House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 57% of the vote.
Canadian Forces May 30th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, as I said, last year when I took office I directed that families receive full compensation for normal funeral and burial costs. It may happen that for some reason a few of the families may not have received their proper compensation and I have asked the CDS to ensure that families are contacted to ensure they receive their full compensation for normal death benefits.
National Defence May 29th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, our government stands behind our soldiers and our veterans. We will give them what they need and all the support they need. If we have to correct some of the errors of the Liberals in the past, we will do so.
National Defence May 29th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I stand by every word I said yesterday.
Beyond that, defence officials are contacting families to make certain that nobody has been overlooked with respect to funeral expenses, and if they have, we will make sure that the difference is paid to them.
As I said, we are resolving this problem that was left to us by the Liberals and it will be resolved soon.
National Defence May 28th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I will give a better guarantee than that. We have been doing it since I have been in office. Any family that has had to bury one of its loved ones is entitled to full recompense for the funeral.
National Defence May 28th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, since I have been in office I have directed the department to pay the full funeral costs of fallen soldiers. I also directed the department to review the previous Treasury Board policy set by the Liberals to come to a proper resolution and line it up with current realities.
Afghanistan May 28th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, as I have said a number of times, and as the Prime Minister has said a number of times, our current military mission is to the end of February 2009. The government will consider the future at some date later this year or into the next year, at which time if any changes are proposed they will be brought forward to Parliament for debate and discussion.
National Defence May 18th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the capital cost of the Leopard 2 fleet is $650 million. In that is also included five years of support. Last night I also pointed out that it is another estimated $650 million to support the Leopard 2 fleet into the future in the long term.
I must point out that currently we have a Leopard 1 fleet. It will be replaced by a Leopard 2 fleet. The net cost to government will be minimal.
Business of Supply May 17th, 2007
Mr. Chair, as I said before, the Chinooks, when they arrive, will have all the latest defence devices on them and that is included in our budget.
Business of Supply May 17th, 2007
Mr. Chair, I am not aware of any plan to move the search and rescue from Gander. It would need to cross my desk, I would need to approve it but I have not seen it. To my knowledge, there is no intention at all of moving that group from Gander.
With respect to fixed wing search and rescue, I think it is one of the most vital requirements of the Canadian Forces. At the moment we are operating with a variety of aircraft that are successfully doing the job. As I said, the air force is working out options for the future on what it determines is the most appropriate way to replace this capability in the future.
However, for now it is a very good service run by very professional people and it has saved many lives.
Business of Supply May 17th, 2007
The deputy leader of the Liberal Party. So he believed it.