This week a delegation of Afghan female Parliamentarians is visiting Ottawa to talk about the progress being made in that country. Seven years ago in Afghanistan, women were not allowed out of their homes unescorted by a male relative. Today, Afghan women are travelling abroad and visiting foreign dignitaries.

Thanks in large part to the strong leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the generous contributions of Canadians, almost two million Afghan girls are attending school. More than 25% of Afghan parliamentarians are women. Women are participating in the Afghan Police Force. Funding is flowing for entrepreneurial Afghan women to start their own businesses. Hundreds of programs are in place to enhance the lives of girls and women in Afghanistan so that they may participate fully and freely in their own society.

It is only through strong, decisive leadership that these developments have been possible. Prime Minister Harper and the Conservative Government made the tough decisions necessary to help bring security, development and governance to this country that has been devastated by war and oppression.

Without Canada’s brave soldiers, diplomats and aid workers who are working diligently to help make Afghanistan a safe, stable place, these concrete changes would not be possible. They are supported every day by the real action of the Conservative Government, whose funding, diplomatic efforts and support of our armed forces is an example to our allies around the world.

When Canadian soldiers, aid workers and diplomats work tirelessly to bring hope to the Afghan people, they are also re-establishing Canada’s role as a world leader.

As Canadians discuss the future of the Afghanistan Mission, more and more of our allies are paying attention. If Parliament passes the new consensus motion on Canada’s future role in Afghanistan, it will send a clear signal to our NATO allies: though Canada will continue to play a leadership role in Kandahar, we will not play that role indefinitely nor will we play that role alone.

The Prime Minister has been clear that Canadian troops must be reinforced by 1000 more soldiers from our allies if our military mission in Afghanistan is to continue past 2009. The Conservative Government has already worked hard to build a consensus Canadian position on the Afghanistan Mission with the Official Opposition. Now the Prime Minister is insisting that NATO builds a new Afghanistan consensus as well.

A safe, peaceful and prosperous future for Afghanistan is worth fighting for, but it requires that all of Canada's NATO allies do their fair share. The world has a stake in what happens in Afghanistan, and as Canadians continue to bravely lead on the front lines, we expect that more of our allies will step forward and do their part to make the mission a success, and build a safer, more secure future for us all.
- Guy Lauzon, M.P.