Mr. Speaker, after eight years of fighting a war in Afghanistan, there is more corruption, more drug trade, more civilian and troop deaths and more insurgency. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans still do not have access to potable water.
Everyone agrees that there is no military solution possible and that a new direction is needed. New Democrats have opposed this war right from the beginning. We believe that spending $9 on war fighting and $1 on development is wrong. We believe that spending $18 billion on a combat mission is wrong.
Canada must formally announce to NATO the withdrawal of our troops, and we should do it now. Canada must bring hope, peace and stability in Afghanistan by gathering countries in the region to support negotiations to end the war. We must establish a road map for peace.
It is time to end the war, not extend it.