Gordon O'Connor

[Canadian Forces, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's reservists do exemplary work both at home and abroad. We are particularly proud of their outstanding performance in Afghanistan.

It gives me great pleasure to announce today another step that the Conservative government is taking for our men and women in uniform. Reservists will now benefit from a pension plan effective today, March 1. In excess of 21,000 reserve force members will now be entitled to a pension. This change will improve the quality of life of our reserve members, encourage people to join the Canadian Forces and those members currently enrolled to continue their service.

[Afghanistan, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the member sounds outraged that we actually have the human rights group involved in our handling of detainees. However, I will table a copy of the document as soon as I get it.

[National Defence, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Bourassa is always looking for a scandal. Perhaps he should look in the mirror, or perhaps he should look in the Gomery report, in which he is named. That person is one of these bottom-feeders who is always looking for a scandal. There is no scandal here.

[Official Languages, February 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, our transformation plan for languages will be implemented as of April 1 and it will, for the first time, achieve the goals of the Official Languages Act. Unlike that party, which was in government for years and failed year after year after year, we will succeed.

[Official Languages, February 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the member is creating some fictional situation that does not exist. There is no effect whatsoever on that regiment.

[Arctic Sovereignty, February 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, our government takes the north as a very important element of our country, not only our sovereignty but also to protect the environment and the people up there as well. Any action we take, no matter which department, we will always consult the people up there.

[Arctic Sovereignty, February 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, a number of departments and ministers are involved in enforcing our sovereignty in the north.

I provide the military portion of northern sovereignty. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is also involved, as are the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other ministers.

[Afghanistan, February 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we are satisfied with the modalities of the agreement.

The International Red Cross checks out all the detainees who were transferred to the Afghan authorities.

I must remind the member that we are in Afghanistan to support the Afghan government.

[Afghanistan, February 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing new to this latest investigation. The group that is attempting to get answers through the courts is now trying to do it through a commission.

Eventually all four investigations will come to a result and we will know what the truth is.

[Afghanistan, February 27th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in the House of Commons on Tuesday February 13 the member for Bourassa referred to, and I quote, “detainee abuse in Afghanistan”, and again I quote, “the issue of abuse of some Afghan detainees”, and finally, “Why the cover-up?” These are despicable comments and I demand an apology to the armed forces here and now.