Discussion · Government Orders
Mark Gerretsen Liberal
“The opposition complains about us counting the Coast Guard as part of our defence spending. All NATO countries need to use the same formula to compare their spending. The United States already counts its Coast Guard, so Canada should do the same.”
“Mr. Speaker, it must be tough for the opposition when all its members can do is criticize the way we calculate our investment in defence. I heard this member, like I heard the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman earlier today, criticize how we are investing by counting the Canadian Coast Guard in the calculation. This member seems to take issue with it. However, I am sure he would agree with it me that when NATO-allied countries are comparing themselves to each other, it is important that we all use the same formula and all account for the same things. This member might be surprised to learn that the United States has been counting its coast guard in its calculation long before Canada ever did. Would he not agree that rather than the rhetoric we hear from him, it is probably more important that the formula among all NATO countries is the same and therefore counting the Coast Guard is a good thing?”
Mr. Speaker, it must be tough for the opposition when all its members can do is criticize the way we calculate our investment in defence. I heard this member, like I heard the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman earlier today, criticize how we are investing by counting the Canadian Coast Guard in the calculation. This member seems to take issue with it. However, I am sure he would agree with it me that when NATO-allied countries are comparing themselves to each other, it is important that we all use the same formula and all account for the same things. This member might be surprised to learn that the United States has been counting its coast guard in its calculation long before Canada ever did. Would he not agree that rather than the rhetoric we hear from him, it is probably more important that the formula among all NATO countries is the same and therefore counting the Coast Guard is a good thing?