House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 56% of the vote.
Iraq April 1st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, on occasion the questions from the Canadian Alliance provoke me a bit more than the completely repetitive questions that come from the Bloc Quebecois. Obviously the government did not make its decision based on historic precedents, because we continue to look for this type of precedent.
This decision was made for the reasons that I have explained a thousand times in the House. Does the Bloc Quebecois not have any other issues to raise?
Iraq April 1st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I can take any amount of muddle-headedness from the Bloc and the NDP but I wish the Alliance members would spare us their rank hypocrisy.
When they speak of us washing our hands of our troops or not supporting our troops, I take extremely strong exception to those comments.
Having visited Afghanistan in July and having been bowled over by the courage and performance of our troops, I have repeated this time and again in the House. It is the Canadian Alliance that is trying to score cheap political points on the backs of our soldiers.
Canadian Forces March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I have just explained that Canadian soldiers remain under the control of Canada. For instance, in Afghanistan, even with the Americans, we Canadians had our own rules of engagement.
Canadian Forces March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, as I have just explained, ultimately, Canadian soldiers who take part in exchanges with other countries remain under the control of the Government of Canada and Canadian military personnel. In everyday matters, when we are serving with the British or the Americans, naturally, we obey their orders. But ultimately, the responsibility is Canada's.
Iraq March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, we do not want to answer hypothetical questions.
Iraq March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, they are in a situation of combat around them. They themselves are not in direct combat, as I have explained many times.
Sadly, it is a fact of military life that there is always risk to life in whatever we do. The government has the responsibility to manage these risks against a whole number of other considerations. It is a deep responsibility that the government bears, but I am confident that the government has taken its responsibilities and is managing these risks in a prudent and responsible way.
Iraq March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I said they were not direct combatants.
I pleaded at the beginning of question period for at least a temporary downing of partisan tools. The Canadian Alliance would have us send more people than we have into the region. The other opposition parties would have us send fewer people.
Why do we not for a change focus on those who are there? Why do we not behave in a way that would please them and please their families? Why do we not, all of us, stand behind them and say to the Canadian public that we thank them for their service to our country?
Iraq March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the document also makes clear that the ultimate control in this matter rests with the Government of Canada. The Government of Canada has discretion over these matters. The Government of Canada, after careful thought and consideration and given the non-direct combat role of our people, given the importance of our alliance with the United States and with other countries, and given the events of September 11 and our total commitment to the war on terrorism, decided our exchange officers would stay where they are.
Iraq March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, our historians are looking into these matters. We do not have all of this information from years back computerized. There may be cases in which these exchanges did occur in the Falklands or there may not. We are currently looking into it.
As to what may have changed since then, one thing that has changed is September 11. September 11 marked a turning point. From that point we have been shoulder to shoulder with our friends in the United States in the war against terrorism. We are with our friends in that war in the gulf--
Iraq March 31st, 2003
Mr. Speaker, mentioning France is relevant because that country is fighting terrorism along with Canada. That is the relevancy of what I said and what the Bloc Quebecois always forgets. Canada is an ally of the United States in fighting terrorism. We have been there since the beginning, and we are there now with France and other countries. We are proud of our role in fighting terrorism now when the risks are higher. That is our position, and I am proud of it.