Discussion · Government Orders
James Bezan Conservative
“The Liberals changed the math in 2017 to make defence spending look higher than it really is. They count things like the Coast Guard, which does not fight in wars. The public records show that real defence spending was only 1.05% last year.”
“Madam Speaker, he took two minutes, so I hope I get two minutes to reply. First of all, let us talk about how the Liberals got to 2% through creative accounting. They changed the formula in 2017 when they started adding other departmental spending into national defence. Today we have the Canadian Coast Guard, which has been entirely absorbed by the Canadian Armed Forces budget, not operations. It is not a security organization. It does not have any lethality. They told us at committee, when we had the Coast Guard before them, that if there is any conflict breakout, the Coast Guard’s job is to leave the scene of the assault. It would not be in the fight. It does fisheries monitoring, navigation and ice-breaking operations to ensure the St. Lawrence Seaway stays open. This is what it actually does and it does a great job. We love the Coast Guard. If we want to compare apples to apples, as we did when we were government, compared to the numbers these guys like to throw around at us, where we just look at actual national defence spending based upon the public accounts that are filed right here in the House of Commons, in 2023-24, under the last year of Justin Trudeau, who the Secretary of State loves so much, their actual spending in that year, not using creative accounting, but actually comparing apples to apples, was 1.05%. Hon. Kevin Lamoureux: That is not true. James Bezan: Madam Speaker, that is true. All the member for Winnipeg North has to do is look at the numbers. This is more important than anything. At the end of the day, this comes down to political leadership, making sure we get the job done. As Conservatives, we will always fight for those who fight for us to keep Canada, the true north, strong and free.”
-
Reply to a debate question
Respect 72 of 100
This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “who the Secretary of State loves so much”.
See full analysis -
Reply to a debate question
Signal 41 of 100
Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
See full analysis
Madam Speaker, he took two minutes, so I hope I get two minutes to reply. First of all, let us talk about how the Liberals got to 2% through creative accounting. They changed the formula in 2017 when they started adding other departmental spending into national defence. Today we have the Canadian Coast Guard, which has been entirely absorbed by the Canadian Armed Forces budget, not operations. It is not a security organization. It does not have any lethality. They told us at committee, when we had the Coast Guard before them, that if there is any conflict breakout, the Coast Guard’s job is to leave the scene of the assault. It would not be in the fight. It does fisheries monitoring, navigation and ice-breaking operations to ensure the St. Lawrence Seaway stays open. This is what it actually does and it does a great job. We love the Coast Guard. If we want to compare apples to apples, as we did when we were government, compared to the numbers these guys like to throw around at us, where we just look at actual national defence spending based upon the public accounts that are filed right here in the House of Commons, in 2023-24, under the last year of Justin Trudeau, who the Secretary of State loves so much, their actual spending in that year, not using creative accounting, but actually comparing apples to apples, was 1.05%. Hon. Kevin Lamoureux: That is not true. James Bezan: Madam Speaker, that is true. All the member for Winnipeg North has to do is look at the numbers. This is more important than anything. At the end of the day, this comes down to political leadership, making sure we get the job done. As Conservatives, we will always fight for those who fight for us to keep Canada, the true north, strong and free.