House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 54% of the vote.
Bosnia May 30th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we have not yet made any decision in this regard. We believe that our troops, where they are placed at the moment, have what they need in order to be able to react, particularly if
their mandate is redefined. We have decided not to send additional troops for the time being.
Bosnia May 30th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity yesterday in this House to explain the need at this point for the United Nations to establish new directives for the troops in order to avoid a repetition of the hostage taking and, perhaps, to redefine their mandate so that the troops could act more quickly in the event of an emergency than they have been able to in the past.
Today, at the United Nations, the Secretary General is to submit new directives in this regard to the Security Council. We had an opportunity over the weekend to express Canada's point of view. We will see what the Security Council decides. Our troops in Bosnia are under the command of the United Nations, and the UN gives the necessary orders.
The Secretary General confirmed to me that the role of our soldiers needed redefining and that they should be redeployed so as to be in a position to defend themselves more readily. We will see what the UN decides later on this week.
As for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he is acting on the instructions in the statements issued in this House during yesterday's debate by the Minister of National Defence and my responses in Question Period yesterday.
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, it is a decision made by NATO and the UN. In my discussion with the secretary general of the UN yesterday he said he had agreed.
We have not been formally consulted like the others. It was a decision made at that moment by the people who have the authority. We were not formally consulted for this air strike. We discuss policies all the time but the people on the ground make these decisions. It was approved by the UN, as requested in the policy of double keys.
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we have had discussions with the Canadian military and we are supported by people who know something about this very difficult circumstance. Canadians have always been there in difficult circumstances. I am very happy that all parties except the Reform Party are supporting Canadian troops and the Canadian position.
It has been a tradition that when lives of Canadians are at stake in a difficult circumstance we back them up. The government is participating in discussions and decisions. We will make the best judgments to save lives.
In the meantime I know the millions of people living in that region are very grateful that Canadians are there to save lives and provide food and medication in a terrible situation.
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Some are and they are not members of the contact group. This is a diplomatic effort by the Russians, the Americans and three European countries which have more direct influence than we have. We do not have a traditional presence there and I admit that. However neither are the Dutch, nor the Belgians, nor the Spanish and many others. We should not take offence at that.
We are on the ground and we are making the decisions in relation to Canadian soldiers. We are participating in the discussions at NATO. We are participating in the discussions at the UN.
I had the chance to talk to many of the leaders, the president of Croatia, Prime Minister Major and President Chirac, and the minister of foreign affairs in Bosnia who unfortunately was killed over the weekend. I met him in Paris. He told me the best soldiers in that very difficult situation were the Canadians. Therefore we will keep backing them up.
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we are not part of the contact group. As I said before, 25 countries are there, some with more troops than Canada in Bosnia, and they are not part of the-
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I would say to the hon. member that at this moment when Canadian soldiers have been kidnapped it is not the time for the Canadian government to run for cover and be subjected to blackmail.
We are there to play a useful role. Thousands and thousands of lives have been saved because our troops are there. The Canadian troops are among the best, if not the best. I would like to tell our soldiers that we support them. When they went there they knew they were not going to a picnic. I am grateful to the Leader of the Opposition who said that we are backing the Canadian troops.
We have had similar incidents before and there will probably be more. In the meantime we are saving thousands of lives there, making sure that medication and food gets to the population.
The Canadian people are proud of this role and the Canadian people are backing the troops who at the moment are in difficulty.
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, we are not against any new air strikes. Last week we said that we thought, and this was echoed by the French and the British Prime Ministers, that the air strikes had probably not been planned as well as they could have been.
Had we been given earlier notice, we could have taken the necessary steps to protect our soldiers. I raised this issue with the UN Secretary General who, to a certain extent, recognized the validity of my argument. I was pleased to hear the new French Prime Minister express the same point of view, yesterday, on French television.
A review of the situation is needed, but we cannot say that there will never be other air strikes because that would mean that, if we were attacked, we would not defend ourselves.
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, this is exactly what we are discussing with the UN Secretary General.
In my answer to the Leader of the Opposition, I indicated that it was important to redefine the role of our soldiers and to ensure that they are not exposed, as they are right now, several kilometres from their base, in small numbers and completely on their own; we have been adamant on this. As for the right to attack or take firmer defensive actions, they have the power to do so, but right now, the engagement rules need to be reviewed.
As far as setting up a standing response force, I would like to know exactly what they mean. In our view, we are there to maintain peace, not to start a war with parties which are already fighting with one another.
Bosnia May 29th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the House had the opportunity to debate our presence over there on three occasions-and I am very glad that it did.
I do not know the status of the discussions between the opposition parties and the government. Tomorrow is an opposition day and would be a very good opportunity to raise this issue. There would be more time available, instead of holding a debate late tonight.
I think that tomorrow's opposition day is reserved for the third party, and I hope they will use the opportunity to debate this issue. I know that the British Parliament will debate its position on Wednesday. I would welcome a debate in this House tomorrow.