House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 67% of the vote.
National Defence May 6th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, contrary to the member's inaccurate assertions, as the Chief of the Defence Staff has said in a statement issued last night, there was no risk to personnel, which is why there is no requirement for any Canadian Armed Forces personnel to be withdrawn from Operation Impact.
The government regrets the error and will take every possible measure to ensure that it is not repeated in the future.
National Defence May 6th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, when concerns were raised about certain images, the government immediately took them down to verify whether protocols had been properly followed.
After another review, the government decided that two of the videos should not have been posted. We regret the error, and we are reviewing the protocols for the publication of such images.
National Defence May 6th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the government and Canadian Armed Forces agree with the leader of the opposition. I believe all Canadians believe that any form of sexual aggression is totally inappropriate in the Canadian Armed Forces and must be dealt with in the severest way possible.
It is why the Chief of the Defence Staff appointed Madam Justice Deschamps to lead this inquiry. It is why he has accepted all 10 recommendations. It is why he has appointed General Whitecross to implement those recommendations, and not 2 of the 10, but 10 of the 10.
National Defence May 6th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, what the hon. Leader of the Opposition just said is completely and 100% false. The Chief of the Defence Staff was clear last week: the Canadian Armed Forces accept the 10 recommendations set out in the report and are taking this matter very seriously.
Sexual misconduct of any kind has no place in the Canadian Armed Forces. The military has already begun to implement two of the recommendations. It accepts the other eight and has appointed Major-General Whitecross to implement them.
Ongoing Situation in Ukraine April 29th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I am even more confused because the NDP demanded a debate and we are having a debate.
The member wants more information. The NDP has not asked a single question in question period in the two weeks since the training announcement was made. It has not written me a letter asking for information. Tonight when I spoke, the NDP members did not ask me for any details of the training operation. They asked about logistics in the Ukrainian military and the provision of supplies. They have not asked any detailed or substantive questions about the training operation.
We have provided all the information. What is actually going on here? Let us call a spade a spade. The NDP does not want to take a position, because most Canadians support this training operation. The NDP's ideological base cannot tolerate the notion of Canadian troops operating in any capacity overseas. I think that is what is really happening.
Let us just try to pull this out a little. What is the NDP position? If the NDP members actually have questions to ask, why do they not ask them in question period? Why have they not been brought forward in an opposition supply day to debate and put it to a vote? Why have they not written me a letter, asking any of those questions? I just do not think it is credible.
Ongoing Situation in Ukraine April 29th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I am a bit confused.
First, I thank the hon. member for taking part in the debate. However, after I announced our operation to train Ukrainian forces, the NDP foreign affairs critic called for a debate in the House. That is why the government moved this motion and we are having this debate this evening. So far—I have been here for two or three hours now—I have not heard the NDP take a clear position on the training operation in Ukraine that the government announced.
I have a simple question for the hon. member. Does she support the operation to train Ukrainian forces recently announced by the government?
Ongoing Situation in Ukraine April 29th, 2015
Mr. Chair, that is a question I would refer to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I am here to discuss the Canadian training mission.
As a general rule, we have listed more individual Russians on our sanctions list than the United States or the European Union. We are demonstrating leadership. However, we would encourage those jurisdictions to follow our example when it comes to sanctions.
Ongoing Situation in Ukraine April 29th, 2015
Mr. Chair, with regard to Canada's mission against the genocidal terrorist organization known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, we are likely being more transparent than any other country. We are posting reports of all Canadian Forces air strikes in that area on my department's website. Every two weeks, Canadian Forces officers provide public updates or briefings on the situation there.
I am quite prepared to provide similar information regarding the training mission for our Ukranian partners. It will be a very open mission. It is not a secret. We provide similar training programs in countries all over the world. The Canadian Forces specialize in these programs. This is not a closed mission. It is transparent. I will be pleased to share information about the progress of our training mission in Ukraine with the House and the general public.
Ongoing Situation in Ukraine April 29th, 2015
Yes, Mr. Chair, I certainly can. The media report to which he refers was wholly and entirely inaccurate. It was repeated by the leader of the Liberal Party, in this place, a couple of weeks ago.
I have here a declassified advisory maritime interaction event report from the commander of the HMCS Fredericton, dated 6 March 2015, which indicates that during an under way replenishment at sea, two Russian war planes closed Fredericton's position and operated in air space in the vicinity of the Fredericton for approximately 30 minutes. The aircraft closed Fredericton's position one at a time, at medium altitude, conducting manoeuvres to demonstrate they were not carrying weapons. Thereafter, the aircraft continued to operate in the vicinity of the Fredericton, flying at low and medium altitudes at distances that ranged from over top to several miles from the Fredericton. The Russian aircraft were not in communication with the Fredericton.
I would be happy to table this report, which comes from the commander of the Fredericton and demonstrators the precise veracity of what I said.
Ongoing Situation in Ukraine April 29th, 2015
Mr. Chair, I beg the member's indulgence. I am not entirely clear on the question. Certainly, we will be willing to receive advice from the member and appreciate his support for the training mission.