Evidence of meeting #22 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
I understand. Is the option that calls for Canada to take precedence over the Americans with respect to the production of Chinook helicopters feasible? Is that option in the process of being negotiated?
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
We are looking at various ways of getting more helicopters. Possibly we might purchase them or lease them. A decision has not yet been made. We have been assured that we will get these helicopters.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
With respect to unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are you familiar with the Noctua project? It involves the leasing of UAVs. In your opinion, will we receive the UAVs by February 2009?
Conservative
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Are you confident that through the Noctua project, we will receive the helicopters and the UAVs far enough in advance to respect the 2009 deadline?
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to the committee. It's good to get your briefing today.
When you spoke earlier you said some of the caveats had been lifted, but you weren't specific. Could you tell us specifically which caveats have been lifted and which countries have lifted them?
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
By that I meant that we have more countries engaged in the south in robust combat roles, so the presence, for example, of countries like France in the south represents a move forward from where we were, certainly at Riga when France was not contemplating a role in the south. I think that's perhaps one of the most obvious.
As I said, we also have a number of countries with us in the south that had not been with us at the time of Riga. So it's really the growth of the RC South community.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
So in the international community no caveats have been--
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
I think the French represent a pretty good example of a country that is now willing to engage in a more robust role in Afghanistan.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
I was talking about the countries that put caveats on their troops; you can't give me an example of a country that has lifted a caveat in terms of what they're doing in--
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
In effect, France is now coming south from the capital, where they were, into RC East, which is a pretty significant change. That's the kind of change we'd welcome across the board.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
And that will free up 1,000 American soldiers to come to Kandahar.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
You were talking about the numbers and I'd like to firm that up, if I could, please. You talked about the 3,200 marines. To my understanding, they've come for seven months.
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
On temporary assignment.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
They are part of Operation Enduring Freedom, not part of ISAF. Is that what you said?
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
No. About 1,000 of the marines will be doing Afghan national security force training, and that will be associated with Operation Enduring Freedom; 2,200 will be doing more traditional security roles in the south and they will be part of ISAF.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Okay.
When they leave, the 1,000 Americans who are coming to reinforce the Canadian contingent there will be part of ISAF. Is that right?
Deputy Minister, Afghanistan Task Force, Privy Council Office
Correct. They'll be part of RC South.
