Peter MacKay

[National Defence, October 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, to be clear, Canada's combat role in Afghanistan, in Kandahar, has ended.

With respect to a small number of Canadian Forces members who are on exchanges with NATO allies, this in fact has been a long-standing practice of the Canadian Forces. It is a long-standing practice of which the member is well aware. This is in the spirit of the motions before Parliament. This is very much about Canada continuing its long-standing commitment to work with our allies in Afghanistan and around the world.

[National Defence, October 16th, 2012]

No, Mr. Speaker.

[National Defence, October 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true.

There are maybe six members of the Canadian Forces who are participating in an exchange program with our allies in Afghanistan.

This is a long-standing practice where we have less than half a dozen members who participate in exchange programs with other NATO countries. It is a long-standing practice. There are no combat operations when it comes to Canadian soldiers. This is in keeping with the parliamentary motion.

[National Defence, October 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. Combat operations in Afghanistan for Canadian soldiers have ended. We do in fact have a very small number as of October 15, less than a half dozen, who are taking part in a long-standing tradition, which is exchanges with countries such as Great Britain, Australia, United States, NATO allies.

This is a long-standing international practice in which Canadian Forces benefit from professional development. In fact, we receive forces from other countries to take part in this type of exchange, something I am sure the hon. member would support.

[Veterans, October 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that over our time in office we have seen the budget for health, including the mental health needs of the Canadian Forces, go up significantly. Some $100 million of additional money has been made available for the Canadian Forces' health concerns.

We will continue to make investments for those ill and injured, those in need, in particular, of mental health counselling. We have recently announced an increase of $11.4 million to that overall budget, specifically to hire more mental health professionals to allow that support to flow to them, to their families and to our veterans.

[National Defence, October 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, again, what I acknowledge is that among NATO countries Canada has been deemed the best when it comes to the provision of health and mental health vis-à-vis our soldiers. The ratio of mental health providers to soldiers has been ranked the best among NATO.

We will continue to work with the mental health associations across the country. I met with them as recently as this week. We will continue to make investments, including increasing investments for those mental health providers. I elicit the support of the member opposite rather than these reckless criticisms.

[National Defence, October 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary. I have just told the member that we have actually increased health funding during the last six years. We are actually now at an all-time high when it comes to the health services provided to members of the Canadian Forces, particularly mental health.

There has been a concerted effort of late, led by the Chief of the Defence Staff and by the entire leadership of the Canadian Forces, to see that the $11.4 million goes directly to front-line mental health providers. We have tremendous people in the field dealing with the issue of operational stress. We are proud of that effort. There is always more and we will do more.

[National Defence, October 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her service to the Canadian Forces.

This is one of the issues of which I am most proud. Our government has seen an increase of over $100 million to the Canadian Forces health budget, bringing it to over $450 million annually. In addition to that, we have made specific investments of $11.4 million to the issues surrounding mental health.

There is always more we can do. We will always strive to put the interests and the health and well-being of our ill and injured men and women in uniform first when it comes to the Canadian Forces.

[Food Safety, October 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat that the priority for Canada is to focus on this issue and improve the system.

This is the very reason we have made these investments. During our time in government, considerable money was put directly to the issue of food inspection. That is why a recent OECD report ranked Canada as among the best performing countries in the world when it came to food safety performance. That is why we will continue to make these important investments to address any and all safety concerns. That is where the minister is working and that is where he will continue to work to improve safety.

[Food Safety, October 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our thoughts are certainly with anyone affected by this issue, and I know that is where the minister is concerned first and foremost. That is why we have continued to put consumers first when it comes to the priority of food safety. That is why we have invested more money when it comes to the subject of food safety—more money, more inspectors and more attention to detail.

I know that the minister will continue to have his attention on this file.