Evidence of meeting #4 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 nds.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
BGen Denis William Thompson
Absolutely.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Have you heard the rumour that the British allegedly stopped doing transfers? Do you know if that is true or not?
5:25 p.m.
BGen Denis William Thompson
No, as I said, it has been 13 months since I have followed the situation in Afghanistan closely.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
But when you were there, were you told or did you see that the British had stopped doing transfers because there were too many risks?
5:25 p.m.
BGen Denis William Thompson
No, not when I was there.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Did you have access to all DFAIT's documents to assess the situation? In other words, did you have the reports? I would think that, being a team, you were shown the latest visit reports. Did you have access to all those reports?
5:30 p.m.
BGen Denis William Thompson
Yes, absolutely.
5:30 p.m.
BGen Denis William Thompson
No, Mr. Bachand.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
You must think it a bit unfortunate for us, the members, not being able to ask you questions using the same documents that you read. It is political.
5:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
5:30 p.m.
BGen Denis William Thompson
I am sorry, but it was not my decision.
Mr. Bachand, I want to remind you that the Royal Military College Saint-Jean's end of year parade is on May 22. I hope to see you there.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
I will be there. I was told that we were sitting at the same table. I want to reserve a dance with your wife.
March 31st, 2010 / 5:30 p.m.
BGen Denis William Thompson
Okay. Thank you.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you very much, committee.
Thank you very much, General, for being here today. Some of your testimony is somewhat refreshing. It's not very often that we have public servants come before us and say if something went wrong, I'm responsible, I'm the guilty one. Yet you seemed very confident in your role there. We thank you for your candid remarks today. We thank you for your service in Afghanistan and we appreciate your testimony before our committee here today.
Yes, Mr. Wilfert.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
We just wanted some clarification on the panels for April, if I could ask. Do you want to go in camera?
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We won't go in camera, the bells are ringing. If you want to come up to the table, we can clarify this after.
Thank you, committee.
We're adjourned.