House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 57% of the vote.
National Defence March 9th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. It is a shame the member opposite and his party would want to politicize such a very compassionate and difficult issue for the family.
We have been working with the MPCC, co-operating fully, including providing additional funding of over $2 million. This particular issue will be resolved in that forum, that non-partisan, arm's-length hearing. We will not interfere with a process that is under way.
National Defence March 9th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, our sympathies go out to Corporal Langridge's family.
With this particular investigation which the MPCC has been carrying out, we have been co-operating. We are considering the request for further funding. I should point out that the Government of Canada has already provided an additional $2.3 million to the MPCC to fund this public interest hearing.
The public interest hearing is, of course, under way. The member opposite should know we cannot comment on this while the hearing is taking place.
National Defence March 9th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the strident and hypocritical tone of the question is really what underscores the fact that the member opposite and her party have done nothing to support the men and women in uniform.
Our party on the other hand consistently ensures that the men and women of the Canadian Forces are among the best paid members of forces anywhere in the world. The men and women in uniform have received an upward adjustment to their base salaries this year, as they have in previous years. The compensation benefit packages available to Canadian Forces members and their families are comprehensive, consistently reviewed and adjusted to ensure that they accurately and fairly reflect their needs.
National Defence March 9th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, that is more prebudget speculation from the member opposite. There has been no decision taken on this issue.
What is important is that our government is committed to providing the men and women of the Canadian Forces with the support they need to do the important jobs that we ask of them.
What is a bit disingenuous is the alligator tears cried by members opposite. While our government has continually invested in new equipment, infrastructure, readiness, and personnel, the member and her party have consistently opposed all of these investments. I think they will find little comfort in this hypocritical question.
National Defence March 9th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the loss of young Burton Winters was indeed a tragedy and we continue to send our thoughts and prayers to his family and to the entire community of Makkovik.
Yesterday, we did announce a protocol change that will see the Canadian Forces and our joint response centre call back. Essentially, that is when a call comes in and, for a number of reasons, weather related or otherwise, aircraft are not able to leave, there will be call back protocol that will improve the communication between the primary responsibility, ground responsibility for search and rescue that is held by the province, and whatever assets the Canadian Forces can lend to the effort.
We are making improvements and we continue to do so.
National Defence March 8th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, once again, our condolences go out to the loved ones of Burton Winters.
While the legal authority for ground search and rescue does rest with the provincial and territorial governments, the Canadian Forces, as a partner in the search and rescue network, nevertheless, reviewed the protocol surrounding Canadian Forces participation in this search.
In future, the Canadian Forces will implement a call back protocol to ensure continuous communications on ground searches in order to enhance awareness of changing circumstances and the potential need of Canadian Forces participation. This ongoing dialogue will continue until the file is closed. This new protocol will enhance the capabilities of all partners to our search and rescue network across Canada.
National Defence March 8th, 2012
Yes, Mr. Speaker, once again the Canadian Forces are always investing in the best training, the best equipment and the best support. The member opposite could take a lesson from that.
We always ensure that the Canadian Forces have access to the best training facilities to enhance their abilities. In this case, Academi, the facilities in North Carolina used for this limited purpose, has excellent facilities. These are facilities that we do not have available at certain times of the year in Canada, due to weather conditions and the fixed infrastructure investment necessary.
If the member opposite wants to ask questions about this, she can ask them at committee next week.
National Defence March 8th, 2012
As always, Mr. Speaker, that is not true.
Academi has facilities in North Carolina that offer a number of technical ranges that we do not have here in Canada.
We contract facilities for short periods of time as a most cost-effective means of investing in our troops for training, as opposed to building fixed expensive infrastructure here in Canada. We use these technical ranges for specialized skill enhancement, such as defensive driving.
We continue to invest in ensuring that we have the best trained forces in the world.
National Defence March 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would tell the brave men and women of the Royal Canadian Air Force that we will invest in the proper equipment, the equipment that they in fact want, which is the joint strike fighter program.
This is a program the member opposite should be aware of because it actually started under the previous government. This program is moving forward with huge benefits for the Canadian aerospace industry. However, most important, we will have the right aircraft for the 21st century for those brave men and women so they can achieve mission success and come home safely to their families.
National Defence March 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it is again a rhetorical rant from the no defence party opposite that we have heard time and time again. Those members have no plan B. Their plan B is not to buy equipment for the Canadian Forces.
Our associate minister is showing leadership on the Canadian file. He is meeting with our partners in the joint strike fighter program. They are working together.
Having served in the Canadian Forces, she should support those men and women who need this equipment. She should support the Canadian aerospace industry that will get huge advantages, in the millions of dollars, from the joint strike fighter program.