Denis Coderre

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, in another vein, can the minister tell me what is the most useful item for a soldier, after a rifle?

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, is the minister, therefore, confirming that the Chinooks are not necessary for the mission in Afghanistan?

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, I know that our time is being counted. I thank the minister for his answers.

On the subject of the Chinook helicopters, the amount of $4.7 billion is mentioned. It is clear in our minds, on this side of the House, that the Chinooks were purchased for the mission in Afghanistan. So the amount of $4.7 billion will fluctuate because it seems that this transportation equipment will not be adequate. Boeing has been asked to provide additional shielding and to add equipment, as a result of which this equipment will not be ready before 2011 or 2012.

Can the Minister of National Defence tell us whether the amount of $4.7 billion is the total budget and that there will be no increase? Does he expect that when this question comes up again the budgets will greatly exceed $4.7 billion given the requirements of National Defence?

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, I simply want to know how much it costs the taxpayers in terms of equipment. I know, for example that the minister has made an announcement about the tanks. I gave him as an example Operation Archer with all of the lists. Since I want to ask several questions, I will not go over that list again because he knows it.

At that time, in 2005, the requirements were estimated at $280 million. In terms of equipment, if we put aside the operating budgets, how much did it cost for the equipment?

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, when we introduced Operation Archer in 2005, we were talking about $280 million for equipment at the time.

What are the current additional operating budget costs for the mission in Afghanistan, taking into account all of the announcements the minister has made about the mission in terms of equipment?

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, can the minister tell us if that also includes equipment or if that is just the operating budget?

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, it seems to me that last year, on November 7, they said that the estimated total cost to the end of February 2009 was $3.9 billion. Now it seems that these estimates have been increasing since the beginning.

What are the expected costs of the mission in Afghanistan from now to the end of February 2009?

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, this evening is not a question period. We will be discussing supply.

I would like to begin by talking about respect. I think that this evening's exchange should take place in the spirit of respect for our troops and taxpayers. I will raise a number of questions about the costs of the mission, acquisitions and other items.

First, I would like to ask the minister what the mission in Afghanistan has really cost to date.

[Business of Supply, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for Scarborough Centre. We will each have seven and a half minutes.

[Afghanistan, May 17th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, next time maybe he can talk about Mr. Schreiber.

The Prime Minister refuses to admit that he is responsible for the cover-up concerning the Foreign Affairs report on Afghan prisoners. The Minister of Foreign Affairs admits to us that he does not read his mail and says that his staff had nothing to do with it. As for the Minister of National Defence, well, his phone seems to be out of service. We are witnessing a planned cover-up. No one wants the truth about this damning report to get out. Canadians deserve the truth.

What is the government afraid of?