Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, here are a few facts for the member. Joint support ships will provide 3,500 jobs. Arctic and offshore patrol ships will provide 2,300 jobs. Remotely piloted aircraft systems will provide 700 jobs annually. River-class destroyers will provide 5,250 jobs. Logistics vehicle modernization will provide 1,000 jobs. Armoured combat support vehicles will provide 1,650 jobs. The list goes on a…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, with Canada's first-ever defence industrial strategy, we are making major investments to build up Canada's domestic defence industry. Last week alone, we announced a $900-million investment to support drone development and quantum technologies, a $200-million investment in space launch capabilities in Atlantic Canada, a $300-million contract for new modular assault rifles, and over $1…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is up to us to defend and secure Canada from existing and emerging threats. That is why we are moving forward with a $35-billion plan to defend, build and transform Canada's northern and Arctic region. This includes $32 billion for our forward and deployed operating bases, including 5 Wing Goose Bay in Labrador. We are making major generational investments that matter to build Cana…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, in the past week alone, we have announced a $40-billion plan to transform Canada's north and Arctic, with $10 billion in major projects; a $900-million investment to support drone development and quantum technologies; a $200-million investment in Canada's space launch capabilities in Atlantic Canada; a $300-million contract for new modular assault rifles; and over $1.4 billion for dom…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, last night, Ukrainian parents hugged their children as sirens began to blare. Some rationed what little heat they had left; others huddled together in dark, cold apartments. They listened as drones flew over the city for hours, then to the deafening sounds of missiles. For Ukrainians, this is just another night. This morning marks four long years since Russia launched its unjustified,…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this morning we announced a phase two addition of 7,500 new residential units in 25 locations across the country. Already, more than 800 new residential housing units are under way. The shovels are in the ground. For Valcartier, Petawawa and Edmonton, there are 1,000 new units; for Kingston, 900 new units; and for Gagetown, 500 new units. We are delivering for the Canadian Armed Force…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, last week, we launched Canada's first-ever defence industrial strategy. It is a plan that provides a signal to industry, allies, partners, the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadians alike that we are moving forward quickly and with purpose. We are building. We are partnering. We are buying Canadian. We are strengthening our relationship with our partners. We are transforming procurement.…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, as part of our generational investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, we are procuring a new fleet of fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force. We review all procurement approaches to align with the best interests of Canadians and the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces. We are committed to procuring what the air force needs while ensuring economic benefits for Canadians. That…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Japan Concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology”, done at Ottawa on January 27.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we are consumed with rebuilding, rearming and rebooting our Canadian Armed Forces. We are building thousands of new homes. We are retrofitting thousands of existing units. Every member of the House knows it is time for us to invest properly in our Canadian Armed Forces members, which is exactly what we are doing. For example, recently we acquired a 37-unit apartment building in B.C. a…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we are working together with our colleagues in the Arctic. We are working together. I had the chance to meet with the Premier of Nunavut just this morning. We were discussing a holistic approach to how we will invest in defence and our capacities. Obviously, operational needs will be important, but so will dual-use and multi-use investments as we go forward. These are the kinds of det…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Concerning the Status of Visiting Forces of Each State in the Territory of the Other State”, done at Manila…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this week, we announced our purchase of a package of critical military capability under NATO's prioritized Ukraine requirements list, or PURL, in partnership with other NATO allies. Our $200-million contribution to this PURL package will include capabilities that have been specifically identified by Ukraine as its urgent requirements to support its defence against Russia's aggression …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, here is what is believable: It is 37,922 jobs through 15 procurement projects across this country and $106.3 billion of investment in our defence sector. The opposition should clamp down on the negativism, help build this country forward, get behind our defence sector and get behind our defence industrial strategy. Let us grow this economy for our people and our future.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this summer, we signed a historic agreement to forge a new, ambitious and comprehensive partnership with European countries. Today, the Prime Minister announced the conclusion of negotiations for Canada's participation in SAFE. This will unlock billions of dollars in defence opportunities for our Canadian businesses. It will give our defence industry expanded access to the European ma…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his work and for his advocacy for Atlantic Canadian excellence. This past weekend, we announced Canada's first maritime defence innovation secure hub, or DISH, at COVE in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour. This is a brand new, $30-million hub. We will bring together, for the first time, defence and security partners, industry, academia and naval operators to develop, tes…
Read full speech →Government Orders
moved: That this committee take note of the softwood lumber industry.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, as part of our generational investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, we are procuring a new fleet of fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force. We review all procurement approaches responsibly to align with the best interests of Canadians and the needs of the CAF. We are committed to procuring what the Air Force needs, while ensuring economic benefits for Canadians.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat the answer. We are in the process of procuring a new fleet of fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force. We review all procurement approaches to ensure they are aligned with the interests of Canadians and the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces. We are committed to procuring what the air force needs, while ensuring economic benefits for Canadians. It is that simpl…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 includes generational investments to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces. This budget includes a historic $2 billion to boost pay for nearly 90,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. Low-ranking sailors, soldiers and aviators received a 20% pay raise last Friday. I encourage all members to unite in supporting our armed forces and …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, in budget 2025, we are investing over $81 billion to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in our Canadian Armed Forces. We are making major investments in our people, with the largest salary increase, up to 20% for CAF members, in a generation. This past weekend, nearly 90,000 CAF members saw their salaries increase. That is what is in our budget: a pay raise for CAF members, support for CAF m…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 includes generational investments to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces, and it starts with our people. This budget includes a $2-billion historic pay and benefits package, which will impact close to 100,000 forces members and their families. Untrained sailors, privates and aviators are receiving a 20% pay raise. That is what is in our budget. That is…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the government recently announced a three-year extension of Operation Reassurance, Canada's largest overseas military mission, with over 2,000 CAF members stationed in Latvia. Is the member seriously suggesting that Canada should not pass a budget that would allow us to give the strongest expression of our commitment to NATO as Canadians reinforce NATO's eastern flank by contributing …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, through budget 2025, we are investing over $81 billion over the next five years to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in our Canadian Armed Forces. This is a generational investment in defence infrastructure, capabilities, training and, of course, our incredible personnel. From Halifax to Latvia, when the brave men and women of the CAF answer the call to serve, they know we have their backs,…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I sleep very well at night because of the incredible women and men in the Canadian Armed Forces. That is whom I count on. We are rearming, we are rebuilding and we are reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. The member knows this. When it comes to CAF housing, we are looking at new solutions through private sector partnerships to give our forces a safe and affordable place to call h…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for her work. As we rebuild, rearm and reinvest in Canada's military, we are making changes to our recruitment processes to get more people in the door, and faster. We have modernized our recruitment process by introducing a probationary period, streamlining the security clearance process, updating the aptitude test requirements and changing medical standa…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, my colleague is absolutely right. Now we must listen. I look forward to seeing what will happen in committee, and I would like to hear the personal stories of these witnesses. We are more than willing to see if we can improve the bill. There is work to be done. Today, we are focused on the future and implementing change. I agree that it has taken too long. This bill was introduced in …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague and thank him for his question. In fact, we are moving fast to meet the needs of our armed forces. We just announced the creation of the new defence investment agency to speed up the procurement, and today we are debating Bill C‑11, which seeks to modernize the military justice system to better support our forces. On this side of the House, when the issue i…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, it is an interesting suggestion, and I have taken due note of it. I thank the member for her contribution.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of meeting Sandra a few days ago at the National Arts Centre. What a film, what a story, what a woman, and what an inspiring person. She really helped iron out the details of this bill. We hope that Sandra's voice, along with many others, will be heard and listened to in committee. If there is progress to be made and improvements to be made, we are here to listen. F…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the reminder. I should have reminded members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are watching that the pay increase is coming, of course, and it is predicated on years of service, as well as annual bonuses and retention bonuses for instructors and beyond. We are very pleased to be able to offer the most significant pay and pay package increase in a generation. We hope i…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the bill would catch both Canadian Armed Forces members and civilian employees at the Department of National Defence. It is important also for us to recall that recommendation 5 under Madam Justice Arbour's incredibly comprehensive work is the only recommendation that actually requires legislative change, which is why it finds itself in Bill C-11. That is why we have moved so quickly …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for members of the House to trust a few things. The first thing they should trust is the incredibly important, probative and complete work done by Mr. Justice Fish and Madam Justice Arbour, and their recommendations for improvement. The second thing they should trust is the judgment that has been exercised through the commissions of inquiry, which basically ind…
Read full speech →Government Orders
moved that Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say good morning to colleagues and to the Canadians who are watching today's debate. I am pleased to rise to open second reading debate on Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. As Canada's new government makes a generat…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we know that our partners want to see Canada play a much bigger role on the international stage. Yesterday, we signed a new agreement with Indonesia to enhance the participation of the Canadian Armed Forces in military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region. This agreement will also benefit Canadian industry and create jobs. Thanks to this new agreement, we will see more of the Canadian…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, first of all, this is a Crown corporation in British Columbia. The federal government is investing massively in shipbuilding across the country. We are building ships in Quebec. We are building ships in Halifax. We are building ships in Vancouver. Irving Shipbuilding alone, in Halifax, employs 2,400 workers with 10,000 additional jobs created across the country in its supply chain. We…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we know that our forces and their families face challenges as they move across the country from posting to posting. That is why, this summer, we gave our forces a well-deserved and overdue pay raise. Our $2-billion compensation package is the largest in a generation. It means that untrained sailors, aviators and soldiers will receive a 20% pay raise. As the brave women and men of the …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, last week the Prime Minister announced a $9.3-billion investment in Canada's defence, which means we will achieve NATO's 2% target this fiscal year. This is not only an investment in our armed forces, but also an investment in good-paying jobs, in Canadian innovation and in economic growth, and the member knows this. Our generational investment is strengthening Canada's role as a stro…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, here are the facts. In the last decade, we have tripled our defence spending. We are investing $72 billion through our defence policy update, $40 billion through NORAD modernization and $11 billion to train our next generation of aviators. We are procuring 200 new aircraft, 12 submarines, six Arctic and offshore patrol ships, two joint support ships and so much more. Now more than eve…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister announced $4.5 billion yesterday for our efforts in Ukraine. We have committed to reducing overall government spending by more than $15 billion while ensuring the services and supports that Canadians rely on are there. We have exceptional expert staff dedicated to meeting our priorities, but we also sometimes rely on outside expertise, and the member knows this, but…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Burnaby Central for his dedication. Canada's support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal and unjustified war remains steadfast. Earlier today at the G7 summit, the Prime Minister announced $2 billion in new military support to aid Ukraine in its time of need. This includes funding for drones, for ammunition and for armoured vehicles. We are…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Mont-Saint-Bruno—L'Acadie for his hard work. Our government has just presented a plan for the reconstruction, re-equipment and reinvestment in the Canadian Armed Forces. The Prime Minister announced a generational investment of more than $9 billion, which means that we will meet NATO's spending target of 2% of GDP this year. When it comes to an issue as importan…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, for 75 years, our government has been an essential partner in strengthening NORAD, the only binational command in the world. We know that we live in a more dangerous world. That is why this new government has undertaken a wide array of discussions with the United States about a new security and economic relationship that would benefit both of our sovereign nations. For example, the Pr…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General once again for her work. In any procurement project of this size, as the member knows, it is normal for costs to change and vary over time, especially with the challenges encountered during the pandemic, such as supply chain disruptions and inflation. That is why National Defence is working hand in hand with industry now to make sure we get good value for …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, once again, we thank the Auditor General for her work. In a procurement project such as this, it is normal for costs to change over time, especially given the challenges posed by the pandemic and inflation. The member knows that. National Defence is closely monitoring costs and working hand in hand with the industry to ensure value for money for Canadians. We are making the largest in…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, once again, I am going to thank the Auditor General for her work and her recommendations, many of which we are acting upon already. National Defence officials are committed to being open and transparent, and they will keep Canadians updated every step of the way, without compromising operational security. National Defence officials are keeping a close eye on costs and working hand in …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we would like to thank the Auditor General once again for her work and her recommendations. We are committed to openness and transparency. National Defence will keep Canadians informed at every step of the process without compromising operational security. National Defence is closely monitoring costs and working closely with industry to ensure we get the best value for Canadians.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for her work. In a project this big, it is normal for costs to fluctuate over time, especially with all the challenges faced during the pandemic, such as supply chain disruptions and inflation, as many F-35 participating NATO members have actually experienced. National Defence is working hand in hand with industry to make sure we get good value for Canadia…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, once again, we thank the Auditor General for her work and her recommendations. We are taking close note of them and moving to implement many of them already. We are committed to being open and transparent. National Defence will keep Canadians updated every step of the way, without compromising operational security. I am sure the member is not implying that we should be doing that. Nat…
Read full speech →