Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I will be sharing my time with my colleague, Mr. Martin.
Thank you, Mr. Greenhill and Ms. Verner. Given that we have very little time, I will put my questions to you immediately.
Minister, you know that democracy can only happen if all the necessary ingredients for success are there. Our troops in Kandahar are perfectly capable of dealing with security. They do it admirably. However, the other essential ingredients for basic development, including access to drinking water, electricity, women's rights and human rights, education and health care, also have to be present. Practically speaking, what is your department doing to ensure that all these ingredients necessary for sustainable development in Afghanistan or Kandahar are in place?
Furthermore, last Monday, when he appeared before a Senate committee, General Howard stated that the amounts allocated for development in Kandahar had not been sent and that our armed forces had to use their own budget to help the people. Why is it that the funds allocated to development in Kandahar were not released? How do you measure success in a region like Kandahar?
Thank you.