Peter MacKay

[Afghanistan, December 8th, 2009]

Simply put, Mr. Speaker, we are not. We are applauding them. We are encouraging all Canadian Forces personnel to continue to do what they always do, which is marvellous, which is spectacular, something we are all very proud of.

Let us look at what was said by General Natynczyk, who testified this morning, and three years ago he also answered this question. He said, “This was an operation where our Canadian troops were assisting the Afghan national security forces. We had no interest in the individual, but the ANSF did, and they took control of him”.

He went on to say, ”We didn't take this person into custody”. He went on to say, “We did not take this person under our control. What we did on the ground was just basic routine questioning”. That is what he said.

[Afghanistan, December 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, again, we have been clear. We have been consistent.

The hon. member is again making up facts. Acting on the evidence, acting on the advice of senior diplomats, and acting on the advice of decorated, trusted senior military, we acted ethically and responsibly.

When we heard from all of these witnesses ironically before the committee, as the member did, they said the same thing.

So the hon. member has to get his facts straight. If we were acting on the evidence of a number of witnesses, from senior diplomats, senior military, and acting on their advice, acting responsibly, he cannot condemn what the government has done.

That is the inconsistency that he cannot deal with.

[Afghanistan, December 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have been clear. We have been credible. Whenever presented with credible information, we have acted. We have invested in improving the justice system in Afghanistan. We have invested in the prison system. We continue to make improvements in human rights, in Afghanistan. We inherited a flawed transfer arrangement. We improved that.

I have tremendous faith and respect for the men and women in uniform, and for our diplomats and the work that they are doing in Afghanistan. I wish the member shared that confidence.

[Questions on the Order Paper, December 7th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), the Chief of the Defence Staff has issued direction to redeploy Canadian Forces from Afghanistan in accordance with the parliamentary motion on Afghanistan of March 13, 2008.The Department of National Defence has not developed contingencies for the extension of the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan beyond 2011.

In response to (b), the Department of National Defence has not devoted any ministerial resources to planning for an extension of the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan beyond 2011 as the Chief of the Defence Staff has issued direction to redeploy Canadian Forces from Afghanistan in accordance with the parliamentary motion on Afghanistan of March 13, 2008.

In resonse to (c), the Department of National Defence has not acquired major materials to facilitate any contingency for an extension of the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan beyond 2011 as the Chief of the Defence Staff has issued direction to redeploy Canadian Forces from Afghanistan in accordance with the parliamentary motion on Afghanistan of March 13, 2008.

In response to (d), the Canadian Forces continues to prepare and train high-readiness forces for use in domestic or international missions as directed by the Government of Canada. However, the Department of National Defence has not taken any specific measures to prepare human resources in the Canadian Forces for an extension of the Canadian military mission in Afghanistan beyond 2011 as the Chief of the Defence Staff has issued direction to redeploy Canadian forces from Afghanistan in accordance with the parliamentary motion on Afghanistan of March 13, 2008.

[Quebec City Armoury, December 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for this question.

Our government will continue with the consultations. We are attempting to identify a plan for the future of the Quebec City Armoury. We are also working with the other levels of government. We have had consultations with the City of Quebec. I believe that my colleague, the minister responsible for the Quebec City region, is quite interested in this matter and has also held a number of consultations. We are still trying to determine how to proceed and to identify a solution for the Quebec City Armoury.

[Afghanistan, December 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, when there have been substantiated claims of abuse, we have acted, officials have acted, but let us not just quote selectively from the Red Cross. It has already clarified and dismissed some of the attempts by the members opposite to misinterpret their information.

Bernard Barrett, the Red Cross spokesperson, said in Washington he would never share confidential information. He went on to say that these interpretations are someone else's interpretations of a meeting. He also said he tried to get in touch with Canadians in Kandahar in 2006 not to warn them about prison conditions, but rather routine matters of discussing the country's responsibilities.

We value the contributions of the Red Cross in Afghanistan and internationally. It is doing great work. So are soldiers and civilians.

[Afghanistan, December 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, nothing was ignored. We had military officials and, obviously, Department of Foreign Affairs officials working in Afghanistan throughout our time in office and previously. It is through that filter and through that prism that government decisions are taken.

Here is a news flash for the member opposite. It is not just in Afghan prisons where human rights abuses were taking place, it is not just in those prisons where violence was occurring, but we have stories of Afghans being thrown down wells and beheaded in soccer stadiums. It was one of the worst places in the world. Let us not lose sight of that.

That is why we are there. That is why we are trying to help and improve the people's rights in that country. That is a news flash for the hon. member.

[Afghanistan, December 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our professional, impartial public servants are the ones who make those redactions in compliance with the Canada Evidence Act, and the improvements made to it, I would note, by the previous government.

It is interesting that with the benefit of four years of hindsight and from the comfort and security of this chamber how the members opposite can continue to cast aspersions about our professional civil servants, our military, bringing down the mission, bringing down the important efforts that continue to this day to improve the rights and democracy in a place like Afghanistan.

[Afghanistan, December 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, over three years ago when we started to improve some of the mess left by the government of the hon. member opposite, we went about improving the transfer arrangement, investing in prisons and in mentoring and monitoring inside prisons.

With respect to redactions, I would remind the member again that this is done by arm's-length, non-partisan individuals working at the Department of Justice and other areas. I know he is a lawyer and I know he understands that.

That is not a political issue. It is simply a practical issue concerned with the security of information and, most important, securing the information that might hurt soldiers and civilians on the ground in Afghanistan.

[Afghanistan, December 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, on the process of redaction, I know Canadians are rivetted by this. Redactions are done by non-partisan, independent officials in departments in conjunction with and supported by a special committee that deals with security at the Department of Justice. They look at the material for any concerns arising that would affect national security. They look at concerns that would relate to the disclosure of names or agencies or information that would have been given to us by our allies with respect to national security.

We of course follow the Canada Evidence Act. We of course follow all legislation as the previous government and others have done.

I wish the member would express the same concern for our soldiers.