House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 56% of the vote.
National Defence November 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the safety of our brave men and women in the Canadian Forces who fly those helicopters and their families are of paramount concern. I stated that I thought it was in poor taste to have pictures denigrating those helicopters, given that our men and women are flying them.
I also have said repeatedly that it is a high priority for me. There has been some slippage and I am working very hard to get that helicopter as soon as possible.
National Defence November 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating the hon. member for the two years of great service he provided as vice-chairman of the defence committee. I would also like to commiserate with him on the fact that he lost that position earlier today.
As for the Sea Kings, I have said it is a high priority for me. I hope we will get the right helicopter at a low price as soon as possible.
National Defence November 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we conducted a defence update over the course of the summer during which I met literally dozens of outside experts, and we have heard reports from parliamentary committees and from many others. I will be making a submission to the government and, as is normal in our country, I think the results in terms of budget will come out at the time of the budget.
National Defence November 5th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I will leave it to the House and to you to decide upon relative ignorance.
If the hon. member had been so enthusiastic about keeping that college open a few weeks ago, and instead of playing for cheap political tricks by asking a question without giving me prior information, she could have saved 24 hours and done her constituents a favour.
National Defence November 5th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, as I explained the other day, under our system of government it is ministers who make the decisions and departments that deliver.
If the department officials are ahead of their time, then maybe they are a bit like Panasonic, but I have not made a decision yet.
National Defence November 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, as I have said several times, we will go ahead with the supply chain project if, and only if, there are substantial savings.
I will acknowledge that my department has been moving at something less than the speed of light on this issue. Partly for that reason, I will tell the hon. member today that I will announce a decision on this matter before the end of the month.
National Defence November 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member from Elba for her question and I assure her once more that the decision on this matter will be made in the budget.
National Defence November 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the government, evidently, will make its position known at the time of the budget so the hon. member will simply have to wait, as will I, for the budget to come down.
I might say this as well on her leader. Who is the dictatorial leader? Is it our Prime Minister who gives a certain freedom of speech to his ministers, or is it the leader of the fifth party, who gets all frazzled because the Prime Minister did not go over my speech with a fine-tooth comb? He behaves as if he is a little Napoleon, albeit with a very small yard in which to play.
National Defence November 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I would acknowledge that it is a long way from Bay Street to Kandahar, but I am very glad I made that change.
As for the helicopters, 1,000 technical suggestions have been made by the companies. It takes a while to get everything moving. I am committed to moving this file as fast as possible and getting the best helicopter at the lowest price as soon as possible.
National Defence November 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, to say that we have not met our international obligations is absolutely false. We had 800 soldiers in Afghanistan who received huge praise from American colonels, generals and sergeants.
We had ships, nine at one point, operating seamlessly and leading the group in the Arabian Sea. Just last Thursday they captured a ship with five patrol vessels on the way to Iraq; not a bad day's work.