Jack Frazer

[Petitions, December 5th, 1994]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my duty and honour to rise in the House to present a petition, duly certified by the clerk of petitions, on behalf of the constituents of Saanich-Gulf Islands.

The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to immediately revoke the directive from the Minister of Transport that proceeds with a detailed plan for a program of unmanning all west coast light stations and request a complete and thorough public inquiry in the province of British Columbia into the need for these manned light stations on the west coast.

[National Defence, December 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we would very much like to see a commitment by the government to bring this to pass.

The military training assistance program is one in which foreign military personnel are trained in concepts and procedures by our military. Unlike Canada, foreign military officers are often directly involved or very influential in their governments.

In the white paper the government has committed to expand this program. While the training is done by the military the results support foreign relations, international trade or it could even be called foreign aid. The committee recommended that that defence dollars be spent only on defence.

Will the minister confirm that the costs of the MTAP will not come out of the defence budget.

[National Defence, December 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps this falls into the same category, but I think the minister should address it.

The committee report also recommended that except in extraordinary circumstances Canadian forces commitments for overseas tasking should not be made prior to a debate in Parliament.

Canadians want to know what is involved and want to have more opportunity to express their opinions before our forces are committed overseas. The government has been better than the previous government, but Rwanda and Haiti had in fact been decided before they were brought before Parliament.

Will the government reconsider and commit to incorporating this parliamentary process?

[National Defence, December 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the report of the special joint committee on Canada's defence policy has been generally well received. There has been virtually unanimous support for the recommendation to constitute a standing joint committee on defence to monitor progress on defence department programs. I have been unable to find any reference to this committee in the white paper.

I ask the defence minister, is this an oversight or has the government decided to exclude Parliament from defence matters?

[National Defence, December 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, all of the reductions the minister mentions in his response were included and considered before the recommendations were made.

The defence review recommended that Canada be able to commit to the United Nations and sustain approximately 4,000 personnel. However, the white paper commits numbers that could "conceivably involve in the order of 10,000 military personnel".

As we know from Bosnia and other UN commitments, it is easier to become involved than to disengage. Canada cannot sustain such numbers. Why are we committing them?

[National Defence, December 1st, 1994]

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

The Reform Party is pleased to see that in general the white paper reflects much of what was recommended by the special joint committee on defence in its report. However, the white paper calls for a reduction in Canadian forces personnel to

60,000, 6,700 below the numbers projected in the February 1994 budget.

The defence review stated that cuts, either financial or numerical, beyond those projected would necessitate the surrender of Canadian forces capabilities. What capabilities has the government identified to be forgone?

[Petitions, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my duty and honour to rise in the House to present a petition, duly certified by the clerk of petitions, on behalf of 198 concerned citizens throughout British Columbia.

The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to refuse the government's proposed anti-firearms legislation and introduce legislation to convict and punish criminals rather than persecute the innocent.

[Bosnia, November 30th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question.

The situation in Bosnia is increasingly hazardous and is causing great concern to all Canadians. All possible attempts should be pursued in attempting to find a resolution.

The contact group, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S., was formed last April to use diplomacy to minimize tensions and to encourage agreements among the warring factions. Why is Canada not a member of that contact group?

[Bosnia, November 30th, 1994]

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

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's mission to Sarajevo today has failed. The Bosnian Serbs refused to meet with him and the Bosnian government refused to agree to a ceasefire.

Should Canada not now take the position that unless all UN detainees are immediately released, there be no further aggression against UN personnel, the Sarajevo airport be reopened to humanitarian flights and convoys allowed to proceed and an effective ceasefire be put in place, Canada should call for the withdrawal of all UN forces from Bosnia?

[Bosnia, November 23rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, hostilities in Bosnia have recently increased. Canadians are concerned for the safety of our troops in the region.

The United Nations laid down restrictions to prohibit local air force intervention in the conflict. We support the recent NATO air strikes enforcing the no fly zone.

A rule laid down and not enforced is worse than no rule at all; it is important that all combatants understand that the UN means what it says. Thus, this action has advanced the cause of protecting declared safe zones and allowing the provision of humanitarian aid to continue. Once again we want to express our

admiration of and support for our Canadian forces in that theatre.

Now that the United States has lifted its participation in the arms embargo, there is concern for how this will affect the situation in Bosnia. The Prime Minister has on several occasions stated that if the arms embargo is lifted Canadian forces will be withdrawn. Britain and France have voiced similar policies.

We hope the Canadian government will soon provide an update as to what negotiations are taking place and what actions are being considered.