I have been a strong supporter of NATO's effort in Afghanistan and for Canada to help build democracies and so on in the third world countries. It's a very idealistic mission that promotes Canadian values. While we are trying to do a very honourable job, I'm very worried that at the same time as we are seeing evils being done, we are deciding to ignore those kinds of things. It hurts us. It hurts our reputation; it hurts our ability to promote that kind of thing in the future.
The agreement the Liberal government signed with Afghanistan contained a clause that the Afghani government would respect the Geneva Convention. At the same time, if there are indeed tortures and the Geneva Convention is being violated by the Afghanis, if we turn a blind eye to that, it would incriminate the Canadian side in that action.
As these reports from all different sectors have reported, there is certain evidence of torture and so on. To me, this is why, by looking into this matter and by asking that question, we are not pulling the rug out from under our own soldiers in Afghanistan; I think we're protecting them by making sure that as the Government of Canada we are not asking them to do the wrong thing. I take great offence from others who think it is not being supportive of our troops.
I support Mr. Ménard's motion because although the actions of the correctional officers might not be dealing with the safety of Canadians, this committee has authority over the Correctional Service of Canada, so it's important for us as committee members to have an understanding of what the employees of these ministries that we are responsible for are doing. We are answerable to the public, to Canadians, for their actions.
I appreciate that the officers from the Correctional Service of Canada are helping, but it is important. If they do indeed witness torture or have some kind of proof of torture on the ground in those prisons, and if we do not act on it, then we become complicit in that kind of activity. This is why I think it's important for this committee, which is responsible for the Correctional Service of Canada, to have full knowledge of what they have seen on the ground.
This is why I support Mr. Ménard's motion.
Thank you.