House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 56% of the vote.
National Defence February 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I will be meeting the four individuals soon. There will be a secretariat of departmental up and coming, younger officials to help them along the way. We will look at the procurement process which I think could be improved. They will have a mandate to search where they can to improve the efficiency of the department in every aspect. They will report back to me in six months, at which time I will study their recommendations.
National Defence February 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, one of the tasks of large government departments as well as private sector corporations is to spend their money efficiently and wisely and to transform themselves with changing market conditions and a changing security environment.
In order to get maximum value for the taxpayers' money, I have enlisted the services of a couple of people in the private sector who have expertise in restructuring. I am sure they will come up with some excellent ideas which will be good for the taxpayers and the Canadian Forces.
Iraq January 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it might not be prudent to go into too much detail on military actions.
However I can say that while it is true that Canada has no strategic lift, neither does any other NATO country except the two largest, the U.K. and the U.S.
We are at this moment working with our other NATO allies to find a cost sharing, cost effective way in which we can have an effective strategic airlift on a shared basis with our NATO allies.
Iraq January 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the troops have not been vaccinated but we do have the facilities to do so if required.
As to the uniforms, I can assure the House that the uniforms are appropriate.
As my hon. colleague knows very well, we have taken no decision. We are undertaking consultations with the Americans as to the potential participation of Canada, but it is in the hands of the United Nations and no decision on military participation has been taken.
National Defence January 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the importance of the matter and of the area, and will do my best to obtain an answer very promptly.
National Defence January 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I do not have a detailed response for the hon. member at this time, but I will obtain one and get back to her tomorrow.
Iraq January 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I fail to understand the question. I thought I answered it clearly the last time.
What I said and what I will repeat is that for a hypothetical unknown case that may or may not occur in the future, obviously we do not have rules of engagement.
For the Canadians who are there today in Canadian vessels, we have rules of engagement, which I cannot reveal, but quite clearly they are Canadian rules of engagement that are used by the Canadian Forces.
Iraq January 29th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I was not misinforming the House in the least. The right hon. member asked about rules of engagement for a hypothetical Canadian contribution to a hypothetical war. With those two hypotheticals, there are no rules of engagement.
Canadian troops that are currently operating in the region have very well defined, very clear rules of engagement, but it would not be in the interests of national security for me to reveal those rules of engagement to the general public.
Points of Order January 28th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, in fact I was trying myself to rise on a point of order because I know the hon. member is a great friend of the Canadian Forces. I know she asked a serious question and I said that I would report to her with a serious answer. However in the excitement of the moment I used inappropriate language and for that I would like to apologize to the hon. member for Saint John.
National Defence January 28th, 2003
More seriously, Mr. Speaker, I know that our Coyote vehicle is a top of the flight addition to our military. I will look into the answer to the hon. member's question with great seriousness.