Mr. Chair, the system that is in place under this enhanced arrangement has a clause aimed directly at the subject of notification on any change in the material status of the detainee. It reads:
The Government of Canada will be notified prior to the initiation of proceedings involving persons transferred by the Canadian Forces and prior to the release of the detainee. The Government of Canada will also be notified of any material change of circumstances regarding the detainee including any instance of alleged improper treatment.
And I underscore the word “alleged” here, Mr. Chair, because just as the detainees themselves are entitled to due process from time of detention to determination, I would suggest as well that the Afghan authorities, at whom these allegations are aimed, are also entitled to the presumption of innocence when it comes to any investigations that are ongoing. If there has been improper treatment towards a detainee and it's proved and is borne out, then appropriate action would be taken by the Afghanistan government and we would support them in that regard.
The training that's taking place inside prisons, this improved access, including private access to examine detainees and to hear about these allegations, I would suggest is going to do a lot to raise the standard of professionalism inside their penal institutions.