Rona Ambrose

[National Defence, June 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the secretariat is made up of four deputy ministers; a committee of assistant deputy ministers; senior officials from Finance, Privy Council, Treasury Board; the National Security Advisor for Canada, a respected academic, and also independent advice from a former auditor general.

They have put their terms of reference on a website. They are undertaking a work plan right now which they will also share transparently on a website. Let us let them do their job. We look forward to their conclusions.

[National Defence, June 18th, 2012]

No, Mr. Speaker. What it means is that we are following the recommendations of the Auditor General and he recommended that the Department of National Defence table updated cost estimates.

We have gone further than that. We have said that we want those cost estimates to be independently validated.

The National Fighter Procurement Secretariat recommended, on Wednesday, that it be given more time to provide a complete and independently verified update. We agreed with this approach and have given the secretariat more time to do its work.

[National Defence, June 15th, 2012]

Madam Speaker, I would like to say, at this opportunity, that I am sure that the member shares my concern and condolences for the tragic incident at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Our hearts go out to the victims and to their families.

With regard to that, the secretariat itself has asked, and has recommended to the government, that it take more time to do the due diligence necessary to ensure that the costing that has been put forward by the Department of National Defence is independently validated. We agree with that, and we have given the secretariat more time to do that work.

[National Defence, June 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, importantly, there has been no money spent on the acquisition of new fighter aircraft for the air force to replace our aging CF-18s. However, we have launched the National Fighter Procurement Secretariat. This arm's-length secretariat will ensure due diligence, oversight and transparency.

The member should know that it is also made up of two independent members, including the former Auditor General, Denis Desautels. We appreciate his commitment to the secretariat.

In the interest of taxpayers, we will not purchase new fighter aircraft until we have received the conclusions and the good work of the secretariat.

[Status of Women, June 13th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for all the great work she is doing on behalf of women across Canada.

These 63 global experts from five continents recognize that our efforts to promote gender equality, to safeguard women and girls against violence and exploitation, and to ensure their access to health care are what make Canada a great country for women.

Women in Canada can count on our government to continue our efforts in that respect. We have increased funding for women to its highest level ever, funding over 500 projects now to end violence against women across Canada.

We will continue to fight for women's economic opportunities, their safety, their political participation and equality.

[Shipbuilding Industry, June 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, after a very transparent, successful and competitive process, two shipyards were chosen in Canada to build our Navy and Coast Guard ships moving forward. Agreements were signed with both shipyards. I have every confidence that both shipyards, Irving and Seaspan, will work very closely over the many years we have a relationship with them to make sure our ships for the Coast Guard and Navy are built on time.

Of course, this does entail a lot of co-operation, collaboration and trust between the shipyards and the Navy and Coast Guard, and I fully expect that will happen.

[National Defence, June 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the hon. member that no money has been spent on the acquisition of fighter aircraft. What we did see, though, is the Department of National Defence did put forward cost estimates on the F-35, which the Auditor General did not think were accurate. We agree with the Auditor General. We think more due diligence needs to be done. On that note, we have put forward a seven point plan to meet the Auditor General's recommendations.

I will not support tabling the updated cost estimates from the Department of National Defence until they are independently validated and verified. The secretariat has made the recommendation that it needs more time, and we agree with it.

[National Defence, June 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, we all know in the House that the Department of National Defence did provide the Auditor General with cost estimates and he did not find those to be enough, and we agree.

We have agreed and we have put in place a seven-point plan to implement his recommendations. As I have said, I support his recommendation. We will not table cost estimates from the Department of National Defence in the House until they are independently validated and verified. We will ensure that we get those numbers right.

[National Defence, June 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, importantly, no money has been spent on the acquisition of fighter jets for the air force at this time. We have put in place a seven-point plan to respond to the Auditor General's comments.

However, as I have said repeatedly, and I stand by that, we will not table cost estimates from the Department of National Defence until they are independently validated. The secretariat needs more time to do that and we respect that. We will take as much time as it needs to get it right.

[National Defence, June 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said repeatedly in the House, I will not support the tabling of documents in the House in terms of updated estimates unless they are independently verified and validated. There is still work to be done. The secretariat has made that recommendation. It needs more time and I support its recommendation.