Jean-Marc Jacob

[Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean, November 16th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs unfortunately dismissed the constructive proposal made by the mayor of Saint-Jean.

According to this proposal, which is more than just a moratorium, the Collège de Saint-Jean would be allowed a period of transition, during which it would gradually be turned into a civilian institution. The mayor's proposal has the advantage of reducing the negative impact that an immediate shutdown of military training activities at the college would otherwise have, if the federal government were to proceed as planned.

How can the minister be so reluctant to be more open-minded and flexible about considering the proposal made by the mayor of Saint-Jean, a proposal that would meet the objectives of all parties while providing for a gradual transition?

[Arms Embargo In Former Yugoslavia, November 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us if he will reconsider Canada's participation in the UN mission in the former Yugoslavia in the event that the United States stands by this decision?

[Arms Embargo In Former Yugoslavia, November 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The United States' decision to no longer participate in the control of the arms embargo in the former Yugoslavia provoked strong reactions among the allies, creating division within NATO and member countries of the former Yugoslavia contact group. The NATO Council, which met in Brussels this morning, insists on solidarity within the alliance.

Can the minister tell us what Canada's position is regarding the embargo in the former Yugoslavia?

[National Defence, November 2nd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the co-chairman of the Special Joint Committee on Canada's Defence Policy is quoted today in La Presse as saying that this department exists solely to show our solidarity with the rest of the planet.

In the report that came out Monday, he defended the idea of acquiring new equipment, the purpose of which would be to enable Canada to defend, at great expense, its territorial sovereignty.

It would certainly take mental gymnastics to be able to see how buying tanks, not to mention submarines, is a way of expressing solidarity with the planet. On the contrary, it merely confirms the militaristic doctrine that pervades the report.

My advice to the co-chairman is that he would do better to strengthen his solidarity with Quebec, which is in great need of support, particularly his, if it is to hang on to what little it receives from the Department of National Defence, the Liberal Party notwithstanding.

[Government Spending, November 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, while we are on the subject of costly travel, my second question is for the defence minister. Can the Minister of National Defence confirm that Lieutenant-General Scott Clément used a government Airbus 310 for the sole purpose of going to the William Tell missile firing competition in Florida, when he could have taken a commercial flight?

[Government Spending, November 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we are now facing a very serious financial crisis, as the Minister of Finance found out himself just recently. In that connection, we learned that the cost of travel made last year by federal civil

servants reached $617 million, which is more than $2.5 million a working day in travel by federal civil servants.

The minister asked members of the Bloc Quebecois for suggestions; should he not work at reducing travel by federal civil servants which costs, as I said, $2.5 million a working day?

[Committees Of The House, October 31st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, to continue what the hon. member just said, I would add that the Bloc Quebecois also participated in this review of defence policy and the Bloc submitted a dissenting report on some points, which is in the same book.

[Communications Security Establishment, October 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I guess I do not have any more luck than my colleagues. It seems to me that I did not get an answer. My supplementary question is as follows: Who is in charge of the Communications Security Establishment and its 1,800 employees?

[Communications Security Establishment, October 24th, 1994]

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

Since last week, the minister is refusing to provide any information on the activities of CSE, as though the subject were taboo. I hope that I will have more luck than my colleagues and that the minister will give a real answer.

Will the Minister of National Defence tell us who is the director of the Communications Security Establishment? Who is responsible for the 1,800 employees of that agency?

[National Defence, October 20th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we learned earlier this week that the Department of National Defence was participating in a missile firing competition using F-18 aircraft.

The Canadian delegation was over 60 strong. While cutting in social programs, not only did the government allow missiles costing $400,000 a piece to be fired, but the Department of National Defence also offered free air transportation to Florida for Canadian media covering the event.

There is something indecent about this "charm the media" operation and the use of public funds for that purpose. Fortunately, most media outfits declined the Department of National Defence's offer.

When will the government realize that this country's means no longer match its ambitions and that the Department of National Defence must stop such frivolous spending?