Peter MacKay

[National Defence, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as is the case with all injured members, Corporal Kirkland, in fact, will be able to fully prepare mentally, physically and occupationally for his eventual release. That is his option. That is the case with all Canadian Forces members injured in combat.

With respect to Corporal Kirkland, I can inform the member that, in fact, Colonel Blais, of Canadian military forces personnel, spoke with him and confirmed that this direction applies to him and that this option for release will be his and his alone.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order arising from today's question period. In a question, the member for Scarborough—Guildwood made a definitive statement that a member of the Canadian Forces, Corporal Kirkland, had been released from the Canadian Forces.

I can now confirm that is not the case. There were papers signed and explained to him that had to do with his future career. He wilfully signed those papers, but I can confirm that he has not been released from the Canadian Armed Forces.

[Privacy, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have been crystal clear. This program does not target Canadians. Mega-data is collected only on international, not domestic, communications. It is only targeting foreign threats, unless, of course, there is a request from an accompanying department under warrant, so the answer is no.

[National Defence, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have been quite clear with respect to this individual, Corporal Kirkland. Any Afghan vet injured in combat will not be released as a result of those injuries.

Rather than trying to score political points on the floor of the House of Commons, everyone would be better off had the hon. member chosen to contact my office on behalf of this individual and we could work productively with him, which I am very anxious to do on behalf of Corporal Kirkland.

[National Defence, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the member is correct. When I heard about the testimony of Corporal Kirkland, I was out of the country doing business on behalf of the Department of National Defence and the country. As a result, I sought assurances from the department that there would be no negative inference as a result of his testimony. If there has been, I certainly would like to hear about it.

If the member has further information specific to this individual's case, I would be happy to receive it.

[Privacy, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have a heads-up for the member. It has have been doing it for years, and the reports are tabled in Parliament.

I would point him, again, to the fact that CSE does not target the communications of Canadians. This is foreign intelligence. This is something that has been happening for years. In fact, as I said, the commissioner highlighted that the “activities were authorized and carried out in accordance with the law, ministerial requirements, and CSEC's policies and procedures”.

[Privacy, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, my learned friend has answered his own question. In fact, the program, as I just said, is prohibited, by law, from directing its activities at Canadians anywhere in the world or at any person in Canada.

I remind him again that in the report, the commissioner said, “I found the new policies and procedures were comprehensive and contained satisfactory measures to protect the privacy of Canadians”. He went on to laud CSE's culture of compliance.

[Privacy, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. This program is specifically prohibited from looking at the information of Canadians. This program is very much directed at activities outside the country, foreign threats, in fact. There is rigorous oversight. There is legislation in place that specifically dictates what can and cannot be examined.

Here is what the CSE Commissioner found: “activities were authorized and carried out in accordance with the law, ministerial requirements, and CSEC's policies and procedures”.

[National Defence, June 6th, 2013]

Putting aside the usual feigned outrage from the member opposite, Mr. Speaker, this is now in Hansard so it is in writing.

I will repeat: Corporal Kirkland is a Canadian hero, is courageous for coming forward, but more important than that, he shed blood in the service of his country.

He will of course receive the proper benefits. He will of course suffer no consequences, and will continue to serve in the Canadian Forces as long as he decides.

We are incredibly grateful to him. We are incredibly grateful to all our veterans, all our serving members and their families, and this government as a consequence has increased their benefits and their protections, all of which the member voted against.

[National Defence, June 6th, 2013]

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, Corporal Kirkland gave compelling and courageous testimony yesterday, or this week, before a parliamentary committee. He is a true Canadian hero.

I have sought and received assurances from the Department of National Defence, from our military, that he will receive every and all benefits to which he is entitled.

I will go further and commit to him and his family that he will suffer no ramifications for his testimony. We need to hear from veterans like Corporal Kirkland, and as well he will not suffer any consequences from coming forward.

In addition to that, he will continue to serve as long as he decides to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.