CANADIAN LEADERSHIP IN AFGHANISTAN

February 22, 2008

Yesterday Prime Minister Stephen Harper unveiled a revised motion on the future of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan.

The revised motion builds on the Government’s efforts to achieve a bi-partisan consensus on the future of the Afghanistan Mission.

The Afghanistan Mission is neither a Liberal mission, nor a Conservative mission but, instead, is a Canadian mission. With the men and women of the Canadian Forces serving bravely in Afghanistan, it is important for Canada’s political leaders to do all they can to achieve a sustainable consensus on the future of the mission.

The non-partisan Manley Report outlined a clear plan to ensure that Canada’s mission in Afghanistan has the best possible chance at success. The Official Opposition responded to the Manley report by offering to compromise on some of their previous demands. This new consensus motion incorporates many of the remaining concerns raised by the Official Opposition while ensuring that the Canadian Forces have the mandate and support they require to make the Afghanistan mission a success.

The Manley Report was clear that many things are required for the Afghanistan Mission to succeed. Canadian Forces must have access to improved equipment. Our NATO partners must provide additional reinforcements for Canadian soldiers. And the success of the mission must be measured by the success of reconstruction and training efforts on the ground.

The Conservative Government is optimistic that, by accommodating the remaining concerns of the Official Opposition, politics will not be a factor in the future of the Afghanistan Mission. Instead Canadians can focus their attention on doing all we can to ensure our men and women in Afghanistan succeed.