“Throughout Afghanistan”, and this is at the Kandahar level and the regional level...this is Major Blair Baker:
...there have been five million refugees repatriated and over five million children are now enrolled in primary schools, many of whom are girls.
The efforts and sacrifices
--and these are the poignant parts of what he says--
made by Canadian soldiers and aid agencies on the international stage in the province of Kandahar has led to significant contribution of funds from several nations to assist in many projects that aid in development and are improving the life of the Afghan citizen.
Since February, Canada has lost 34 soldiers. They are all heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Today is a better day in Afghanistan than February--
--and this is from a person who was there in February and has seen it over those nine months--
--and every day is getting better. The development of infrastructure and government institutions is a slow process and can easily be assured through the security provided by soldiers--today it is Canadian soldiers, in the future it will be the Afghan National Army when they are able to stand on their feet.
Credit to Major Blair Baker for saying that so well. He's right in everything he said.