Bryan May

[Foreign Affairs, March 21st, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, we are leaving no stone unturned to support our Ukrainian friends. We announced six tranches of military aid, both lethal and non-lethal, to Ukraine in February alone. This represents well over $100 million in military aid to Ukraine, and we are working tirelessly with our allies to deliver this aid. The minister continues to be in close contact with her Ukrainian counterpart and with NATO allies to see how best Canada and the alliance can continue supporting Ukraine.

[National Defence, March 4th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic is long-standing and well-established. We are making landmark investments to increase our ability to operate in the Arctic, including conducting joint exercises in the Arctic, purchasing six Arctic offshore patrol ships and enhancing surveillance and intelligence capability in the Arctic.

We will remain firm and unwavering in defending Canada's sovereignty, the people and the communities in the north, and our national interests.

[Foreign Affairs, February 11th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, our Canadian Armed Forces did everything we asked of them under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Canada was part of an air bridge with our allies that saved as many people as we could. Our armed forces worked around the clock to evacuate as many people as possible for as long as conditions permitted, including our former interpreters and local staff and citizens of allied countries.

Under the leadership of the Minister of Immigration, we are committed to bringing 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 31st, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, National Defence is taking concrete steps to ensure that the Royal Canadian Air Force can protect North American airspace and continue to fulfill Canada’s NORAD and NATO commitments.

That is why the Government of Canada launched the interim fighter capability project to procure 18 F-18 Hornet fighter aircraft from Australia with the option to acquire up to seven additional non-flyable aircraft that can be used for testing, training aids or spare parts.

This project will ensure Canadian fighter jet capability is maintained as National Defence moves toward acquiring 88 advanced fighter aircraft to replace its current fleet of CF-18 Hornet aircraft.

Transfer of the Australian F-18s to Canada began with the delivery of the first aircraft on February 21, 2019, and was completed by May 2021.

Once delivered to Canada, National Defence conducts a detailed inspection of each aircraft and proceeds with the modifications and upgrades necessary to integrate the aircraft to Canada’s existing fleet of CF-18s. This work ensures that these aircraft will be available to supplement the current fleet of CF-18s until the advanced future fighter aircraft is procured.

With regard to parts (a) and (b) (i) and (ii), Canada has purchased a total of 20 F-18 Hornet aircraft. Eighteen aircraft are deemed flyable and will be integrated into service. Two aircraft are deemed non-flyable and were purchased for spare parts to ensure the long-term capability of the fleet until a permanent fleet is fully operational.

With regard to part (c), six aircraft are currently operational. The remaining 12 are undergoing inspections and modifications in preparation to be released into service.

National Defence will continue to integrate the Australian F-18 Hornet aircraft into Royal Canadian Air Force service at regular intervals, until the final aircraft is integrated by December 2022.

With regard to part (d), the total direct cost that has been spent to date on purchasing the 20 aircraft is $127.4 million.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 31st, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, firearms are critical to allowing Canadian Armed Forces members to conduct its operations. All Canadian Armed Forces members operating firearms undergo rigorous training on the safe use of firearms and undergo routine assessments to ensure operational safety measures and protocol are always followed.

In response to (a), information on prohibited firearms with regard to the Order in Council SOR/2020-96, published on May 1, 2020, in use by the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force can be found listed below.

Prohibited firearms in use by the Canadian Armed Forces broken down by model are as follows: C7A2, C20, C15.

For reasons of operational security, information on firearms used by the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command cannot be disclosed.

In response to (b), National Defence does not keep a centralized record of firearms used by foreign militaries and cannot provide details on the specific firearms used by other militaries.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 31st, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, there is no room in the Canadian Armed Forces or the Department of National Defence for sexism, misogyny, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, discrimination, harassment or any other conduct that prevents the institution from being a truly welcoming and inclusive organization.

National Defence understands that culture change within the Canadian Armed Forces and National Defence is required to remove toxic behaviours and to create an environment where everyone is respected, valued, and can feel safe to contribute to the best of their ability.

This is why on December 17, 2020, the Minister of National Defence created an advisory panel as part of National Defence’s efforts to support Indigenous, Black and people of colour, along with the LGBTQ2+ community, and women.

With respect to parts (a), (b) and (c), the minister’s advisory panel is mandated to identify and address systemic racism and discrimination within the Defence team. Additionally, the advisory panel is tasked with providing advice and recommendations on how to eliminate systemic racism and discrimination, which impacts the recruitment, retention and equality of opportunity for all marginalized and racialized members of the Defence team.

The panel’s mandate was purposely made broad to ensure that the panel’s scope could be as far-reaching as required. While the panel is designed to focus on anti-indigenous and anti-Black racism, LGBTQ2+ prejudice, gender bias and white supremacy, the panel is not restricted from exploring all forms of racism.

The exploration of white supremacy allows the panel to address anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, as Jewish and Muslim people are common targets of white supremacy and white supremacists. For example, as part of its engagements with internal and external defence stakeholders, panel members have explored the concept of anti-hate, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia within National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. This included holding separate meetings with members of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, and the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at the Ontario Tech University, to discuss issues related to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

The advisory panel has regularly met with the minister’s office to update and brief it on their progress. Due to challenges caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the panel requested and received a short extension to provide its report. The panel delivered its final report and recommendations to address the policies, processes and practices that enable discriminatory behaviours within the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces to the minister on January 7, 2022.

The Minister of National Defence is currently reviewing the panel’s report and recommendations and will meet with departmental officials to discuss potential next steps.

The panel’s report and recommendations will contribute to eliminating harmful attitudes and beliefs that have enabled racism and discrimination, and will create an environment where all feel welcome in the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces.

[Seniors, December 10th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, we know that helping our growing senior population is critical, particularly during COVID-19.

The New Horizons for Seniors program provides grants up to $25,000 for projects that help seniors age in place, stay healthy and remain connected. We have funded over 3,000 projects across Canada this past year, including some great ones in my riding of Cambridge, like the Islamic Centre of Cambridge, Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, Good Neighbour Community Garden, Fairview Mennonite Homes, Townline Muslim Centre, Kinbridge, Fiddlesticks and Alison Neighbourhood Associations, and the Preston Lawn Bowling Club.

Everyone in the House should remind their communities that the New Horizons for Seniors program is open for applications right now and up until December 21.

We must all help our seniors-focused organizations apply and help all Canadian seniors to stay connected, happy and healthy.

[Business of Supply, December 7th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, my riding of Cambridge is very quickly becoming Hollywood north. We are a destination for a lot of films and TV shows, including Murdoch Mysteries, The Queen's Gambit and The Handmaid's Tale, to name just a few. One of the interesting spinoffs of this is tourism associated with the fans of those TV shows.

I am wondering if the minister could quickly explain what the government plans to do to help communities like mine bounce back in the tourism industry.

[Nuclear Industry, December 6th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to speak to the recent accomplishments by the Canadian nuclear industry.

Ontario Power Generation has announced that Darlington will construct a small modular reactor, SMR, in partnership with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy.

This is a significant step in the development of SMRs. It delivers jobs and helps us meet the climate crisis. In addition, the Canadian Nuclear Association recently signed MOUs with Romania and the French nuclear energy society to promote the growth of civil nuclear energy.

These are decades-long relationships that will continue to grow as Canada works to address climate change with its international partners. These announcements demonstrate the leadership of OPG, CNA and the nuclear industry's creation of jobs and economic, environmental and technological benefits for all Canadians. Please join me in helping welcome them and congratulating them on their incredible work.

[Petitions, June 22nd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition, petition e-3185, has more than 2,000 signatures. This petition was started because of issues about a street named “Swastika Trail”, which has caused frustration and concern for some residents. These petitioners are calling for the end of using the word “swastika” as a name, sign or symbol in Canada where it will lead to hatred or harm, and ask that in those instances the name be changed.