National Defence Committee on Nov. 8th, 2006

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Mr. Chairman, in my presentation, when I referred to a conversation or comment of President Karzai, I pointed out the source. I would kindly ask that the honourable member also point out the source of her statement.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Is the honourable member willing to point out a source for those comments?

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

I only have the party affiliation. I don't have the exact name. I'd want to double-check it, but I will. I shall do that.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

It's a reflection on all parliamentarians.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

If you could follow up with that, that would be great.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

I shall.

We've had witnesses here who encouraged the Afghan farmers to grow poppies instead of food, yet they complain in the same breath that the Afghans are starving. How does the promotion of the opium industry by groups such as Senlis, for example, impact on our efforts in Afghanistan?

[LGen J.C.M. Gauthier]

I think, irrespective of your view of what the specific solution might be to the narcotics problem in Afghanistan, everyone will agree that it is a huge problem. It's a huge challenge.

You're talking to a soldier, again, and I will try to stay in my lane as a soldier and say to you that we do not get directly involved in eradication operations and so on. There is a possibility of in extremis support to forces that are involved in counter-narcotics activities, should they need our assistance—not with eradication, but assistance, because they're at risk somehow or their lives are in danger. Beyond that, we might play a role in sharing information and intelligence with government authorities, should they need it.

Other than that, the military does not have a role to play in what is a very significant challenge for the Government of Afghanistan and the international community.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Thank you, sir.

We'll go to Mr. Bouchard, and then Mr. Calkins.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you Lieutenant-General Gauthier for your presentation.

In your presentation you indicated that our focus was first and foremost on assisting the Afghan people. You also stated you were attempting to give the Afghan people hope. So, you're working on rebuilding Afghanistan. You also indicated that the Taliban have publicly stated their intention early in the year to take back Kandahar. This is a military-style message, one of war.

I get the sense that the Canadian Forces' mission has a more military rather than humanitarian focus, and that this really isn't a reconstruction mission.

Do you foresee any difficulties in refocussing this mission which, if I am to go by your presentation, should be more reconstruction-orientated?

[LGen J.C.M. Gauthier]

You're suggesting that reconstruction and security are mutually exclusive. I don't agree with you there; I think that they are quite complementary. Our conceptualization of the mission is based on the complementary nature of reconstruction, capacity building and security. We are servicemen and women, soldiers; that's what we do. Of course we have a focus on security, but not security for security's sake, nor to wipe out the Taliban, but rather, to support the Afghan government and authorities.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

You also stated that the Canadian Forces were working with a government team. Your intention is to build the Afghan security forces' capacity. On a number of occasions, you used the word “challenge”. This reconstruction process seems to be a challenge.

What is being your perception, in concrete terms, of the way the Afghan people have reacted to you taking charge in this way? How have they demonstrated their support for such action?

[LGen J.C.M. Gauthier]

General David Richards, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, explained — and I think the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Minister of National Defence basically said the same thing — that there may be as much as 60 per cent of the Afghan population, especially in the South, which still hasn't decided if it will support the government or the insurgents. It's not a matter of whether or not they are opposed to the Canadian Forces or to the coalition, but rather, whether or not, they are going to support the Afghan government. They haven't made up their minds. We're there to help the Afghan government win the Afghan people's trust, and we won't get there simply by way of our security operations. We really must win the Afghan people's confidence through our efforts in the area of governance in order to wipe out corruption so that Afghani people can learn to trust their legitimate authorities. The same is true when it comes to reconstruction.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Right on time. Thank you.

[LGen J.C.M. Gauthier]

I must have heard the bell was about to ring.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

You're getting good at that.

Mr. Calkins for five minutes, and then over to McTeague.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, General, for coming today.

I want to pick up on something my colleague pointed out earlier in his original line of questioning about the loss of 200,000 school seats that President Karzai pointed out when he was here. If we check the entire text of his speech in the House of Commons, you'll find that he actually said there were six million more children going to school compared to 700,000 when the Taliban was there, which is a net of--

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

On a point of order.

[John Cannis, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I clarified it was not in the speech he made. The general asked the question that he did not hear it in the House of Commons, and I agreed with him. I clearly pointed out those comments were made during his interview with Don Newman after his presentation in the House of Commons.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Thanks for that clarification.

Go ahead.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

I'll continue with this.

The net difference is 5.3 million more students going to school. With the 200,000 loss we had, which is more in the southern region, we're still roughly 26 steps ahead for every step back we've taken. That's fairly positive. You mentioned some of the other numerous achievements that have happened so far with the 146 kilometres of road that have been built, and development. I'm wondering, from that perspective, in your opinion, is the three-D approach working?

[LGen J.C.M. Gauthier]

I think it is.

Do I have a few minutes here, Mr. Chair, to give a longer answer?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Three and a half minutes.

[LGen J.C.M. Gauthier]

One of our challenges is internal. I will say candidly, it is communication and the flow of information, so we get visibility and we're able to give visibility to all the amazing work going on at ground level.

I'd like to share with you a piece that appeared in the Moncton Times & Transcript today, which was a letter written by an officer, a Major Blair Baker, who just came back from Afghanistan. He commanded the Airspace Co-ordination Centre of the Multi-National Brigade Headquarters. I'm going to have to get this guy working for me. The facts he was able to pull together and the way in which he was able to communicate this was just spot on, and it tells us we need to do a better job of communicating.

He refers to things like...427 community development councils have been created in the province of Kandahar, 106 of these for women, all of which enable Afghan communities to organize and implement development projects. These councils have completed 700 projects, improved the quality of drinking water, sanitation, irrigation, infrastructure development, income generation, and health clinics. Canada has provided significant assistance to agriculture, irrigation, and rural development in Kandahar province, over 10 kilometres of canals have been built, 14 kilometres of drainage systems, 150 kilometres of roads, four bridges, 50 kilometres of power lines, 10 transformers, 42 power generators, 1,000 wells, 800 hand pumps. I could go on and on with the many good things that have been accomplished.

If I could go on for just another minute....

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

We won't cut you off.