Supply  They remain unconvinced, and have written letters to the minister, that it is in the best interests of the military to close CFB Chilliwack and leave British Columbia without a land force presence. It is clear that the decision to close CFB Chilliwack was one in which politics outweighed strategic military considerations. As a result, the capacity of Canada's armed forces to defend our country and assist in situations of emergency will be significantly reduced.

Supply  The report also requested that there be an ongoing standing committee to review matters directly involving national defence issues and that the committee report back to the House. As I have said, the recommendations were clear. The annual defence review and assessment would be one mandate that could be given to the standing committee on defence, making it meaningful and giving it purpose. The report indicated that there was a role for the standing committee to investigate and oversee the defence budget and major procurement by the government dealing with defence capital expenditures.

Supply  The Bloc Quebecois supports the motion of the hon. member for Saanich-Gulf Islands, and we think it would be useful for the government or the Department of National Defence to expand the scope of the study so that all this could be cleared up. I think Canadians are now asking questions about the quality of Canada's defence. As you know, this year Canada has projected a deficit of $33.5 billion. On the Standing Committee on National Defence, the Bloc Quebecois suggested cuts that would trim the Defence budget to $10 billion, but the government refused.

Rail Strike  Small manufacturers, employees and exporters in Halifax West want the trains moving again and now. Can the minister please make it crystal clear to the opposition what the cost is, what the impact of the strike is on our exporters and what it is costing our country?

Turkey  No agreement has been concluded. In any sale of surplus military equipment we have made quite clear that the purchasing countries have to give us certain undertakings on the use of the equipment so that it does not infringe in any way upon the rights of others or the equipment is not used in ways that Canada would not approve of.

The Economy  Speaker, what I said to Moody's in the meeting yesterday was what I said I would say in response to the leader of the third party's question yesterday, in fact in response to same question the day before, and I believe in response to the same question a week before. I set out our very clear intention to balance the books. I also said we would do so through a series of short term targets that would keep pressure on the government which was by far the best way of controlling our spending.

Rail Strike  Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois' continuing blockage of legislation that would put Canada's rail network back to work is clear evidence that the official opposition cares little about Canada's economy or the impact this strike is having on working men and women across this country. Each day this strike continues costs the Canadian economy tens of millions of dollars.

Supply  However, I have since been made privy to not one but two reports from senior officers, one of them a gentleman we met in Bosnia when he was the deputy commander down there, Colonel Oehring. He makes it very clear that the problem with the morale of our soldiers can be summed up in one short phrase, a loss of confidence and trust. In a second report, from General Jeffries, whom the parliamentary secretary has referred to, he said referring to morale: "While this side of the problem is serious, it pales in comparison with the evolving lack of confidence in the chain of command which every commanding officer has identified.

Supply  I am not going to get specific about the inquiry, but having read the 19 specific subparagraphs, it is very clear to me that the whole range has been covered. It states in the preamble that notwithstanding what is said in the general sense and what is said in the specific sense, the inquiry has a pretty broad range of matters it can look at.

Supply  Our cash strapped government has yet to implement a long range plan for such open-ended commitments. Canada needs a clear set of guidelines for foreign intervention. We must continue our longstanding tradition of keeping peace in the world's troubled spots but after a conflict has been resolved. Canada's contributions to sustaining peace in the world's conflicts have been second to none.

Rail Strike  Madam Speaker, on the same point of order I would like to make it clear that the NDP gives its consent to this. I urge the Bloc to reconsider its position.

Rail Strike  Madam Speaker, on a point of order. I would like to make it clear that in view of the changes made by the government to the legislation in committee last night in response to suggestions I made during question period yesterday, the NDP would like to go on record as giving unanimous consent this morning to the request by the government.

Access To Information  It is not ACOA's money to take away, even if the finance minister has asked ACOA to make cuts to its own budget. In fact an editorial in an Atlantic Canadian paper put the minister's actions in very clear light. It said: "If your father gave you $30 for your brother, you would have no right to keep $10 for yourself because your father also asked you to cut back on your own spending". The same is true of ACOA and the minister responsible for ACOA.

Access To Information  We have learned to listen to the people of Canada and act upon what we have heard. We have a message and the message is loud and clear: We are to be frugal stewards with taxpayers' money. We are not to receive anything more in the way of benefits than the ordinary taxpayer. And we are not ever to assume that we are above the law.

Rail Strike  Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I want to make it clear that while there is opposition on the opposition side of the House to the motion, it comes from the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP and not the Reform Party.