FAAE Committee Report

Bloc Québécois supplementary report
on the report of the
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development entitled:

Canada's International Policy Put to the Test in Afghanistan

On March 13, 2008, the House of Commons voted in favour of extending Canada’s mission in Kandahar until 2011; nonetheless, the Bloc Québécois maintains its previously expressed position that the mission should end in February 2009.

In our opinion, Canada has done more than its share to maintain security in Kandahar. It has made a significant contribution, ranking fourth in terms of the number of troops deployed. Unfortunately, its involvement has also resulted in the inevitable deaths of Canadian soldiers.

The NATO mission in Kandahar is an international one. At present, 38 countries ensure a military presence in Afghanistan. Canada will have been involved in a dangerous large-scale mission in Kandahar from October 2005 until February 2009.

According to figures published in the Department of National Defence’s Report on Plans and Priorities, Canadian operations in Afghanistan cost $7,718.7 million between 2001 and 2008.

The Bloc believes that there should be a rotation in active combat. It is time for other countries to take over.

Furthermore, ending the military mission in February 2009 would allow Canada to allocate the funds that would be freed up to development assistance in Afghanistan.

In short, given the current state of affairs, the Bloc Québécois recommends that, in addition to ending the military aspect of the Canadian mission in Kandahar in 2009, the government rebalance its mission to allow Canada to more effectively meet its defence, development and diplomacy objectives in Afghanistan.