Peter MacKay

[Canadian Forces, November 16th, 2010]

Quite the contrary, Mr. Speaker. In fact, we did anticipate that we would face challenges with respect to operational stress. That is why we took the unprecedented step of virtually doubling the number of health care professionals currently employed by the Canadian Forces.

We now have roughly 378 full-time mental health professionals. We have others on contract in rural parts of the country. We have a mental health awareness campaign initiated by the Chief of the Defence Staff. Joint personnel support units provide operational stress injury support. We have ongoing programs and efforts. I appreciate the input from the member opposite on this important issue.

[National Defence, November 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, after we continued the program on the F-35, which was started and invested in by the members of the Liberal Party when they were in government, we have now ensured that we will see upwards of $12 billion in contracts that can come to the Canadian aerospace industry, which is certainly good for some of the companies that exist in the riding of the member opposite.

Why does the Liberal Party continually cave in and cancel military contracts to the detriment of the Canadian Forces and the detriment of the Canadian aerospace industry?

[National Defence, November 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the member is light on his facts as usual. In fact, when I spoke to John McCain last week, he was extolling the virtues of the F-35 and saying what a great investment this was going to be.

Why is it that the Liberal Party continually reverses itself, swallows itself whole, acts so cynically when it comes to the funding of the important equipment for the Canadian Forces? We will not take any lessons from the member opposite, the member whose party cancelled the Sea King replacements.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the question. We have made alternative arrangements now to continue the operations in support of the Canadian Forces through Germany and through Cyprus. This is continuing with the whole of government effort in Afghanistan.

What we do not need though in the future is the inability to scramble, to scramble aircraft. When we have unidentified aircraft coming into our airspace, to not have the ability to scramble when we have threats to North America—

[National Defence, November 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I say again, we act on the advice of our military, and the military tells us that there will be no operational impact. We continue—

[National Defence, November 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, what is most important is that this is not going to have an operational impact. Canadian Forces have performed brilliantly, as they always do, in the close-out of the mission in Mirage. We will continue to support our forces through bases in Cyprus and Germany.

With respect to a scramble, the air force would be scrambling years from now if the advice of the Liberal leader to cancel the F-35 was followed. That would lead to a scramble.

[National Defence, November 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the bidding process was begun by the previous Liberal government, as we all know. This is a good investment for the Canadian Forces and for the economy. Our Canadian Forces will be able to replace the CF-18 planes, which are reaching the end of their useful life. Canadians will benefit from this because jobs will be created in the aerospace industry for many years to come.

On this issue, the Liberal members of Parliament, particularly those from Montreal, should stand up for their constituents, rather than behind their Liberal leader. They should get behind the air force—

[National Defence, November 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I suggest the hon. member go online and find a position that he can stick to. He used to be in favour of this process. In fact, these arguments are getting as old and as worn as the Sea Kings that the Liberal Party refused to replace for 13 long years.

This investment is good for the air force. It is good for the aerospace industry. It is a process that the member was a part of when he was in government. The Liberals should support Canadian jobs, especially those in the Montreal area.

When will we hear from Montreal MPs? When will they set their leader straight, that this is a good thing for our country?

[National Defence, November 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the member knows there was a process because he was part of the process.

Jacques Saada, a former Liberal member of Parliament now working in the aerospace industry, said that the process led to nine partners to opt for the F-35. He went on to say that although there was no call for bids, there was a very serious selection process.

The current ADM materiel for the department states:

We did consider the Eurofighter. We did consider Super Hornets...and several other aircraft. We worked with our international allies and so on to identify costs of ownership.

There was a process and the member knows it. He is making it up.

[Veterans, November 2nd, 2010]

Mr. Chair, I want to begin by lauding my colleague from Edmonton Centre for both his military service and for bringing that practical common sense approach every day to the House of Commons in the work that he does, both as a very active constituency representative and as parliamentary secretary, and applying that in a way that makes a real difference.

He outlined in his remarks in a remarkably concise and factual way many of the improvements that we have seen brought to bear as a government with respect to the challenges that exist. He also gave fair commentary on the areas on which we need to improve and further focus our actions.

One of the comments he made reminds me that many of the members of the Canadian Forces today want to continue their service. In fact, in spite of being injured, in some cases grievously injured, they want to continue their service in uniform. I know that is true because I have spoken to a number of those members.

He mentioned Master Corporal Paul Franklin. Master Corporal Jody Mitic is another. Both of those gentlemen continue to inspire many by their continued service. In the case of Master Corporal Jody Mitic, he is associated with and shows leadership in the soldier on program. There are similar programs in other countries where there are active contributions by those who have in fact suffered grievous injury.

This has been an improved action on the part of our government that we continue to embrace those who want to act as trainers, who provide their practical experience and share it with others and who can continue to serve in the Canadian Forces today. In addition to all of the new programs and benefits for veterans and those who choose to retire or pursue another career, having a career in the Canadian Forces in spite of injury is something that this government has also made improvements to and will continue to look for a way forward.