AFGH Committee Meeting

The Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan met by videoconference at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 228, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Garry Breitkreuz, presiding.

Claude Bachand moved, — That the Committee condemn the stoning of young women and men in Afghanistan and call on the government to take the necessary action to put an end to these stonings as soon as possible and that this be reported to the House at the earliest opportunity.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Anil Arora made a statement and, with Ginny Flood and David Boerner, answered questions.

At 4:17 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:18 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Robert Schafer, by videoconference from Vancouver, British Columbia, made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:02 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:04 p.m., the Committee proceeded to sit in camera.

It was agreed, — That the Fourth Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be adopted.

The report read as follows:

In accordance with its mandate pursuant to the motion adopted Thursday, March 11, 2010, your Subcommittee met on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, to consider the business of the Committee and consequently recommends:

1. That the Committee consider a draft report on March 1 and 8, 2011, and that any additional recommendations be sent to the Clerk before noon, Monday, February 28, 2011;

2. That the Committee invite officials of the Afghanistan Task Force within the Privy Council Office and experts from other departments and agencies to brief on current conditions in the mission on Tuesday, March 22, 2011;

3. That the Committee invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of National Defence to appear on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, to respond to the motion adopted Wednesday, December 1, 2010, and to address any quarterly report deposited in the interim;

4. That, the motion adopted for travel to Afghanistan on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, be amended by adding after the words “non-combat role” the words, “and travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, for discussions with Pakistani and allied officials”; and

5. That the Committee travel to Afghanistan and Pakistan spending up to two days in each of Kabul, Kandahar and Islamabad.

The motion adopted for travel to Afghanistan on Wednesday, December 1, 2010, as amended, read as follows:

That, in follow-up to this Committee’s trip to Afghanistan in May and June of this year, the Committee return to Afghanistan to examine the progress or completion of Canada’s three signature projects (the construction of the Dahla Dam, the construction and restoration of educational facilities, and the eradication of polio), as well as to receive a briefing from on-site government officials and a tour of various training facilities Canadian trainers and support personnel would use in Kabul, as well as any development projects, as outlined by the government’s announcement concerning Canada’s post-2011 non-combat role, and travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, for discussions with Pakistani and allied officials.

At 5:12 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.