Afghanistan

September 10, 2007

This week, government officials from the departments of CIDA, Foreign Affairs and Defence held their fourth technical briefing on Canada's activities in Afghanistan. These briefings are now regularized and will occur once a month. Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Arif Lalani participated by teleconference.

The topic of Afghanistan is on everyone’s mind. Some agree with Canada’s presence there and some don’t. Either way as MP for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry I know that we are proud of our men and women who are sacrificing so much for others.

The presence of Canadian troops is having a profound effect. As we help rebuild and strengthen the capability of the Afghan government and Afghan institutions, Afghanistan will become more and more self-sufficient. After decades of war and oppression, Afghanistan is now a burgeoning democracy. Where once women were brutally oppressed, girls attend school and women are starting their own businesses. Such achievements come only through a secure environment. Our Government continues to stand by our soldiers, development workers, diplomats and aid workers who are doing such important work.

I take pride in knowing that conditions are improving for families in Afghanistan. Basic medical services have increased to 83% and infant mortality has declined 22%. In 2001, less than 8% had access to primary healthcare. That number is currently at 80%. And there are Economic Development benefits as well. Between January and May 2007, 60,000 new clients are in microfinance activities. Education is improving with 20,800 men and women receiving legal awareness training within households and more than 5100 Kandahari women receiving literacy training. Under the Taliban, only 700,000 children went to school, all of them boys. Now, more than 6 million children are attending school, 40% of them girls and 35% of schoolteachers are women.

Basic Infrastructure in Kandahar is also improving. Between March and June 2007, more than 100 reservoirs, 70 hand pumps, 1000 wells, 100 irrigation canals, and 650 km of roads have been constructed or rehabilitated. There have been 10,000 kilometres of new roads built in recent years. The time to travel between Kabul to Kandahar was 15 hours in 2001 – now it is 6 hours.

Humanitarian Assistance has made a difference in Kandahar where more than 200,000 people have received emergency food aid and more than 420,000 m2 of land is cleared of mines, benefiting more than 10,000 people (since March 2005). Between April and June 2007, over 5,000 mines were destroyed nationwide.

Institutions and governance are improved. Canada has trained 75 prosecutors, 68 public defenders, 90 judges (including 16 women), 75 judges in specialized procedures, 20 judges as trainers of others. Canada has 13 police officers in Afghanistan helping to build capacity (10 with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team; 2 with the Combined Security Transition Command; 1 in Kabul). Canadian personnel in Kandahar also offer police and corrections instruction and have trained more than 475 Afghan National Police. Canadian Civilian Police Officers have provided training on vehicle checkpoints, vehicle and personal search procedures, first aid, and motorcycle riding and maintenance.

We live in the safest and most wonderful country in the world. Our government is staying the course and taking care of families far and near. While we have so much to be thankful for, we can be proud that today the quality of life has been lifted a little closer to that which we enjoy right here in Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry.