Hansard: National Defense -- Bafflegab and BS! -- Infuriating

Hansard Feb 7/05 -- National Defence -- With answers like these, they must figure Canadians are utterly stupid.

Can you find answers? What is the point of Qquestion Period? -- Bafflegab and BS!

Hansard Feb 7/05 -- National Defence


National Defence

Mr. Gordon O'Connor (Carleton—Mississippi Mills, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the government took two weeks to dispatch the DART to Sri Lanka on rented commercial aircraft. This delay was caused by a combination of political dithering and lack of airlift capability. The Canadian Forces do not have the capability to move the DART rapidly and will have to continue to depend upon unreliable commercial airlift availability for years to come.

Why have successive Liberal governments been so negligent in addressing this fundamental requirement of the Canadian Forces?

Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the question is answered by two false premises in the preamble.

In the first place, the DART did not fail to go for lack of airlift capacity. The airlift capacity was there. We sent the DART when it was appropriate to send it.

Second, we have never had an occasion, and I think the hon. member knows this, when we have not been able to obtain appropriate rental facilities to take our forces abroad. Rather than put a lot of capital into something which is not used regularly, we have chosen the most prudent, best and most effective way to operate. We will continue to do so in the interests of the Canadian Forces.

Mr. Gordon O'Connor (Carleton—Mississippi Mills, CPC): Mr. Speaker, that is typical bafflegab. Successive Liberal governments have failed to protect our sovereignty in the north--

[. . . . noise]

Mr. Gordon O'Connor: Mr. Speaker, successive Liberal governments have failed to protect our sovereignty in the north. We cannot survey our territory on a continuous basis. We cannot transport troops rapidly in the north. Now we discover that our Sea King helicopters cannot fly in the north. Because of political interference, the replacement for the Sea King helicopter will not be delivered until 2008 or 2009.

Will the minister admit that Liberal politics have adversely affected Canada's ability to protect our sovereignty?

Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the hon. member will rejoice with me the fact that we have made the decision to acquire the Cyclone. We look forward to it. In the meantime, the Sea Kings continue to perform their service. We maintain them. We operate them and we will do that under all conditions. They serve our country well, but we look forward to the replacement by the Cyclone which will be a tremendous asset for our military when we obtain it.

Mr. Dave MacKenzie (Oxford, CPC): Mr. Speaker, only days after his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Rick Hillier terminated the current defence policy review which was described as boring, dry and dreadful. The minister has delayed the release of the review several times in the House. Now we learn that we are going to start over again from scratch.

The Minister of National Defence now fully supports the overhaul of defence blueprint and wants it to be filled with fresh ideas. Can the minister explain his 180 degree turnaround?
(1435)

Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I can certainly agree with the part of the premise that says that a lot of the stuff that I write is boring, dry and not very interesting, but that is a personal problem. The defence review has been the product of many people in my department. We have worked hard on it.

I am thrilled that Gen Hillier who has come on board is contributing to making it one of the best documents. I look forward to when we get our IPS out--

Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

The Speaker: Order, please. I thought we had said that there was too much bafflegab. The hon. minister has the floor and he is giving an answer to the question that was asked.

Hon. Bill Graham: Mr. Speaker, surely hon. members have to recognize the difference between boring and superior bafflegab.

[That passes for answers in the House? Is that not infuriating? ]