terrible disease.

[Somalia Inquiry, June 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has covered this issue a number of times.

I will not comment on any evidence presented to the commission. The commission was established to examine all aspects of the Somalia inquiry. The inquiry is the proper forum for this kind of evidence and debate, not the floor of the House of Commons. Let the commission do its job.

[National Defence, June 20th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat, the minister has covered this issue a number of times. The minister will not comment on this because the evidence is presented to the commission of inquiry. Let the commission do its job.