James Bezan moved, — Given that, the Minister of National Defence is increasing rent for Canadian military personnel this April, and at a time when the military is struggling to recruit and retain personnel, the committee report to the House, that the government immediately cancel all plans to increase rent on military accommodations used by the Department of National Defence this April.

Debate arose thereon.

The amendment, as amended, read as follows:

That the motion be amended by deleting the words “the Minister of National Defence is increasing”, by adding after the words “for Canadian military personnel” the following: “living on bases is increasing” and by deleting the words “this April”.

The debate continued on the amendment, as amended.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

Given that, rent for Canadian military personnel living on bases is increasing, and at a time when the military is struggling to recruit and retain personnel, the committee report to the House, that the government immediately cancel all plans to increase rent on military accommodations used by the Department of National Defence.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: James Bezan, Chad Collins, Ted Falk, Andy Fillmore, Darren Fisher, Cheryl Gallant, Pat Kelly, Marie-France Lalonde, Lindsay Mathyssen, Taleeb Noormohamed, Christine Normandin — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

James Bezan moved, — That given the Ukrainian Armed Forces are in desperate need of more munitions, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have officially requested Canada donate surplus CRV7 rockets to Ukraine to aid them in defending their sovereign territory from Russia’s illegal invasion, and that given the Canadian Armed Forces are in possession of 83,000 CRV7 rockets that are slated for decommissioning and will cost taxpayers’ money to dispose of, therefore the Committee report to the House that the Government of Canada immediately donate all surplus CRV7 rockets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Debate arose thereon.

The motion, as amended, reads as follow:

That given the Ukrainian Armed Forces are in desperate need of more munitions, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have officially requested Canada donate surplus CRV7 rockets to Ukraine to aid them in defending their sovereign territory from Russia’s illegal invasion, and that given the Canadian Armed Forces are in possession of 83,000 CRV7 rockets that are slated for decommissioning and will cost taxpayers’ money to dispose of, therefore the committee report to the House that the Government of Canada immediately donate all surplus CRV7 rockets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine provided that they are safe for transport and are operationally effective.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: James Bezan, Chad Collins, Ted Falk, Andy Fillmore, Darren Fisher, Cheryl Gallant, Pat Kelly, Marie-France Lalonde, Lindsay Mathyssen, Taleeb Noormohamed, Christine Normandin — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

James Bezan moved, — That the committee resumed debate on his motion moved on Friday, January 26, 2024, which read as follows:

That, given the testimony from witnesses at the Nova Scotia Legislature’s Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, which repudiated denials from the Department of National Defence regarding military homelessness, and that given that there is widespread and incontrovertible evidence that after eight years of Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister our military members can’t afford food or housing, the committee invites: the Minister of Housing; the Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Legion Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command; the Director of Emergency Management for the Halifax Regional Municipality; and the Executive Director of the Halifax & Region Military Family Resource Centre to answer questions on the military housing crisis.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: James Bezan, Ted Falk, Cheryl Gallant, Pat Kelly, Christine Normandin — 5;

NAYS: Chad Collins, Andy Fillmore, Darren Fisher, Marie-France Lalonde, Lindsay Mathyssen, Taleeb Noormohamed — 6.

Marie-France Lalonde moved, — That the committee add two additional hours of study to the “Lack of Housing Availability on or Near Bases for Canadian Armed Forces Members and Their Families and the Challenges Facing Members and Their Families When They Are Required to Move Across the Country” study to allow for the invitation of additional witnesses to provide testimony and answer questions.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.