Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, my question to the member is about accountability and the failure of information being passed to the Prime Minister in this case, with respect to allegations against the former chief of the defence staff. It is my understanding the member is a member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I respectfully disagree with the member's assertion. We need to get to the bottom of this. The hon. member brought up a number of key points and factors on other issues, other failures by the current Prime Minister and his team. Ultimately it speaks to why this motion finally needs to come forward.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, that is at the root of what my speech was about. It is all about being accountable. As a leader, this specific case is my greatest disappointment. I am hugely disappointed in everybody involved in this, in particular in the former chief of the defence staff. I do not understand how he felt he could be in uniform, hypocritically leading Operation Honour, while at the same time having allegations against him.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I 100% agree with what the member for North Island—Powell River has raised. I was so shocked yesterday, and “shocked” is the word to use, that the chair of the committee would cancel the committee that was going to debate this. Having served in uniform previously, and having been in the committee room virtually, not necessarily asking questions until the last number of defence committee sessions, I am disappointed with the amount of filibustering and the lack of focus on what this issue is.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the Conservative House leader. Today, I will talk about three key issues. First, as the previous speaker just talked about, is accountability. The next is the actions we need to take to better understand where the process failed and how we collectively move forward.

National Defence  Mr. Speaker, I was already disappointed watching the Liberal filibuster at defence committee last Friday that is preventing key testimony from the Prime Minister's chief of staff. I was shocked to see this morning the chair cancel the committee meetings for today. When I have former female Canadian Armed Forces officers reaching out to me in reaction to this lack of accountability and failure of leadership, and stating that “this is a nightmare that never ends”, this cover-up needs to stop.

Health  Mr. Speaker, among my constituents are Amish and Mennonite families. They need clarity on the hurdles they face returning to Canada after being in the U.S. for compassionate reasons or returning to Canada for a family illness. Nearly all aspects of travel into Canada require some sort of phone app or Internet access, which these Canadians do not have.

National Defence  Madam Speaker, unfortunately the parliamentary secretary missed the point, and unfortunately the minister chose not to respond himself, because this is who I was asking the question. What lessons has he personally learned from his failure? He accepted responsibility for failure to investigate or for these allegations to be properly investigated, and now we are at the point where Canadian Armed Forces members, these survivors the parliamentary secretary alluded to, want to know that senior leadership can be held to account.

National Defence  Madam Speaker, my questions tonight address the failure to get an adequate response from the Minister of National Defence earlier on what steps and actions are going forward to respond to the allegations of sexual misconduct and how to root this out in the Canadian Forces. I would like to remind everybody that when I asked the minister back in March for his opinion as to who was responsible and accountable for the failure of the allegations against the CDS being investigated, he replied, yes, he was absolutely responsible.

The Budget  Madam Speaker, my question to the parliamentary secretary is about an issue important to our Canada-U.S. relationship. It relates to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the bilateral agreement that was agreed to. In that agreement, Canada is to pay 31% of sea lamprey control costs and 50% of costs associated with science, fisheries management, collaboration and administration.

Government Response to COVID-19 Pandemic  Madam Speaker, on a point of order, I would like to indicate under Standing Order 42(2)(a) that all Conservatives' speaking slots are divided into two for this evening's important debate.

His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh  Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House today on behalf of all Conservatives, the constituents of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, many Canadians and many current and former members of our Canadian Armed Forces to pay tribute to the life of service by Field Marshal, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh on his passing.

Points of Order  Madam Speaker, the Speaker has reminded the House on numerous occasions that those members participating virtually are to ensure their backdrops are non-partisan and as neutral as possible. Unfortunately, as we witnessed today during question period, the member for Windsor—Tecumseh seemed to have forgotten this.

National Defence  Madam Speaker, the minister has said he referred the matter to the Privy Council for investigation. The Prime Minister's national security adviser, who would have handled it, said he was never even made aware of allegations against General Vance. The minister has said the ombudsman should have investigated, but current ombudsman Greg Lick told the committee yesterday that Gary Walbourne acted exactly the way an ombudsman should.

National Defence  Madam Speaker, the Minister of National Defence said he cannot involve himself in investigations, but Wednesday the minister ordered the Chief of the Defence Staff to review an investigation that just closed. The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service told committee that the minister can absolutely refer investigations to them.