Gordon O'Connor

[National Defence, June 14th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite obviously does not know much. The government has not decided on any equipment. When it decides on the equipment, it will be announced to the public.

I will also remind the member that, during our campaign, we promised to acquire strategic and tactical airlift.

[National Defence, June 14th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I do not want to refer to who is actually stupid here.

The previous government allowed the military to decay year after year for 13 years. It acquired three major pieces of equipment. We are now picking up the pieces. We are going to provide the military with what it needs so it can get on with protecting our sovereignty and our security.

[National Defence, June 14th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where to start with that outrageous question.

The government has not made any decision with respect to equipment. When the government makes a decision, it will be announced to the public.

With respect to the second issue, it is like that member is on some kind of closed loop. The answer to the question is this. I followed all the rules in the past, I am following all the rules now and I will be following all the rules in the future.

[Official Languages, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, within the next few months the strategic language plan will be issued in defence which will provide clear objectives of the department. I believe that this will address the needs that the member has identified.

[Official Languages, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, a strategic plan will be coming out to adjust positions and identify bilingual positions in the Canadian Forces. When this adjustment comes out, I think members will find a dramatic improvement in the defence department.

[Official Languages, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I do not understand the purpose of the question from the member opposite.

However, the Canadian Forces will be developing an official languages plan. It will be out within the next two months and will meet all the needs of the Canadian Forces and the language commissioner.

[National Defence, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, no decision has been made on any equipment. Maintenance will be done where it is appropriate in Canada.

I was not thinking about the box of chocolates. I was thinking about the other one when I talked about Forrest Gump.

[National Defence, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, no decisions have been made on equipment. When they are made, they will be in the interests of the military, Canadians and industry. They will all come with industrial benefits. There will be a great improvement in the industrial situation in Canada.

[National Defence, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member opposite hit the key word “announced”. That is all Liberals ever did: announce and announce. The Liberals never produced.

We are going to deliver this year more equipment for the Canadian Forces than the Liberals can ever imagine.

[National Defence, June 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, no decision has been made yet by the government on equipment. However, Canadians may recall that in our election campaign we said that tactical and strategic lift was a high priority.

This is unlike the previous government that prosecuted three projects in 13 years. That is the Liberal government record.