Steven Blaney

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2016]

Madam Chair, the Halifax-class program will be completed in 2018.

Other cuts have been made to the Cyclone maritime helicopter program.

Can the minister tell me what impact the $90 million in cuts will have on the Cyclone maritime helicopters?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2016]

Madam Chair, I would like to thank my colleagues.

I will continue with my questions on the Halifax-class modernization program.

Apparently, the first vessel has been modernized. Could you please tell me when the program will be completed, what is the schedule for the next vessels and how much will be invested this year?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2016]

Madam Chair, I also wanted to mention that I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Edmonton West, who is also an associate critic for procurement and public works.

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2016]

Madam Chair, it is a first-time program that is extremely important for our Canadian navy.

Another program that is important is the restoration and modernization of our Halifax-class frigates. We had a major program in place to modernize these frigates and it was going well. The Fredericton was one of the first frigates to be modernized. It was used in Operation Reassurance as part of the measures taken by the Canadian Forces in Ukraine.

Why is the government threatening the program to modernize the Halifax-class frigates by making a $71.1-million cut?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2016]

Madam Chair, can the minister inform us how much money will be invested in these Arctic offshore patrol ships in the current fiscal year?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2016]

Madam Chair, can the minister inform us when the first ship will be ready and when the program will be completed?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2016]

Madam Chair, the last Liberal budget was a spending spree. There was something for everyone. It was just like an all-you-can-eat buffet. However, one important department was forgotten. As an expert from the Canadian Global Affairs Institute said, this budget was like an episode of Oprah where everybody in the audience gets a car, except the Department of Defence. The Department of Defence had to go home on a scooter. That is what we heard tonight: $3.7 billion that will not be seen for years. If they are not getting the money now, they are seeing a cut.

As we know, there are threats facing Canada. There are terrorist threats, climate change, and the opening of the Northwest Passage.

My question for the minister is about the naval strategy and the ships that are currently being built in Halifax, namely, the Arctic offshore patrol ships.

Minister, my first question is regarding the Arctic offshore patrol ships. Why are you making a cut of $173 million to the ships that are being built in Halifax right now? These ships are important to maintaining the sovereignty of Canada in the Arctic. Why are you cutting these important projects?

[Democratic Reform, May 12th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, this is the ultimate irony. The Liberals have made a complete mess of this.

We have gone from sunny ways to a democratic black hole. First of all, the Liberals give themselves absolute power by stacking the committee. Then they change the rules of democracy by ignoring and thumbing their noses at Canadians. We have seen a Liberal-style benevolent dictatorship. Now we are faced with a selective “consultocracy”.

Is the minister trying to engage in some sort of political sleight-of-hand in order to lead Canadians astray?

[Democratic Reform, May 12th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I, for one, would like Canadians to be involved in democratic reform.

Is the Minister of Democratic Institutions prepared to consult with Canadians through a referendum on democratic reform?

[Democratic Reform, May 12th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, when the Liberals have a problem, their solution is to form a committee. Problems with Canada Post? Form a committee. Problems with defence? Form a committee. Problems with free trade? Form a committee.