Evidence of meeting #29 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 women.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
This is the 29th meeting of the Standing Committee on National Defence, dealing with our study on Afghanistan.
Today we have the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation.
We're very pleased to have you here, Madame Minister. As usual, we'll give you an opportunity to give us your presentation and then we'll go to a round of questions. We have an hour booked for you; I hope we can keep to that timeline.
The floor is yours.
9:05 a.m.
Louis-Saint-Laurent Québec
Conservative
Josée Verner ConservativeMinister of International Cooperation
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the Standing Committee on National Defence for inviting me to speak about Canada's presence in Afghanistan, particularly as it relates to development.
With me today at the table are Mr. Robert Greenhill, President of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and Mr. Philip Baker, Director General of CIDA's Afghanistan Branch.
I am here today to discuss the work that Canada, our Afghan partners—particularly the democratically elected government of Hamid Karzaï—and our Canadian partners are doing together in Afghanistan, particularly in the region of Kandahar.
During my trip to the region in the month of October, I was able to see for myself that the collaboration between the Canadian armed forces, Foreign Affairs and International Trade and CIDA is effective.
The Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team, which houses Canadian Forces, diplomats and CIDA development workers, represents a key anchor from which to pursue mission objectives in the region. President Karzaï emphasized this during his visit to Canada. The mission with our troops is essential to ensuring the security required to create a climate of peace. Without that security, building and development cannot occur.
Our troops are there to protect with a purpose. Their role is to help expand a democratic Government of Afghanistan's reach in Kandahar. CIDA's role and the PRT is to address sources of insecurity and help create conditions conducive to long-term development. This means starting with basic needs.
Through the Provincial Reconstruction Team, we are delivering a number of streams of activities in Kandahar, most notably $5 million to immunize all children against polio in the south of Afghanistan, including 350,000 children in the province of Kandahar. With $4.9 million we also provide food aid to thousands of displaced and drought-affected families as they prepare for winter.
And we are funding $3.1 million for key infrastructure initiatives such as bridges and check-dams in six Kandahar districts. This is aimed at enhancing the lives and productivity of over 500,000 Kandahars.
As well, we are providing cash for efforts to repair rural roads in Kandahar.
My officials have recently been meeting with village elders, including elders in the Panjwai and Zhari districts. They have directly heard the urgent needs of these Kandahar community leaders. They have told us they need short-term humanitarian assistance, especially for those families displaced by the recent violent but unsuccessful Taliban efforts in the Panjwai. They have told us they need ongoing development assistance to help them rebuild their communities and create positive employment opportunities for their youth.
Kandahar district councils have recently completed prioritized lists of their most urgent needs, such as access to clean water, bridges, and irrigation.
In addition to these initiatives led by the Provincial Reconstruction Team, the Canadian government is deeply engaged as a key support of Afghan national programs across the country and in Kandahar in particular.
The Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, Mr. Ehzan Zia, recently visited Canada to speak to Canadians about development progress in his country. Minister Zia expressed his gratitude for Canada's support of the National Solidarity Program, which his ministry has conceived and managed. Canada supports this program because it delivers results, and because it reflects principles that Canada shares with the Afghan government, such as democracy, and equality between men and women. Under the program, projects are managed by community development councils, including women's representatives, that are elected by local communities.
In Kandahar, such programs have achieved good results in close to 400 villages so far, with more to come. In Kandahar, Provincial Reconstruction Team projects are being completed at a rate of roughly 10 to 20 new projects per month, touching 7 Kandahar districts so far. We are funding the roll out of these projects to 2 more of the 17 Kandahar districts, and more will follow.
In the province of Kandahar alone, Provincial Reconstruction Team projects with CIDA and other donor assistance have resulted in tangible improvement in the life of villagers and the rural population. For example, more than 1,000 wells have been dug and 800 manual pumps have been distributed; 4 large water reservoirs are now in service; 100 km of irrigation canals have been rehabilitated; the provincial transportation and electricity networks have been improved. This means 150 km of new roads, 4 bridges, 50 km of power lines, 10 transformers, and 42 power generators.
Minister Zia has told Canadians that this help is both crucial and appreciated. Canada's military mission is heavily focused on helping Kandahar rise up from the devastation of more than 25 years of conflict. Canada's diplomatic and development efforts are intense in Kandahar, but also necessarily focus on the whole country. The development progress we are helping to achieve in the rest of Afghanistan contributes to the overall stability of the nation, and consolidating that progress ensures that those areas don't fall back into instability.
The Kandahar stabilization efforts by the Canadian Forces, CIDA, DFAIT and the RCMP are helping to provide the security so important for development progress. The solid progress happening in the rest of the country shows that this is possible. It demonstrates that Kandahar too will share in these benefits, once stabilized.
Canada has a focus on development, and it's working, but it's a long road, and Canada has made a long-term commitment. There is much reason to be confident that we will achieve our goals, together with our partners. Girls--two million--are now going to school. During the time of the Taliban, not one girl was in school.
Throughout Afghanistan, these projects—some 8,100 to date—are being done by community councils and less than 1% have been subject to rebel attacks. It is for just this reason that we are working with local partners, with elected councils, with representatives of the population. We are assured that they are in full possession of the projects because these people enjoy considerable support. There is no better way to promote freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
In addition to the assistance we provide to the National Solidarity Program, Canada is the largest donor to the national microcredit program, known by the acronym MISFA (Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan). Thanks to this program started by the Afghan government in June 2003, approximately 200,000 people with almost no revenue have been able to obtain small loans. As a result, they have been able to open a small food business, or buy an animal or start some other type of small business. Afghanistan has great potential for free enterprise.
This is why last September the Government of Canada gave $12 million to MISFA. This money comes from the $40 million that Canada has reserved for MISFA. The program finances 13 microfinance establishments that offer various financial services with a view to generating revenue and business development, as well as personal loans to people with limited income. The amounts loaned are invested in businesses in areas such as retail, agriculture and livestock, crafts and manufacturing.
This initiative—one of the rare ways of directly improving the status and condition of women and their families—has produced excellent results so far. It has helped Afghans, and above all women, who make up 75% of the recipients. Loans of more than $70 million have been given out in 18 provinces in Afghanistan, and 98% of them have been paid back with interest.
I firmly believe we must find a way to continue strengthening this budding democracy, to provide ongoing support to these people of such great will, such great potential. Afghans across the country want to take care of their own needs and those of their families.
We are concentrating on Kandahar and our work is producing proven results. Kandahar is the most unstable area. If we stabilize it, we will be able to continue making progress elsewhere in the more stable regions of Afghanistan. We cannot turn our backs on challenges that we are capable of taking on.
The situation is growing more stable, thanks to the presence of the Canadian Forces and partners, and we have found successful means of working together for the well-being of the people of Afghanistan.
The violence in Afghanistan will have an end. We know how much progress is possible through development. All hope is permissible and quite achievable.
Afghanistan would already be lost had we not believed in the determination of its people and their strength of character. We must continue to show equal strength of character in support of their development.
Mr. Chairman, thank you. I would be pleased to respond to questions from the committee.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Thank you very much.
We'll start our ten-minute round with the minister.
Mr. Dosanjh.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Minister, I'm wondering whether CIDA, or you on behalf of CIDA, have a specific list of all of the projects that have been funded by CIDA, and precisely how much of the money budgeted has already been spent.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Mr. Chairman, of course we have a list of projects in progress. It is available. We will be pleased to send a copy to the committee.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
9:20 a.m.
Robert Greenhill President, Canadian International Development Agency
The list is on our website. Every time there's a new project, it's on the website.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Does it include the amount of the budget and how much of the budget has been spent?
9:20 a.m.
President, Canadian International Development Agency
It provides regular updates on both elements, on how much has been budgeted, and then when we've actually completed a year you would see the amount that had been disbursed up to then. In addition, we can refer members to websites for some of the key national projects, such as the national solidarity program in MISFA, so they can receive monthly updates on project impact and disbursements by Canada and by other donors.
On the minister's directions, we'd be happy to provide them.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Thank you.
How often do CIDA staff at the Provincial Reconstruction Team operate outside the wire? Is it true the local Afghan councillor's bureaucrats must present themselves at the PRT to discuss potential projects most of the time, if not always?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
I regularly speak to the people at the Provincial Reconstruction Team, and of course, for security reasons—and this is the contribution of our Canadian Forces—we must make sure that projects are going ahead and that we are working together with the local community. This is the only way to obtain results.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Minister, with all due respect, you haven't answered the question. How often do CIDA staff at the PRT operate outside the wire?
9:20 a.m.
President, Canadian International Development Agency
In terms of the issue of operating outside the wire, there are three or four different ways in which CIDA officials and PRT officials interact.
9:20 a.m.
President, Canadian International Development Agency
Sir, let me position it, please.
Due to duty of care issues, we don't provide operational details of that type. Let me—
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I'm sorry. I have respect for you as a witness.
Tell me, how does it breach security for us to know how often CIDA staff operate outside the wire?
9:20 a.m.
President, Canadian International Development Agency
If I could answer your question, sir, people come into the PRT, as you mentioned. We have CIMIC officials who go outside, and when there are strategic meetings, CIDA officials are also in a position to go outside the wire.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
Madame Minister, I understand CIDA staff were refused permission last spring to talk to the Canadian embedded media about development projects. Are those restrictions still in place?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
No, there are no restrictions. CIDA personnel regularly gives information to the journalists who come to Afghanistan.
I went there myself and I could see that our work is being done in full transparency.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I understand last spring they were specifically forbidden to talk to the embedded media. Number one, is that true? Number two, if that was true, are those restrictions off?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
There were no restrictions that forbade CIDA personnel from speaking to journalists on site. This information is false.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
All right.
In terms of the focus of CIDA funding, I know CIDA is funding various projects in different aspects of life in Afghanistan. Why is CIDA not focusing more on direct infrastructure projects, such as funding the construction of clinics and police stations?
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
CIDA intervention in Afghanistan has several aspects. I brought some photographs that were taken in Afghanistan and that show the infrastructures that we are funding there. We are handing them out to you right now, as I speak.
There you can see roads, bridges, sustaining walls, buildings, and ongoing projects. It also shows the amounts allocated to the projects, the supply of electricity, and at the very end of the list, all the projects that were finished up to last August 31.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC
I understand that. I have a very specific question, and that is, if CIDA is funding the construction of clinics or police stations, I'd like to know. I can go through the list. I'd like to know if you know whether or not CIDA is funding the construction of clinics or police stations. If not, why not?
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Josée Verner Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
CIDA is working together with the local communities. As I mentioned in my presentation, villagers elect a council member who determines his own priorities independently.
Thus, for a community, the priority might be building a school, for another community it might be building a bridge, for another it could be the supply of drinking water.
Our government is sensitive to the needs directly defined by local communities. This is the best way to be successful. It is not up to us to determine the local community's priorities; it must take its own affairs in hand.
With regard to health, as you know and as I said, $5 million were recently announced to vaccinate 7 million children against polio. Services are also offered to widows and women. These are priorities set by the Afghan government.