Evidence of meeting #22 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was afghanistan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Commander , Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, Department of National Defence
I will say, from a purely military perspective, that whether it's from a national or an international perspective, predictability is important. It's important for partners working with each other to have some understanding that they are able to count on other partners for the longer the period the better.
5:25 p.m.
Commander , Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, Department of National Defence
So longer-term commitments from a military perspective are better than shorter-term commitments, but that's not always possible from a policy perspective.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you, General. That's really what I was looking for, that key word, “predictability”. And in order to have predictability, this long-term planning is really important.
I want to thank you, Mr. Chair.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Very good. That brings us to one or two minutes left, if the committee will allow me just a little bit of time.
We need to confirm with Mr. Hawn the travel arrangements. Could you speak to the clerk for a second?
General, we are going to be in Edmonton tomorrow, at CFB Edmonton, and we'll be talking to the troops who have come back, just to see how they're being dealt with.
Also, I'm very appreciative of your comments about the committee travelling to Afghanistan and the fact that you will cooperate, and have cooperated, and we know that.
Remembrance Day is coming up here pretty quickly. If you could, on behalf of this committee, please relay to our men and women in uniform in Afghanistan that we appreciate what they're doing.
5:25 p.m.
Commander , Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, Department of National Defence
I thank you very much for that, and it will be my pleasure to do that.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Mr. Chairman, actually, before we recess, I think we are still hoping to get the reference our colleague referred to in terms of his statement.