Foreign Affairs Committee on Oct. 18th, 2006

[Robert Greenhill]

In fact, with the PRT system, with the four employees we have at the PRT at Kandahar—which is more than the average in the PRTs, in which we have one to three development officials—we are working closely with the local communities, the local development committees. Then we will work through them and through either NGOs or multilateral organizations.

In the case of Kandahar presently, UN-HABITAT is one of the key partners we're working with. As for the $5 million polio announcement that was recently made, to vaccinate seven million children in that region, that's being done with the WHO. The national programs will work with multilateral organizations or with NGOs, depending upon the best fit within a specific district.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Don't the only two NGOs with which you're working in a partnership in Kandahar—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Madam McDonough.

Mr. Greenhill, just finish off, please.

[Robert Greenhill]

In terms of the organizations with which we're working, in Kandahar province, if we take, for example, one program, the national solidarity program, there are several hundred projects going on right now through the UNDP and UN-HABITAT, working with the Afghan government.

In this case it's actually the local development committees themselves, it's the villagers, who choose their own projects. They determine their priorities, and then local organizations are engaged to deliver them. In some cases, CARE and other NGOs are also involved, but in fact if the project can be delivered directly by the locals themselves, that is considered to be a superior approach, and it's the approach that's in seven out of seventeen districts in Kandahar. With the recent announcement of $2 million, there will be two more districts. This will cover more than half of the entire province of Kandahar.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you, Mr. Greenhill.

For the second round, basically we're out of time. We have about three minutes left.

Mr. Goldring, you have five minutes coming, but I'm going to give you one minute, if you want to make a statement.

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Madam Minister, from your comments, it is obvious in one area there has been a gain in the electoral reform in Haiti, and having been there during the last election and having seen that, to have the very first election to be very, very peacefully conducted.... But one of the concerns was the 30% turnout, and the other end of the issue would be that the 30% turnout indicates there is a lack of understanding on the part of the citizenry towards what their members of Parliament can do and what their role is.

With regard to the Parliamentary Centre itself and the work they have been doing there, what will they be doing to address some of those concerns, and will they be able to address those concerns without engaging the political party process and maybe other MPs?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you, Mr. Goldring. In fact, I'd like to thank you for that question.

Let's remember to keep our focus on the democratic development. That is the main reason for this study today and for this meeting.

Madame Verner.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Goldring. I know that you went to Haiti. We have had an opportunity to discuss your visit.

If I am not mistaken, voter turnout on the second round was far higher, was it not?

[Robert Greenhill]

Yes.

[Josée Verner, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

How much higher?

[Robert Greenhill]

On the first round, it was...

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Members of Parliament.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Legislative election, not presidential.

[Robert Greenhill]

For the legislative election it was considerably lower than for the presidential election, partly because of the perceived relative importance, which one assumes will change over time as the role of Parliament becomes clear and receives greater support from the people. But it's a legitimate issue in terms of the second-round participation rate.

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

And the Parliamentary Centre?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you very much.

We want to thank—

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, Mr. Greenhill just mentioned—thank you for coming, first of all, both of you—during the debate that there are many specific projects. I would like you, if it's possible, to table the projects.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

That's not a point of order.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I just want you to table all the projects through the clerk so that we can learn about this, the $15 million. I fully agree with the $5 million with WHO for vaccination, but we would like to know about all the projects, all the development communities, all the organizations—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Patry, we want to—

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

No, please, Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

You can submit any of those—

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Permit me to ask this through you. We started five minutes late, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

We have two other guests.

[Bernard Patry, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I know we have some other guests, but I'm not asking him to give it now, but just to table it before this committee, and it's his—