Helena Guergis

[Afghanistan, May 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, mirror, mirror on the wall. It is typical of the Liberal Party to try to run from their own words and from their own actions when they very clearly have stood in this House and many times in front of the media and have taken the Taliban's words as the truth. They have chosen to believe the Taliban allegations without having an investigation rather than taking the good word of our great Canadian men and women--

[Afghanistan, May 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member has specific evidence for these allegations we would be happy to receive it. I do not know why he would continue to hold onto it if he had something that our brave Canadian men and women and the Afghan police have no evidence of whatsoever, with no specific evidence to support any of these allegations.

I do not know how often those members have to hear a NATO commander say to them that there is nothing to back up the allegations. We will continue to work with the Afghanistan government and the Afghan human rights commission to investigate these allegations.

[Afghanistan, May 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we have said several times in this House that the Government of Canada has an arrangement with the government of Afghanistan and with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. They are investigating these general allegations and we will insist on being part of this investigation.

[Afghanistan, May 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, does the hon. member not understand that Canadians continue to be offended by members of the opposition, continue to be offended by their insistent repeating of the Taliban allegations as though they are the gospel truth?

They might want to consider giving our Canadian brave men and women the benefit of the doubt.

[Afghanistan, May 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, our military personnel on the ground ensure that they conform with international law.

The NATO commander, as the member so often likes to refer to, has said that he sees no specific evidence to these allegations. Yes, there are general allegations, but there are no specific allegations.

There is an arrangement with the government of Afghanistan and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. They are investigating and we are assisting in that investigation.

[Afghanistan, May 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, our military takes its role very seriously on the ground in Afghanistan. It is working incredibly hard and doing an incredibly good job, and that includes conforming with international law.

We believe that things are working very well on the ground.

[Sport, April 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as I have advised another colleague in the House, this is a decision that is made by Hockey Canada, not by the Government of Canada.

With respect to Mr. Doan, given that the judicial process is under way regarding the issue, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comments.

[Afghanistan, April 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the accusations from the opposition are irresponsible. We have arrangements with the government of Afghanistan. We have arrangements with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. We believe the arrangements are working.

The Afghanistan government will be investigating these allegations and we will be working with it in this investigation.

[Afghanistan, April 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know how many times we need to stand in the House to explain to the previous Liberal government that its inaction with respect to developing a policy on the transfer of detainees is unacceptable.

What also is extremely unacceptable is the fact that far too often the opposition is so ready to take the word of Taliban detainees over our brave Canadian men and women. Canadians are finding themselves offended at this.

[Sport Canada, April 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that this was not a government decision. I want him to know that, through our Sport Canada funding, we have an education program called Speak Out. It provides all participants, coaches, players, officials and parents with valuable information about harassment and abuse.