Discussion · Government Orders
Rhéal Éloi Fortin Bloc Québécois
“I want to know what this bill actually gives our military, like more soldiers, planes, or ships. The government has not given me a clear answer. Setting up a Crown corporation just lets the government avoid taking responsibility for its actions. Does my colleague agree that this is the only real change the bill makes?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague a question because I have not been able to get a clear answer from our colleagues in the government as to what, in practical terms, this bill will achieve within our armed forces. Will we have more tanks, airplanes, ships, soldiers and so on? Does he have an answer to that question? If not, does my colleague agree with me that the only change is that, with an agency, the government remains accountable to the public, whereas under a Crown corporation, even if the government issues the same directives to it, there is less accountability? The government will say that it is a Crown corporation and not the government itself. To my mind, that is the only advantage I can see. Does my colleague agree, or am I mistaken?”
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague a question because I have not been able to get a clear answer from our colleagues in the government as to what, in practical terms, this bill will achieve within our armed forces. Will we have more tanks, airplanes, ships, soldiers and so on? Does he have an answer to that question? If not, does my colleague agree with me that the only change is that, with an agency, the government remains accountable to the public, whereas under a Crown corporation, even if the government issues the same directives to it, there is less accountability? The government will say that it is a Crown corporation and not the government itself. To my mind, that is the only advantage I can see. Does my colleague agree, or am I mistaken?