Diane Finley

[Public Works and Government Services, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated to the New Democrats yesterday, they really should not believe everything they read in the press. There are different reports about all the different things we could do, each one of them claiming to be what we would do. We could not possibly do them all.

Various ministers are reviewing a report from the analysis that has been prepared by the RCAF and has been viewed and reviewed by an independent panel of experts on this subject to ensure that the analysis is both rigorous and impartial. Once the decision has been taken, we will make an announcement.

[Public Works and Government Services, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our priority is to ensure that our Canadian Forces receive the equipment they need to do the job we ask of them.

This is a very challenging initiative, but we have launched our seven-point plan to ensure that whatever decision we take is the right one. We are evaluating all of the options to replace the F-18 fleet. No decision has been reached yet, but once we do reach a decision after evaluating all of the options, then we will make the announcement.

[Public Works and Government Services, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we are working to ensure that the Canadian Forces get the equipment they need to do their job. In order for us to do that properly, research and analyses must be conducted in a rigorous and transparent way. That is what we are doing.

That is why we brought in a panel of experts to review the analysis prepared by the armed forces. Many Canadian companies have already had business opportunities—

[Public Works and Government Services, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that there were problems with the procurement process to replace the CF-18s. That is why we came up with the seven-point plan in order to conduct the necessary analyses and identify and evaluate all the options for replacing the CF-18s. A decision has not yet been made. Once a decision has been made, then we will make an announcement.

[Public Works and Government Services, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, the procurement process and the review through our seven-point plan have been totally transparent and open. In fact, all the data that has been gathered and that we are looking at, and numerous pieces of analyses, are available on the website so that Canadians know the motions we are going through.

We also brought in an independent panel of outside experts to review the analysis prepared by the armed forces to look at the risk assessment to make sure it was both a rigorous review and one that is impartial. Once a decision has been made, then we will make the announcement.

[The Environment, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes and values Downsview Park as an important community asset within the GTA. As we have indicated many times, there is no plan and no intention to sell the parkland at Downsview Park. We are going to keep that and make sure that it is available for the residents of the area.

[Public Works and Government Services, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to provide the Canadian Forces with the equipment they need to do their job. That is why we have asked the Canadian Forces for reports and analyses concerning replacement of the CF-18 fleet.

Once the ministers have read and analyzed the reports and recommendations, they will make a decision. Then we will announce the decision and release the reports.

[Public Works and Government Services, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, no decision has been made about replacing the CF-18 fleet.

A group of experts has read the report and the analyses prepared by the Canadian Forces about all of the replacement options to ensure that the analyses are impartial and transparent.

When the ministers make a decision, it will be announced, and the information will be distributed.

[Public Works and Government Services, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should not believe everything he reads in the newspapers, especially when the source of some of that information is rather dubious. In fact, some of it even comes from well-known ex-NDP candidates. That is their claim to expertise on this issue.

We go for the facts. We are doing an impartial evaluation of the reports and the analysis done by the RCAF to make sure the decision we make is indeed based on fact and will provide the best equipment for men and women in uniform.

[Public Works and Government Services, June 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, that is just plain nonsense. We have put a pause on while we executed a seven-point plan to do an analysis of the options available to replace the outdated F-18s to make sure our men and women in uniform get the equipment they need to do the job we ask of them.

The net result has been a series of reports that were prepared by the RCAF and vetted by a committee of independent experts, who examined them to make sure any decision we make is based on impartial and fair information.