Peter MacKay

[Afghanistan, April 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, what we saw coming from the chief of the defence staff was a very comprehensive response. In that letter he described what actually happened in a military operation where an armed insurgent was threatening the lives of Canadian Forces. There was information provided in that letter that provided answers which very much were contrary to the evidence of another witness who had given information that the hon. member seems to embrace quite quickly.

There is a forum for this information to be examined. I know the member is getting exercised. He does not like facts. The reality is that the facts are there for all to see.

[Afghanistan, April 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, what it indicates is that the Canadian Forces are working very hard under difficult and dangerous circumstances in Afghanistan. I remind the hon. member, if he needs to be reminded, that we are working in Kandahar province in the toughest, most difficult part of the country. We are there working with an international coalition. We are there working with the Afghan security forces as well. It stands to reason there would be a high number of Taliban insurgent prisoners taken given those circumstances.

We need to commend members of the Canadian Forces for the hard work they are doing on behalf of our country.

[Afghanistan, April 19th, 2010]

Yes, I can confirm, Mr. Speaker, that is not the way the Canadian Forces act.

In fact, I refer to a letter from the chief of the defence staff, Walt Natynczyk, that was released to the hon. member. I commend it to him for his reading, where the chief of the defence staff said, “The Canadian Forces do not transfer individuals for the purposes of gathering information”.

[Afghanistan, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, what is astounding to me is that repeatedly we see members opposite completely wrapping their arms around these broad statements of unspecified, unsubstantiated evidence.

What we did as a government in 2007, after inheriting a mission put in place by the previous government and inheriting a flawed transfer agreement, was to put a new agreement in place that allowed for more mentoring, more monitoring. I am told now, in fact, that public safety officials have been able to go to those prisons more than 200 times, were able to improve their professionalism and work on the infrastructure.

It is not perfect, but it is far better than it was when we inherited this mission.

[Afghanistan, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, more feigned righteous indignation.

What the witness did say yesterday was that he was not there. He did not see it. He was not around the area when this alleged incident occurred, so it was of course unsubstantiated. When we have substantial evidence or information, we act. But that member and others opposite like to wrap their arms selectively around what witnesses say.

What I heard the witness say yesterday was that each and every member of the Canadian Forces, from the top generals to the men and women on the ground, was a liar. If that is not disparaging their reputation, then I do not know what is. I would be very loath, if I were a member opposite, to associate myself with comments like that.

[Afghanistan, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, again, nothing was confirmed. It was alleged.

Let us be clear. Each and every time in these instances, Canadian Forces leadership can only transfer prisoners if they are satisfied on the ground that there is no real risk that a transferred prisoner would be subjected to torture or mistreatment. That is the standard they meet.

I just wish the hon. member would raise his standards a little in his questioning.

[Afghanistan, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, our troops certainly deserve better than drive-by smears, allegations, non-specific references to their performance.

I want to be clear. When the Canadian Forces have specific information or allegations, they act, they follow all international obligations, they certainly follow the Geneva convention. They are doing an exceptional job in difficult circumstances. This is a very challenging mission for those members and their families.

I just wish the hon. member would show a little more support for what they do.

[Afghanistan, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, that is false. We know that when Canadian Forces have substantiated evidence, they act. They follow up these allegations.

What we heard yesterday was just that. It was allegations. When pressed, when asked specifically to present evidence that could be followed, the witness admitted that he had no specific evidence to offer. They were allegations that he could not substantiate. That is what we are dealing with here.

[Afghanistan, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, more rhetoric, more sound and fury, more unsubstantiated allegations that the hon. member, who is a lawyer, a former premier, is getting very good at. His theatrics are noted.

I wish, just for once, we would get a question from the hon. member that would reflect an acknowledgement that the men and women of the Canadian Forces continue to do great work on behalf of our country, at great risk to themselves and their families. He should stop disparaging their name, their work and stop making allegations, insinuating they are war criminals. That is despicable, detestable ethics.

[Afghanistan, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the emotion on the part of the hon. member but the reality is that we need specific allegations to take specific action. When that happens, the Canadian Forces will follow that evidence each and every time. The Chief of the Defence Staff indicated that yesterday.

With respect to testimony heard yesterday, and the hon. member was there, when the witness was specifically asked if he had firsthand accounts, proof that this happened, he said “No”.