Rona Ambrose

[National Defence, December 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the issue raised by the hon. member. I think the best way to deal with this is to enhance transparency and push reset on this process, which is exactly what the government has done. We have established the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat to ensure there is transparency in this process moving forward. This time, there will be increased oversight. Included in the secretariat is a former well-respected auditor general, which will provide increased oversight for the work done by the officials.

[Old Port of Montréal Corporation, November 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to strong fiscal management of taxpayers' dollars. It is imperative that Canadians have confidence in how our crown corporations operate and use their hard-earned tax dollars.

The Old Port of Montréal Corporation will be placed under the management of the Canada Lands Company Limited, in order to strengthen its governance, efficiency and accountability.

The Old Port of Montreal Corporation will be placed under the stewardship of Canada Lands Company Limited in order to strengthen its governance, efficiency and accountability. This will ensure that the Old Port of Montreal Corporation will have the opportunity to reach the great potential that we know it holds for both residents and visitors to Montreal.

[Old Port of Montréal Corporation, November 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reassure the hon. member and all residents in Montreal that we recognize that the Old Port of Montreal is an important institution to the people of Montreal. It will remain the Old Port of Montreal. The office will remain in Montreal.

This is about bringing good governance and good management to this institution.

[National Defence, November 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's Defence Production Act is very clear. The Minister of Public Works and Government Services is responsible for the procurement of defence material. The defence department officials are responsible for writing statements of requirements.

Beyond that, when it comes to the replacement of the CF-18s, we have been very clear. The secretariat has been tasked with setting aside the statement of requirements and doing a full options analysis to inform the next step in the acquisition to replace the CF-18s.

[National Defence, November 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, by creating the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat, what we tasked it to do was further analysis. As the member knows, we are in the pre-acquisition phase. We have asked the secretariat to set the statement of requirements aside and do a full options analysis so we have all the information on the table about what our options are in replacing the fleet of the CF-18s.

[National Defence, November 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is important that as we move forward to replace the CF-18s that we have full transparency and full due diligence. As the Auditor General requested, the Department of National Defence will table its updated cost estimates for the CF-18s.

I thank the Minister of Public Safety for his support.

[National Defence, November 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member, the House and the public that the secretariat will ensure the proper expertise is brought in to review the statement of requirements and to do a full options analysis.

[National Defence, November 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the member agrees the CF-18s do need to be replaced. For that reason, we are happy that the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat is going to ensure transparency and due diligence in our decision to replace the CF-18s.

We have put together a secretariat. The membership is comprised of the senior deputy ministers in charge of military procurement, in addition to two independent members. Importantly, one of them is a former Canadian auditor general, and we appreciate very much his contribution and oversight. As the member knows, the secretariat will be responsible for the seven-point plan, including the options analysis.

[National Defence, November 26th, 2012]

As I said, Mr. Speaker, as part of our seven-point plan, the Department of National Defence, overseen by the secretariat, will be performing a full options analysis. The current statement of requirements will be set aside while that full options analysis is being performed.

[National Defence, November 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated in the past, one of the parts of our seven-point plan that we are undertaking before a purchase is made to replace the CF-18s is doing a full options analysis. As I said last week, the statement of requirements will be set aside while a full options analysis is completed.