Denis Coderre

[Marc Diab, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we were saddened to learn of the death of Trooper Marc Diab, who was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in the district of Shah Wali Kot in Afghanistan.

Trooper Marc Diab was from the Royal Canadian Dragoons and was serving as a member of the 3rd battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. He was 22.

During this very difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Trooper Diab and the four injured soldiers who are recuperating at the Landstuhl medical facility.

Today, on behalf of all members in this House, I salute the bravery and dedication of Trooper Marc Diab. In these difficult times, we must also reiterate the unequivocal message for our troops that we stand united in support of their efforts to secure freedom for the Afghan people. We are proud of you. You have our wholehearted support.

[Afghanistan, March 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, that is a new definition of the word “pathetic”.

The government knows very well that it is against the Geneva convention to transfer Afghan prisoners to local authorities who practice torture. The Americans, the United Nations and humanitarian organizations all recognize that there is torture in Afghanistan and have all demonstrated transparency in publicly tabling their reports.

Is the Prime Minister prepared to do the same and table the uncensored reports from National Defence and Foreign Affairs on torture in Afghanistan? If not, why not?

[Afghanistan, March 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, here are some facts about the Afghan detainees.

One, the last U.S. human rights report on Afghanistan reported that there is still torture and abuse of detainees.

Two, the UN Secretary-General report noted also that detainees continued to complain of torture.

Three, CBC reported last May that there is still torture at the National Directorate of Security—which is the secret service—detention centre.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Last May, Canadian Forces transferred 42 Afghan prisoners. Of those 42 prisoners, 10 went to the NDS detention centre. Why?

[Afghanistan, March 3rd, 2009]

I am talking to the Prime Minister.

What does the Prime Minister have to say to Guy Roberge, father of Chief Warrant Officer Gaétan Roberge, who was killed last December, who wants to know what our troops will be doing there until 2011 now that the Prime Minister has given up the fight?

[Afghanistan, March 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the Minister of National Defence has abandoned our troops.

The Prime Minister's about-face on the Afghan mission came as a shock to our troops, and especially to families who have lost one of their own. We hope that the 1,600 soldiers who will be leaving Valcartier for Afghanistan in the coming weeks have been informed about the Conservative government's about-face and capitulation.

[Afghanistan, March 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, that is totally false and the Prime Minister knows it. Let us try again.

In February 2008, the Minister of National Defence said:

This is why we cannot abandon the vital leadership role that we have been assuming in Afghanistan until we reach that critical tipping point....

Since the Prime Minister abdicated, what is our new critical tipping point now in Afghanistan?

[Afghanistan, March 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have been there too. I am not the one who is abdicating now. This is what the Prime Minister said in 2006:

Once we get rid of the bad people, we can carry on with full force in terms of the reconstruction and development,.

Now he is saying that we will never defeat the insurgency. For the sake of our troops, their families and all Canadians, the Prime Minister, for once, must come clean. Why is the Conservative government abdicating now? Why the new shift? Did the Prime Minister at least inform our allies at NATO?

[Afghanistan, March 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has again changed his tune with regard to the mission in Afghanistan. Furthermore, we had to hear it second-hand. He told the Americans: “Quite frankly, we are not going to ever defeat the insurgency”.

This is the same prime minister who called us all sorts of names and questioned our patriotism every time we told him that the solution in Afghanistan was not a military one. We know that there are also problems with the training of Afghan police.

Has the Prime Minister finally informed our troops that their duty until 2011 is simply to serve their time?

[National Defence, February 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, he needs to work on his French.

We know there is a delay caused by the industry minister. We already know the former minister of defence worked for Hill & Knowlton, the lobby firm that promoted the EADS CASA C-295, a competitor of Alenia's C-27J.

Interestingly enough, the current chief of staff of the minister, William King, has been senior vice-president for the very same firm.

Would the Minister of Industry assure the House that his chief of staff was not involved in any meetings with the Departments of Public Works and National Defence for that bid and that he recused himself from that file?

[National Defence, February 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, last December, the Minister of National Defence decided to recommend to cabinet that Canada purchase 17 C-27J search and rescue aircraft from the Italian firm Alenia. He promised that the official announcement would be made early in the new year. However, it seems the minister does not have his colleagues' approval. Several reporters on the Hill and elsewhere already know that his colleagues are pressuring him to change his recommendation.

Why is the minister stubbornly recommending an aircraft that the Minister of Industry rejects? Why are the criteria his department set being questioned?