Jean-Marc Jacob

[Somalia Inquiry, June 5th, 1996]

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

The credibility of the Chief of Staff, General Jean Boyle, is once again questioned by the Somalia inquiry commission.

Indeed, the general claimed he was informed of the falsification of documents last September 22, when in fact he may have known about it as early as September 15. The general is also said to have signed 68 falsified documents. Worse still, he is even said to have met with the department's former director of public relations to discuss an eventual testimony before the inquiry commission.

How does the minister explain that General Boyle signed the same falsified documents as Colonel Haswell but got away with it, while Colonel Haswell is facing several charges? Is there a double standard in military justice?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, when will the minister come to the realization that a serious conflict of interest does justify suspending the chief of defence staff on a temporary basis, since he is personally under investigation by his own military police for allegedly having authorized the falsification of documents?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 16th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of defence.

They are at it again. In an internal memo, Lieutenant-General Armand Roy urged 140 or so senior officers to get cracking to help the chief of defence staff, General Boyle. The memo also states that a political decision had been made to muzzle the general and that only the minister of defence would be allowed to make public statements about the Somalia affair.

Does the minister realize that silencing General Boyle-a fact confirmed by his spokesman, Steve Wills-is not only an act of political interference but, worse yet, in direct contravention of the military rules and procedures behind which he hid on Tuesday and which state that the chief of defence Staff is the only official spokesperson of the armed forces?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 14th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I am not asking the minister to tell me about the normal promotion procedure in the armed forces, nor am I asking him to hide behind normal procedures in an affair as out of the ordinary as Somalia. I ask the minister what sort of message he thinks he is sending to the public, with all the events surrounding this unfortunate inquiry?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 14th, 1996]

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

We learn today that apparently at least five soldiers from the Canadian Armed Forces not only witnessed the torture of a Somali youth who was beaten to death, but did not come to his assistance or even try to stop the massacre. Worse yet, we learn that after these events, these soldiers apparently even obtained promotions.

How can the defence minister justify the fact that these soldiers, who did not even have the decency to try to stop the torture and assassination of a Somali youth, received promotions in the Canadian Armed Forces?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 13th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I think the minister and the parliamentary secretary are hiding behind the supposed military discipline, but this does not satisfy the people. I think the minister has no choice but to withdraw the charges against Corporal Purnelle.

Otherwise, the minister will be telling other military personnel that they will be court-martialled if they co-operate with the commission to shed light on events in Somalia.

Is this the message the minister wishes to send?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 13th, 1996]

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

Last week, barely five hours after the minister was questioned about the dubious arrest of Corporal Purnelle, seven charges were laid against the latter, because he allegedly defied the orders of a superior who wanted to prevent him from giving evidence before the Somalia commission.

How does the minister justify the fact that, five hours after he stated in this House that no member of the army was or would be prevented from giving information to the commission of inquiry, seven charges were laid against this corporal, who had the courage to defy the order of his superiors and give evidence before the commission?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 8th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I am disgusted by the minister's answer. I think he was arrested simply for his own safety, probably.

The minister has no understanding of what goes on in his department. Does he plan a quick response to the demands of counsel for an end to the blackmail and intimidation of Corporal Purnelle, no doubt for his own protection?

[Somalia Inquiry, May 8th, 1996]

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

A few short days after the famous top to bottom search of the defence department, military police detained Corporal Purnelle, at the Quebec City airport, in order to prevent him from meeting with commissioners and lawyers of the Somalia inquiry in order to hand over information. Worse yet, the chairman of the inquiry had to intercede personally before the army would release Corporal Purnelle. I think that operation camouflage is still going strong.

How can the minister justify the army's decision to place Corporal Purnelle under surveillance for six months, thus preventing him from speaking with the Commission?

[Somalia Inquiry, April 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Justice has just said, if the commission's mandate consists in getting to the bottom of the allegations of cover-up, as well as the disappearance and alteration of documents produced under the present government, can the defence minister or the justice minister reassure us today that when the inquiry is over, the commission will table a complete report on this affair, including the names of those responsible and the appropriate sanctions, if any?