Evidence of meeting #19 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 international.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
Military Advisor, Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations, Department of National Defence
I was not involved in the consultation process or in the discussion regarding the deployment of our troops. Therefore, I cannot answer your question, sir.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maxime Bernier
Thank you very much.
We will now go to Mr. Payne.
You have two minutes. You're the last member.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank the witnesses for coming in.
Colonel, how can Canada most effectively balance the safety of its men and women in the armed forces with the potential of injuring civilians and the possibility of instigating international political situations?
Have the rules of engagement changed somewhat since General Dallaire was there?
12:55 p.m.
Military Advisor, Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations, Department of National Defence
I assume you're talking specifically about General Dallaire's deployment in Rwanda and the rules of engagement associated with that mission.
1 p.m.
Military Advisor, Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations, Department of National Defence
It truly depends on which article of the charter of the United Nations the forces are deployed under. There's always the right of self-defence, and the use of force has now expanded beyond what it was perhaps 20 years ago to include defence of the mandate.
But from a Canadian Forces perspective, we're not prepared, and we certainly have not been in Afghanistan, to sacrifice the local civilian population in the achievement of our goals. In fact, I'm personally aware that we have not engaged Taliban forces in Afghanistan because of the risk of that. Those same principles would apply in any deployment with the United Nations.
1 p.m.
Conservative
LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Chair, that's not quite fair. I noticed some of my colleagues managed to get in a second question. But I will sit with your ruling.
1 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Maxime Bernier
I want to thank our witnesses. Thank you very much for being with us from New York, and thank you, Ms. Golberg.
This will end our 19th session of the Comité permanent de la défense nationale. Merci à vous tous.
Thank you very much, and have a nice day.