Evidence of meeting #4 for Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was afghanistan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
You head up a task force of approximately 25 persons. They assist the cabinet comittee, if I can call it that. Is the information you give them and the information you give us the same?
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Since these people are all from the Privy Council, you could give them classified information. Do you do that?
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
We occasionally deal with classified information.
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
I have to discuss that with the committee.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
So you admit that the information you communicate to that task force cannot be the same as what you share with our committee.
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
In the task force, we have access to that kind of information from time to time, but Mr. Emerson's committee is really focusing on a work process, setting priorities, developing points of reference and that kind of thing. These are not meetings during which we exchange documents.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
All right, but, to set key priorities, you nevertheless have to know what is really going on in the field. So you'll admit with me that, if those people have access to classified documents, that means they have more information than we do. I will therefore go back to my question: do you think that the minutes of the proceedings of that task force could be remitted to our committee?
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
I believe the committee often consults people like Arif Lalani or Rory Stewart. As you do in your committee, it exchanges with individuals involved in the same field.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
I now want to talk about a question raised a little earlier by my colleague. You were in Bucharest with the Prime Minister, I believe. Was there an agreement when the Americans announced that they would send 1,000 soldiers to southern Afghanistan as soon as the French arrived? The American General McNeill said that the Canadians should now adopt much more American doctrines and tactics. However, he wasn't just talking about the military aspect, but also about development, reconstruction and diplomacy. According to General McNeill, American and Canadian soldiers should distribute humanitarian aid and take on responsibility for construction. That's what the Americans want from the Canadians.
So tell me frankly whether Mr. Harper and Mr. Bush entered into a kind of contract. For example, in exchange for 1,000 additional soldiers, they could ask that the way of providing services be Americanized.
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
Not at all. The Canadians, Australians, English and French work under the direction of NATO and ISAF, a multilateral organization. The Canadian forces are under the direction of the Government of Canada. We'll continue to do our job, to direct our KPRT as Canadians.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
Thank you very much, Mr. Bachand.
Thank you very much, Mr. Mulroney.
That brings us to the end of our second round.
On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank you very much for your presence in front of us tonight and for sharing with us your view of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan based on your experiences. Thank you very much.
I'll suspend the meeting for a few minutes to allow the room to clear.
[Proceedings continue in camera]