Peter MacKay

[National Defence, April 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will ignore the member's blanket comments and simply go to the facts.

The Auditor General has indicated clearly that the government is responding appropriately and is moving in the right direction. He pointed out, as others, including the Prime Minister, have emphasized here, that there was no money misspent and no money missing. No money has been spent on this file.

We are now moving forward with a process, appropriately under the guidance of the Minister of Public Works, to ensure that we have proper aircraft in the future to replace the aging CF-18s so that the men and women in uniform will have the proper equipment to do the important work that we ask of them. That is a serious issue.

[Search and Rescue, April 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will do just what the hon. member has asked. I will inject some facts and reality into this situation.

I spoke extensively about the matter with the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador yesterday, as I have previously. We had an investigation within days of this tragic incident. We have changed the protocol to improve the communication between the provinces and territories and search and rescue nationally. We continue to assess the proper placement of assets across the country. We have taken extensive action.

However, that, sadly, will not bring back young Burton Winters but we are committed to continuing to provide extensive search and rescue across this massive country. I salute those SAR techs who guard Canadians every day.

[Search and Rescue, April 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, we remain very remorseful over the loss of young Burton Winters. Our condolences and our thoughts go out to the family and, in fact, the entire community of Makkovik.

What is unfortunate is that some members opposite are trying to use this for political purposes.

The Canadian Forces has already conducted an investigation. We have looked into the federal government's participation in this matter, and ground search and rescue, as we all know, is the responsibility of the provinces and territories.

[National Defence, April 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that is what we are doing. We are accepting the Auditor General's conclusions. We are accepting the recommendation that he has made. In fact, we are going further than that recommendation and putting in place a comprehensive plan to respond to this concern.

The member can light his hair on fire or not but he can listen to the Auditor General's words and be accurate.

Our government is responding to this issue seriously. We are moving forward on an important acquisition for the Canadian Forces to provide it with a replacement aircraft for the CF-18. That is what we are doing.

[National Defence, April 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, once again the member opposite is misrepresenting what the Auditor General said. The Auditor General was in committee today. As the Prime Minister has referenced, he told us that, with respect to his report and the government's response, the government was moving in the right direction. He also confirmed that no money was misspent and no money was missing, an important fact.

As has been outlined, the government is responding with a process that answers the mail on these concerns. We are moving ahead now with the guidance of Public Works to ensure this acquisition continues to move in the right direction.

[The Budget, April 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member has just said is patently false.

I on no occasion took a military asset to a fishing lodge. I left that lodge early to go back to work. I would like the hon. member to correct the record on that point.

[National Defence, April 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. It is false, as usual.

With the return to a more normal operational tempo, and with the end of the Canadian Forces combat mission in Afghanistan, we are now focused on redirecting our staff and other resources toward long-term sustainability.

It is true that the member and her party have opposed every investment we have made in equipment, in bases, in support for the men and women in uniform and their families.

[National Defence, April 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that is not what the Auditor General has said. The member should be very careful about mischaracterizing the words of the Auditor General.

We have said that we accept his conclusions. We have acted on the recommendation, as outlined by the Minister of Public Works and Government Services. We will continue to move forward on this file with her on the point with respect to these steps, this process that would improve accountability, transparency and greater clarity on the need for this project.

[National Defence, April 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as was mentioned, with no contract in place, no money misspent and now funds frozen, we are injecting more accountability into this process.

We will move forward. Our intention is to see the CF-18 aircraft replaced with a proper aircraft. We will continue to make investments that support the men and women in uniform. I would advise the member opposite to do the same.

[National Defence, April 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, of course the member is wrong. The Auditor General has provided conclusions and has made recommendations and we have accepted those.

As was outlined already by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works, we have put in place a process that is comprehensive and responds to those concerns. We will continue now, with the guidance of Public Works, to move forward with a proper acquisition process to replace the aging CF-18s.