Thank you for your question. It's an important one, because as you know also, Canada will have the lead in the south of the country in February 2008 concerning the military mission, but the reconstruction is an important part of our goal with other countries.
What is our government doing in the south, in Kandahar, more precisely? We are working with a number of departments. I have Bev Oda, with me. We are also working with the Minister of Defence, the RCMP, the Correctional Service and Justice Canada. The government is therefore taking an integrated approach. We are taking the same kind of approach when it comes to the provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar.
I have had the opportunity to meet people in that team on the ground. They are highly motivated and extremely professional people. They work under very difficult conditions. Together, they make up a multidisciplinary team that ensures that we can be more effective on the ground. The group also includes diplomats and experts in police training.
We make sure that we are working with everyone on the ground and with Afghans to carry out very specific infrastructure projects, such as building dams, irrigation canals, bridges and roads. Ms. Oda will be able to tell you more about the projects that have been carried out in the Kandahar region.
No project can be carried out without security. Security is the basic element. The Canadian Forces oversee these people to be sure that the area is secure and that development projects can be carried out. I am very proud of the work being done by all Canadian government officials and by the very reputable international organizations, to change the day to day lives of the Afghan people, little by little.