Evidence of meeting #18 for Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was afghanistan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
I'm not sure, Mr. Dewar.... How is this relevant to the issue we're exploring here today?
5 p.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Well, because we're talking about post-2011, I'm just asking. I'm assuming—
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
If I may—my time is precious—I was simply asking. I think we established, through witnesses at least, not through Ms. Bossenmaier, that it was last week that it was established there was a change in the mission. We'll take that as an agreement.
I guess my next question would be about the strictly civilian mission. You had been under the impression until last week that it was going to be a strictly civilian mission. I think most of us are aware of the plan that had been put forward and that my colleague had talked about.
How long had you been working on a strictly civilian mission for post-2011?
5 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
Mr. Chair, the decisions that the government makes in terms of what the policies and programs will be, and what the priorities will be in the future, are government decisions. In terms of the public service's role, you know, in terms of being able to provide advice and then now being able to implement what the government's priorities are...that is the role of the public service.
5 p.m.
NDP
5 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Yes, and please give Mr. Dewar more time.
But it really is not Ms. Bossenmaier's position to tell this committee how that process unfolds outside of the public purview. She is doing her job, as they all are as public servants. It's not up to her to make those announcements. It's up to government to make the announcements. Clearly, things are worked on for some period. It's not her position to reveal that kind of information. She's under no obligation to do that. So I wish Mr. Dewar would stick to—
5 p.m.
NDP
5 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
You're asking how long she has been working on this and that's not relevant.
5 p.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
No. I asked how long the team had been working on plans for post-2011.
Can I start again? I still have a few minutes.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Yes, I've been trying to do that.
You have another 30 seconds extra. Go ahead.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
5:05 p.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Chair, what we have established is that before the announcement of the government last week to extend the military mission, there was a plan, which we have access to and which was put out last August, that we were going to have $550 million on this civilian-only mission. Now we have established that there has been a cut to that program, so that instead of $550 million for a civilian-only mission we'll have only $300 million.
I guess the question I was trying to establish was what the government and cabinet were directing the public service to do. We can't get information, and that's unfortunate. Maybe the question should be, are we going to be cutting back on diplomacy? I didn't hear about that. If so, where are we cutting back on diplomacy? It is one of your initiatives, but I didn't hear any discussion about how much money there is and exactly what you'll be doing. Could we establish that?
5:05 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
Mr. Chair, as I mentioned earlier, as you well know, the government announced last week that the post-2011 role would focus on four priorities. Development and investment in the future of Afghan children and youth is one. Advancing security, the rule of law, and human rights is the second. The third is promoting regional diplomacy, which really builds on a lot of the work that has been done in Kabul, in Kandahar, and also internationally, in the sense that my colleague has already mentioned the Dubai process and some of the work that's been happening there. So promoting regional diplomacy will continue. The fourth priority is delivering humanitarian assistance.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
5:05 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
I don't have a figure in terms of the breakdown by those various elements.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
Thank you. You're at 10 minutes and 45 seconds, not 10 minutes and 30 seconds, so we're going to have carry on.
5:05 p.m.
NDP
