House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2025, with 42% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2016
Madam Chair, the report of the Auditor General that was published two weeks ago contained a section on the Canadian army reserve. That report shows that, when the budget is submitted at the beginning of the year, not all of the money that is specifically allocated to the reserve forces is going to them. I would like to know where that money is going.
Business of Supply May 16th, 2016
Madam Chair, the parliamentary secretary almost put me to sleep with his fine words. Just kidding.
As a veteran, I am getting to know the minister, and I also recognize his human qualities and experience. He is a man who wants to do things well. He is a good man.
In another time, I would have gone to war with him. He will understand what I mean.
However, now we are politicians. The minister and I are in politics, as is everyone here today, and because of that we are asking questions today. There were negative signs in the throne speech and the mandate letters of the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which led to the defence decision.
With respect to the budget, the parliamentary secretary said that we Conservatives did not understand the figures, that we are rather stupid, but we sometimes know how to count because we nonetheless managed to balance the budget and generate a surplus.
There are $300 million in cuts this year. The throne speech mentions that we will have a more agile and leaner army. It mentions United Nations missions. To us, this is clearly a political signal that harkens back to the 1990s. That is why we are asking questions. We want to understand the position. It has nothing to do with the minister's experience and military skills. On the contrary, this is about the Liberal government.
That said, I want to go back to the refugee operation. In December, I was here in committee of the whole examining the issue of refugees. I asked the Minister of Immigration the question and he told me to ask the defence department. Today, I have the opportunity to ask the Minister of Defence. I would like to know the total cost of Operation Provision.
Marc Dauphin May 12th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, on May 6, the Collège des médecins du Québec presented Dr. Marc Dauphin with its 2016 humanist award for his contribution to war medicine and for the remarkable work he has done in Quebec, Canada, and throughout the world.
After completing a medical degree at Université Laval, Dr. Dauphin enrolled in the army. In 2007, he was posted to the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, a transit point for soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon his return to Canada, he was appointed to the position of commanding officer at the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit in Kandahar. During that mission, he maintained a survival rate of 97%, a record for all times and all wars.
I, too, would like to tip my hat to this man who served our country with such remarkable skill and devotion.
National Defence May 11th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, 21 years ago, the Liberals and Jean Chrétien closed Royal Military College Saint-Jean, which they felt was no longer needed. The former Conservative government remedied the situation by reopening the institution in 2008 and promising to reinstate university studies.
When asked about this last Saturday in Montreal, the Minister of National Defence was evasive.
Can the minister confirm that he plans to reinstate university studies at Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Quebec?
National Defence May 6th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence that our Conservative government acquired C-17 Globemasters, Cyclones, Hercules, Chinooks, and Leopards. The Conservatives purchased a lot of equipment for our men and women in uniform.
My question is simple. Will the minister, who is currently in Valcartier and will be going to Montreal this afternoon, use this opportunity to explain to our military personnel why the Liberals cut $3.7 billion allocated for equipment, a decision that is now putting their safety and their lives in danger?
National Defence May 6th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, the government has cut $3.7 billion from the defence budget. The Liberals have put ongoing projects on hold, including the procurement of offshore patrol ships and Cyclone helicopters.
Will the minister take advantage of his visits to Montreal and Valcartier to explain to our military personnel why the Liberals made these cuts, which are putting the safety of Canadians and the lives of our military personnel in danger?
Laval University May 6th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the 350th anniversary of Laval University. An offshoot of the Séminaire de Québec, Laval University was the first French-language university in America. With its culture of rigour, spirit of innovation and quest for excellence, it has educated and granted degrees to more than 280,000 people over the years.
Open to the world and engaged in its community, Laval University's vision is inspiring and promising: it aspires to be one of the best universities in the world and at the same time one of the main standard-bearers for the preservation of the French fact in America.
I hope that on this important anniversary the Liberal government will confirm that it will help establish the Institut nordique du Québec. Completely forgotten in the last budget, this project led by Laval University is creating a group that brings together Quebec expertise in the major sectors of nordic and Arctic research.
National Defence April 21st, 2016
Mr. Speaker, on March 24, during question period, the Minister of National Defence said that the budget for procurement of equipment would be available if major acquisitions were needed. We now know that his statement was false. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being taken from projects to modernize our frigates, replace fighter planes, and improve our search and rescue capabilities.
Will the minister apologize for misleading Canadians and restore the funding this year?
National Defence April 20th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have already sunk the Department of National Defence into darkness. They have put off some crucial procurements until after the next election, but that is not the worst of it, as reported in the Ottawa Citizen. The Liberals are putting on hold procurement projects that are already under way, such as offshore patrol ships, Cyclone helicopters, and the CF-18 replacements.
Will the minister show us what kind of weight he has in this government? Will he step up and ensure that these projects continue to move forward?
National Defence April 19th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, under Jean Chrétien's Liberals, our armed forces went through a decade of darkness. It is sad to see the current government going down the same path.
The Prime Minister already cut defence investments in the recent budget. He does not want to acquire the F-35s, and he is delaying other important procurements. He also promised to replace our combat capabilities with peacekeeping missions.
Can the Prime Minister confirm that the defence policy is not yet written in stone and that consultations with the Standing Committee on National Defence will be taken into consideration?