Thank you, Mr. Patry.
First, allow me to say that Canada is one of the countries contributing to the improvement of security, governance and development in Afghanistan. Our men and women in uniform, diplomats, but also development specialists are over there risking their lives. The government must spend accordingly to guarantee their safety and ensure that they are fulfilling their duties. This goes without saying.
The Canadian government regularly and publicly reports to Canadians on the cost of its mission through annual performance reports, plans and priorities submitted to the department, and other public communications.
The total cost of the mission for the department, from 2001 to 2011, has been estimated at $536 million. Much of that money will be spent in the later stages of the mission. This year, the department has earmarked $153 million for the Afghanistan mission in 2009-2010. This contribution includes the cost of programs and functioning of the headquarters, the embassy, the Kandahar airfields and the provincial reconstruction team. The total cost of the Afghanistan mission for the Government of Canada, from 2001 to 2011, is currently estimated at $11.3 billion, without taking into consideration costs related to health care and veterans disability pensions after 2011.