Evidence of meeting #17 for National Defence in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was nato.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Senior Research Fellow, Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, As an Individual
Kandahar is the homeland of the Taliban in a very real sense. Kabul is the national capital, the site of the government. They're both critical.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I don't want this to sound partisan. It's not intended to be, and I don't think you'll take it that way.
Mr. Wilfert raised the point about the U.S. Democrats and Republicans agreeing on big issues of national interest.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Oh, I'm sorry.
I would suggest that historically in Canada, on the big issues of national unity and international affairs—the big-ticket items of international affairs, such as the world wars, and so on—that the two major parties in Canada have been pretty much on the same page. Regrettably, in my personal view, I have seen a deterioration of that.
What would be your comment on that?
Senior Research Fellow, Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, As an Individual
I think that historically there has been a rough alignment between the parties, Liberal and Conservative. I think you're right that it has fragmented to some extent in the last 25 years. It may be that it's particularly difficult in a minority government situation to maintain that kind of coordination.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I'm not suggesting there's blame on either side; I'm suggesting there's plenty to go around.
Senior Research Fellow, Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, As an Individual
I think that's true.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maxime Bernier
Okay, thank you very much.
I want to thank all the members, and thank you to our witness, Mr. Granatstein. Thank you very much for your presentation today.
We will suspend our work for five minutes and come back for an in camera meeting.
Thank you.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
