Madam Chair, clearly the member would know that this is a development aircraft and in order for a decision to be made, all of the requirements will need to be met.
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Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, clearly the member would know that this is a development aircraft and in order for a decision to be made, all of the requirements will need to be met.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, I do not agree with what the member has just said. We have not made that decision. That is exactly why we have in place the secretariat and the leadership of Public Works. What he is referring to in some of his minutia is the statement of requirements, which is a highly technical document that Public Works did not request at the time.
Now we have a process whereby we will be able to share greater information, move forward to ensure greater transparency, accountability, reporting to Parliament and independent oversight. All of this will build confidence and, most important, ensure that we get the right aircraft for the Canadian Forces.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, the Department of National Defence does not base its decisions solely on one piece of information, on one letter. The letter represents just one aspect of all the information needed to make such a decision. Again, as the Associate Minister of National Defence said, we have not made a decision yet. In concert with Public Works and Government Services, we have set up a process to continue reviewing the matter of procuring our next planes.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, we have answered this question many times. The process seeks to improve the review process for the next-generation fighter aircraft. It is clear that there is now greater transparency and accountability, and we continue to work with all departments on this very important procurement project.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, the hon. member may want to be more specific. I have responded to his question with information that is well documented and on the public record. I will not tell him how to ask his questions if he does not tell me how to answer them.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, I think the member might want to try to rephrase his question if he is not asking why Public Works has an expanded role. I am responding to the reality that has occurred as a result of the recommendation of the Auditor General. Public Works has taken on an expanded role, continuing to work with the Department of National Defence and industry, to look at the procurement of the next generation fighter aircraft. As part of that process, it will include an injection of a number—
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, it is no secret that, based on the recommendation from the Auditor General, now the Department of Public Works has taken on an expanded role with respect to the acquisition of the next generation fighter. In that role, we are acting on the recommendation of the Auditor General. There is a seven-step process that includes greater transparency, reporting to Parliament and the independent verification of numbers. This will enhance the co-operation that is already well known and historically based between—
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, I appreciate the opportunity for clarification. It was a question that came earlier from a Liberal member with respect to the term “first strike capability”. This is a term that is commonly used, as most would know. It is around a doctrine that governs the use of nuclear weapons, and, as Canadians know, we do not possess nuclear weapons and have no intention to obtain nuclear weapons. So this first strike capability question is, in this context, quite irrelevant. There is no doctrine in that regard that would apply to the Canadian Forces and its use.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, the entire mission set of the Canadian Forces is premised on our ability to look out into the future, to see what we will need for domestic operations at home, in North America, what missions might exist.
No one would have anticipated the mission over Libya. No one could have said with certainty that we would be in Kosovo.
The hon. member may be Nostradamus. He may have some ability to look well into the future and determine with certainty where we will be, but what I can assure the hon. member is we will be ready. This government intends to give the forces the equipment it will need to be ready.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2012
Madam Chair, clearly the hon. member is asking us to look into the future to determine what missions we would be flying with the replacement aircraft, where we would be going. What missions we would be flying over North America is still speculation at this point.
For a member who has now spent his time in the third row in the third party, he should know better.