Mr. Speaker, I consider that basically a silly question.
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Afghanistan November 8th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I consider that basically a silly question.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, we ceased the project because there was a technical problem. The radars interfered with communications in Europe and we were told to desist. We will look at other solutions, other frequencies, to solve the problem.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, as I said before, this is a matter for the industry minister. If the member opposite wants the answer to that question, he should approach the industry minister.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, that is a question for the industry minister. He could tell the member where all the benefits are going.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, first, I said that 100% of the money would be invested back into the country. I think the member alluded to the 60%. It is the 60% requirement that any contractor has to identify immediately to get a contract. They then subsequently have to develop the other 40%. One hundred per cent of every dollar spent on these projects comes back to Canada.
Second, the member referred to the C-130J, as did hon. members from the other party. No decision has been made. No tactical aircraft has been selected at this moment. We had the requirements and the funding. We have the SOIQ regime to sort out who can win. It is involved in testing and everything else. No company has been chosen.
I promised one of the member's opposite to get them the price of a C-130J, which I will do, but we have not acquired any.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, surprisingly, I do not agree with the member opposite.
From the point of view of the Department of National Defence, the military sets the requirement. It says that it has a certain need and it describes the need and its essential characteristics. We also calculate the cost of this equipment, in the case of aircraft, and the support for 20 years. We then need to get the approval of cabinet to proceed with it. It is then basically handed over to the public works and industry departments.
The understanding in any procurement that we are making at these scales is that we will get 100% benefits back in Canada. Every dollar spent will come back to Canada.
I can assure the member opposite that Quebec industries will benefit, Ontario industries will benefit, western industries will benefit and Atlantic industries will benefit. Everybody in the country will benefit from these contracts.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, I do not know what the allusion is. I do not know where these comments are coming from.
Our intention is to recruit into the armed forces, to increase the regulars by 13,000 and the reservists by 10,000. We believe it is quite achievable because a military career is a very good career for anybody in this country.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, I will have to get the number on recruiting costs. However, what the member is representing is the intention that all members of the armed forces will encourage people to join the armed forces. When they go to their town, when they go to their families, they will encourage people. There are 64,000 regulars and 23,000 reservists, for a total of 87,000. The allusion was to 80,000. It was an idea that the people who are in the armed forces love the life of the armed forces, think it is a great career and would go out and encourage other people to join. They are not formal recruiters.
The recruiters are smaller in number, in the hundreds, but I will get the member the number on recruiting costs.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, the price that the member opposite is quoting is yes, $3.2 billion. That also represents 20 years of support. That is 20 years, not 2 years.
The member asked me about the price of a C-130J. I said I would get it for her. Mixed in that number is 20 years of support.
Business of Supply November 7th, 2006
Mr. Chair, I do not have that number immediately at my fingertips. I will get it to the member as quickly as possible.