Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2017-03-09 12:05:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)",
        "fr": "M. Kevin Lamoureux (secr\u00e9taire parlementaire de la leader du gouvernement \u00e0 la Chambre des communes, Lib.)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"4791865\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, there is a difference between this government and the former Harper government. We believe it is important that we work with our global partners. In working with our global partners, it was determined this was the best way in which Canada could perform at that site. All in all, things are going quite well, and it was a smart decision made by this government.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791866\" data-originallang=\"en\">I want to pick up on a couple of points. It is important that we recognize the role members of our Canadian Forces play. I want to quote what the <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">Prime Minister</a> said back on February 14, because it really highlights the importance of our Canadian Forces. He said:</p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"4791867\" data-originallang=\"en\"> We are focused on delivering what is necessary in terms of equipment, in terms of support, and in terms of honour and value to the extraordinary men and women who serve this country on the front lines and everywhere around the world. </p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"4791868\" data-originallang=\"en\">This government has been consistent from day one in wanting to be there in a very real and tangible way in supporting our troops.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791869\" data-originallang=\"en\">We have a <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">Minister of National Defence</a>, a decorated veteran from Afghanistan, among many other things, who has done an incredible job in picking up what was left from the Conservative Party and moving us forward. The issue we are debating today is an excellent example of that.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791870\" data-originallang=\"en\">I listened to members across the way as they tried to change history. At times it is important we ensure that listeners and others who might be reviewing what is taking place are aware of the facts.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791871\" data-originallang=\"en\">I pointed out a fact and the member for <a data-HoCid=\"213940\" href=\"/politicians/cheryl-gallant/\" title=\"Cheryl Gallant\">Renfrew\u2014Nipissing\u2014Pembroke</a> responded by closing her eyes, being completely blind to the truth. She continued to spread concerns or thoughts that were stretching the limits of truth.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791872\" data-originallang=\"en\"> I should give a bit of a review of what we are talking about. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791873\" data-originallang=\"en\">We all recognize the important and incredible work that members of our Canadian Forces do for us abroad and in Canada. At times, there is a certain amount of a risk level or a hardship level that our troops have to endure. We have a special committee of individuals, which is made up of a representative from the RCMP, multiple members of the Canadian Forces, along with a government representative from Treasury Board, quite possibly, who sit on this hardship committee. There is a very robust system they have to go through to make an evaluation. When we deploy someone overseas, they look at the hardship and other risks. Based on that criteria and robust approach, they are able to come up with an assessment and a recommendation to the government.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791874\" data-originallang=\"en\">I should have said at the very beginning, Mr. Speaker, that I will be splitting my time with the member for <a data-HoCid=\"214058\" href=\"/politicians/jean-rioux/\" title=\"Jean Rioux\">Saint-Jean</a>,</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791875\" data-originallang=\"en\">That committee of experts understands the situations at hand. It is important to recognize that this evaluation is done after deployment.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791876\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Former prime minister, Stephen Harper, sent members of the forces to Kuwait back in September 2014. Conservative members across the way are trying leave the impression that along with that deployment went a government directive saying that hardship and risk allowance were going to be provided for them. That is not what took place. The previous government did not say that it would give a hardship and risk allowance when it deployed the troops back in September 2014.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791877\" data-originallang=\"en\">In fact, what had actually taken place was that there was a hardship committee, which had been established for many years, that had to do an evaluation. That evaluation took place and conclusions were drawn, I believe, some time in June 2015. At the time, it was still Prime Minister Stephen Harper. There was no decision by the former government, within days or weeks or even months of receiving it, to give what we often refer to as danger pay to our men and women overseas in Kuwait. There was no decision on the Conservatives' part to make that immediate decision and give that pay. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791878\" data-originallang=\"en\">In fact, I thought it was interesting that the former Conservative minister of defence said something to the effect of, \u201cThe Conservatives say just do it\u201d. I would suggest that Stephen Harper did not do it. In fact, October 2014 is when the troops were sent. The Conservatives are telling our <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">Minister of National Defence</a> and our government to just do it. They did not just do it. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791879\" data-originallang=\"en\">After the election came to an end and a new government was in place, a litany of priorities were brought to the table of the government. I would argue that the <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">Minister of National Defence</a> did his job and brought this issue to the table. It was the current <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">Minister of National Defence</a> who brought the issue to the attention of the Minister of Finance, and then we actually had it passed in 2016. That was just last year. It was this government that made it retroactive. The irony is that the Conservative Party is trying to take credit for what was clearly a Liberal decision based on a sound recommendation from a committee. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791880\" data-originallang=\"en\">Now the Conservatives are trying to rewrite history and say that the government needs to do this. We have had the <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">Minister of National Defence</a> once again come to the table and clearly indicate to this House that this is a policy the Harper government did not want to change. We have a Liberal administration saying that it will review this policy. That is where we are today. That policy is being reviewed by this government, and at some point, there will be some results from that policy. However, the Conservatives are trying to give the impression that they are the ones who truly care about this issue, when they had a chance to act and they failed to do so. It was this government that took action and made it retroactive. The Conservatives try to come across as more sensitive than the current government. I would suggest that this is false.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791881\" data-originallang=\"en\">We understand what is taking place. We appreciate the fact that risk levels change. If the risk factors change and it goes down, that means our men and women abroad are not having to endure the same level of personal risk or hardship, but it is not up to me to make that determination. I have confidence in the hardship and risk committee that is made up of professionals. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791882\" data-originallang=\"en\">I believe that the government is doing what is responsible. We understand. We are the ones who made it retroactive. We understand that there is a need to review the policy. The <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">Minister of National Defence</a> is doing just that. At the end of the day, we will wait and see what comes of that review. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791883\" data-originallang=\"en\">I appreciate the opportunity to share a few thoughts on the issue.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"4791865\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, \u00e0 la diff\u00e9rence du gouvernement Harper, l'actuel gouvernement estime important que le Canada collabore avec ses partenaires internationaux. D'ailleurs, le gouvernement a \u00e9tabli que cette collaboration \u00e9tait la meilleure formule pour permettre au Canada d'\u00eatre efficace sur le terrain. Tout bien consid\u00e9r\u00e9, l'op\u00e9ration se d\u00e9roule plut\u00f4t bien, ce qui prouve que le gouvernement a pris une d\u00e9cision judicieuse.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791866\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'aimerais revenir sur certains points. Il est important de reconna\u00eetre le r\u00f4le que jouent les membres des Forces canadiennes. \u00c0 cet \u00e9gard, je cite des propos que le <a data-HoCid=\"214296\" href=\"/politicians/justin-trudeau/\" title=\"Justin Trudeau\">premier ministre</a> a tenus le 14 f\u00e9vrier, qui mettent vraiment en lumi\u00e8re l'importance que le gouvernement accorde aux Forces canadiennes. Il a dit ceci: </p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"4791867\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Nous sommes d\u00e9termin\u00e9s \u00e0 fournir le mat\u00e9riel et le soutien n\u00e9cessaires aux extraordinaires militaires qui servent notre pays, en premi\u00e8re ligne et partout dans le monde, et \u00e0 leur rendre hommage et \u00e0 reconna\u00eetre leur valeur. </p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"4791868\" data-originallang=\"en\">D\u00e8s son arriv\u00e9e au pouvoir, le gouvernement a fait part de son intention de soutenir nos troupes de fa\u00e7on r\u00e9elle et tangible et il maintient cet engagement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791869\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">ministre de la D\u00e9fense nationale</a> est, entre autres, un ancien combattant d'Afghanistan d\u00e9cor\u00e9 et il a fait un travail remarquable pour reprendre ce que le Parti conservateur nous avait laiss\u00e9 et aller de l'avant. Le d\u00e9bat d'aujourd'hui en est un bon exemple. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791870\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les d\u00e9put\u00e9s d'en face cherchent \u00e0 r\u00e9\u00e9crire l'histoire. Il arrive qu'il convienne, au b\u00e9n\u00e9fice de ceux qui nous \u00e9coutent et de toute personne qui suit le d\u00e9bat, de remettre les pendules \u00e0 l'heure. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791871\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'ai pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 des faits et la d\u00e9put\u00e9e de <a data-HoCid=\"213940\" href=\"/politicians/cheryl-gallant/\" title=\"Cheryl Gallant\">Renfrew\u2014Nipissing\u2014Pembroke</a> a r\u00e9agi en se fermant les yeux, en refusant de voir la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 en face. Elle a continu\u00e9 de r\u00e9pandre des r\u00e9flexions et des pr\u00e9occupations \u00e0 la limite de la v\u00e9rit\u00e9. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791872\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Je sens qu'il est n\u00e9cessaire de r\u00e9capituler les faits. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791873\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous sommes tous reconnaissants du travail important et incroyable qu'accomplissent les membres des Forces arm\u00e9es canadiennes pour nous au pays et \u00e0 l'\u00e9tranger. Il arrive que le travail des troupes canadiennes comprenne un certain niveau de risque ou de difficult\u00e9. Il existe un comit\u00e9 sp\u00e9cial d'\u00e9valuation de la difficult\u00e9 form\u00e9 d'un repr\u00e9sentant de la GRC, de nombreux membres des Forces arm\u00e9es canadiennes et, si je ne m'abuse, d'un repr\u00e9sentant du Conseil du Tr\u00e9sor. Le comit\u00e9 suit un protocole serr\u00e9 pour faire son \u00e9valuation. Dans le cas des d\u00e9ploiements outre-mer, le comit\u00e9 tient compte de la difficult\u00e9 et d'autres facteurs de risque. Gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 ces diff\u00e9rents crit\u00e8res et au protocole serr\u00e9 qu'il suit, le comit\u00e9 est en mesure de faire une \u00e9valuation et de remettre des recommandations au gouvernement. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791874\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'aurais d\u00fb le dire au d\u00e9but de mon allocution, monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, je partagerai mon temps de parole avec le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"214058\" href=\"/politicians/jean-rioux/\" title=\"Jean Rioux\">Saint-Jean</a>. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791875\" data-originallang=\"en\">Ce comit\u00e9 d'experts comprend la r\u00e9alit\u00e9 sur le terrain. Il faut \u00e9galement \u00eatre conscient que l'\u00e9valuation se fait apr\u00e8s le d\u00e9ploiement. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791876\" data-originallang=\"en\">En septembre 2014, l'ancien premier ministre Stephen Harper a d\u00e9cid\u00e9 d'envoyer des membres des Forces canadiennes au Kowe\u00eft. Les d\u00e9put\u00e9s conservateurs tentent de nous faire croire que ce d\u00e9ploiement \u00e9tait accompagn\u00e9 d'une directive gouvernementale pr\u00e9voyant le versement d'une indemnit\u00e9 de difficult\u00e9 et de risque \u00e0 ces militaires. Ce n'est pas ce qui est arriv\u00e9. Le gouvernement pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent n'a pas dit qu'il allait verser une indemnit\u00e9 de difficult\u00e9 et de risque lorsqu'il a d\u00e9ploy\u00e9 des militaires en septembre 2014.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791877\" data-originallang=\"en\">En fait, ce qui s'est vraiment pass\u00e9, c'est qu'un comit\u00e9 \u00e9tabli depuis de nombreuses ann\u00e9es a \u00e9t\u00e9 charg\u00e9 d'\u00e9valuer le niveau de difficult\u00e9 de la mission. Le comit\u00e9 a proc\u00e9d\u00e9 \u00e0 cette \u00e9valuation et a formul\u00e9 des conclusions en juin 2015, je crois. \u00c0 cette \u00e9poque, Stephen Harper \u00e9tait toujours premier ministre. Dans les jours, les semaines ou les mois qui ont suivi la r\u00e9ception des conclusions du comit\u00e9, le gouvernement pr\u00e9c\u00e9dent n'a pas pris de d\u00e9cision quant \u00e0 l'octroi de ce qu'on appelle souvent une \u00ab prime de danger \u00bb aux militaires canadiens d\u00e9ploy\u00e9s au Kowe\u00eft. Les conservateurs n'ont pas pris imm\u00e9diatement de d\u00e9cision \u00e0 cet \u00e9gard.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791878\" data-originallang=\"en\">J'ai trouv\u00e9 int\u00e9ressant que, selon l'ancien ministre conservateur de la D\u00e9fense nationale, les conservateurs disent au gouvernement qu'il devrait simplement verser l'indemnit\u00e9. Eh bien, ce n'est pas ce qu'a fait Stephen Harper. En fait, les militaires ont \u00e9t\u00e9 d\u00e9ploy\u00e9s en octobre 2014. Les conservateurs disent au <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">ministre de la D\u00e9fense nationale</a> et au gouvernement de simplement verser l'indemnit\u00e9. Or, ils ne l'ont pas fait eux-m\u00eames.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791879\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Apr\u00e8s les \u00e9lections, le nouveau gouvernement a \u00e9t\u00e9 confront\u00e9 \u00e0 toute une s\u00e9rie de priorit\u00e9s. J\u2019affirme que le <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">ministre de la D\u00e9fense nationale</a> a assum\u00e9 sa responsabilit\u00e9 et a soumis le dossier \u00e0 la discussion. Qu\u2019il l\u2019a port\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019attention du <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">ministre des Finances</a>, et que le dossier a \u00e9t\u00e9 approuv\u00e9 en 2016. Il y a tout juste un an. C\u2019est notre gouvernement qui a rendu cette mesure r\u00e9troactive. Il est cocasse que le Parti conservateur essaie de s\u2019attribuer le m\u00e9rite d\u2019une d\u00e9cision qui, \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9vidence, a \u00e9t\u00e9 prise par le gouvernement lib\u00e9ral, sur la recommandation d\u2019un comit\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791880\" data-originallang=\"en\">Aujourd\u2019hui, les conservateurs essaient de r\u00e9\u00e9crire l\u2019histoire en disant que c\u2019est ce que le gouvernement doit faire. Or, le <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">ministre de la D\u00e9fense nationale</a> a clairement indiqu\u00e9 \u00e0 la Chambre que c\u2019\u00e9tait une politique que le gouvernement Harper ne voulait pas changer. Le gouvernement lib\u00e9ral a dit qu\u2019il allait examiner cette politique. Voil\u00e0 o\u00f9 nous en sommes aujourd\u2019hui. Le gouvernement est en train de revoir cette politique, et l'on conna\u00eetra \u00e9ventuellement les r\u00e9sultats de ce r\u00e9examen. En attendant, les conservateurs cherchent \u00e0 donner l\u2019impression que ce sont eux qui font avancer le dossier, alors qu\u2019ils n\u2019ont absolument rien fait lorsqu\u2019ils \u00e9taient au pouvoir. C\u2019est notre gouvernement qui en a pris la d\u00e9cision et qui a rendu la mesure r\u00e9troactive. Les conservateurs voudraient faire croire qu\u2019ils sont plus \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9coute de la population que le gouvernement actuel, ce qui est faux.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791881\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Nous sommes conscients de ce qui se passe. Nous savons que les niveaux de risque \u00e9voluent. Si les facteurs de risque diminuent, cela signifie que les Canadiens et les Canadiennes qui sont d\u00e9ploy\u00e9s \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9tranger ne sont pas confront\u00e9s \u00e0 autant de risques ou de difficult\u00e9s, mais ce n\u2019est pas \u00e0 moi d\u2019en faire l\u2019\u00e9valuation. Pour cela, je fais confiance au comit\u00e9 sur les difficult\u00e9s et les risques qui se compose de professionnels.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791882\" data-originallang=\"en\">J\u2019estime que le gouvernement agit de mani\u00e8re responsable. Nous comprenons la situation. C\u2019est nous qui avons rendu cette mesure r\u00e9troactive. Nous sommes conscients qu\u2019il est n\u00e9cessaire d'examiner la politique, et c\u2019est pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment ce que le <a data-HoCid=\"214311\" href=\"/politicians/harjit-s-sajjan/\" title=\"Harjit S. Sajjan\">ministre de la D\u00e9fense nationale</a> est en train de faire. Maintenant, nous n\u2019avons plus qu\u2019\u00e0 attendre les r\u00e9sultats de cet examen.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"4791883\" data-originallang=\"en\"> Je suis heureux d\u2019avoir eu l\u2019occasion de m'exprimer \u00e0 ce sujet.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2017/3/9/kevin-lamoureux-9/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/kevin-lamoureux/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4032/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "9421466",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Government Orders",
        "fr": "Initiatives minist\u00e9rielles"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Business of Supply",
        "fr": "Travaux des subsides"
    },
    "h3": {
        "en": "Opposition Motion\u2014Canadian Forces Tax Benefit",
        "fr": "Motion de l'opposition \u2014 L'avantage fiscal pour les Forces canadiennes"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2017/3/9/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2017%2F3%2F9%2F"
    }
}