House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 80% of the vote.
Minister of National Defence February 5th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, again today the defence minister said that the JTF2 followed the rules of engagement with respect to the capture of the al-Qaeda terrorists. Yet the minister contradicted himself when he said last week that the rules of engagement had not been finalized.
When were the rules established for the JTF2 and who signed off on them?
Minister of National Defence February 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I do not know why it is so tough to get an answer to a simple question such as how often the Prime Minister, is briefed. That should be a pretty easy answer to give.
How can Canadians trust the minister of defence? The minister of defence misled Canadians over the deployment of JTF2 last fall. He misled Canadians over whether the United States requested Canadian troops in January or whether in fact Canada asked to be allowed to go. Now he has presented two versions of events to the House on the capture of al-Qaeda prisoners.
How can our forces and the Canadian people trust the minster of defence?
Minister of National Defence February 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, we are not getting answers. It is hard to imagine how a prime minister in the middle of a war would not demand daily briefings on what is going on in Afghanistan. It would be hard to imagine that.
My question is for the Prime Minister. With the largest contingent of our military serving overseas since the Korean war, how often does he receive briefings from the defence department?
Minister of National Defence February 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, if the minister had done his job properly, he would not be wasting his time defending himself because he had made these mistakes. He would be spending his time defending this country and the troops. He should be doing that. Instead we have an unanswered question as to what having a photo of our troops with prisoners in a paper has to do with when he tells the Prime Minister.
Surely the Minister of National Defence can give us an explanation of the connection. I do not understand the connection.
Minister of National Defence February 1st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, first the Minister of National Defence blamed his not telling the Prime Minister about our troops capturing prisoners on being in Mexico. Then he changed the story, which he seems to be doing an awful lot lately, and said that he did not connect it with a photograph on the front page of a newspaper.
I cannot understand what a photograph in a newspaper has to do with when he tells the Prime Minister about our troops capturing prisoners. I would like the Prime Minister to explain that if he possibly could.
Youth Criminal Justice Act January 31st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, the member made some good points in his debate. I will ask him a couple of questions about whether in a practical sense the special treatment of aboriginals under the legislation would be a wise thing.
From 1993 to 1997 I represented the Vegreville constituency. There were no reserves in the constituency. The boundaries changed. In the Lakeland constituency I now have eight reserves, four Metis settlements and a large aboriginal population that does not live on reserves.
For that reason, during the first year and a half I represented the Lakeland constituency I carried out a task force along with aboriginal people which studied issues exactly like this. There was support from aboriginal people for sentencing circles, community sentencing and that kind of thing. They said it worked well. It does seem to make a lot of sense.
However great concern was expressed by aboriginal people that the most common victims of those who would be treated specially under the law would be aboriginal people, many of them children. Concern was expressed that because of the great numbers of aboriginal people who are incarcerated and go through the court system the courts may in some cases already treat aboriginal people less severely than they should. This is what was coming from the aboriginal people who came before the task force.
Does the member not feel it is a real and genuine concern that the plight of victims of crime, most commonly aboriginal children, might be made worse by such special treatment?
Minister of National Defence January 31st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of National Defence said he did not hear about the capture of prisoners till four days after it happened and when the military knows that it has to inform him within 24 hours then he is blaming the military. That is what he is doing.
A minister who will blame the military should not be in his position. How can this minister possibly stay in his position when he knows that Canadians have no trust in him any more?
Minister of National Defence January 31st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, there is a scandal because of this minister. Here are the facts. The Minister of National Defence misled the House and Canadians about when he found out that the Canadian forces were involved in the capture of terrorists. He misled the House.
Then he blamed his bad judgment on our military by saying that he had not been informed within the 24 hours that is required when in fact he was.
How can we keep a minister of defence in his position when he tries to blame the military for his bad judgment?
Privilege January 31st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I want you to have the full information before you make a decision on the issue. I would like some clarification from the minister with respect to his comments. What does seeing the photographs have to do with the whole issue, other than that is what caused him to get caught in his deception?
Can the minister explain it? I do not understand and I am sure Canadians do not understand.
Privilege January 31st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it is important to point out the gravity of the situation and the way it has cast negative aspersions on our troops. Today is a day we should be congratulating the JTF2 for the great work they have done for the country. Instead we have this fiasco.