A debate is under way about the nature of Canada's mission in Afghanistan's Kandahar province after its mandate expires in 2009. Today, we are hearing mostly criticism from the opposition parties in Ottawa, which is normal.
This criticism will perhaps have caused many people to forget that it was the previous Liberal government that launched this mission, and that the Liberals support Canada's commitment to continue its military efforts within the International Security Assistance Force until 2009.
Canada currently has troops in Afghanistan under a UN mandate. We are there at the invitation of a democratically elected Afghan government, with 36 other countries, including France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Sweden.
Moreover, more than 60 countries and international organizations are taking part in the Afghanistan Compact, which sets out a number of clear objectives for rebuilding the country up to 2011.
Why are we in Afghanistan? First, to stabilize the Afghan nation, ravaged by decades of war and tyranny. We are working to strengthen the democratic regime and ensure that the country does not fall back into the hands of terrorists.
Canadian soldiers, diplomats and humanitarian workers are in Afghanistan to defend the universal values of respect for basic human rights, as enunciated by the Afghans themselves in their constitution.
We are there to fight poverty, injustice and corruption-- fertile ground for terrorism. We are accomplishing this goal in a variety of ways.
First, by helping to train over 30,000 Afghan National Army soldiers. Security in that country will not be truly consolidated in the medium term until Afghans themselves can provide it. And that is what we are helping them do.
Canada has also helped train dozens of judges and lawyers so that a credible and effective judicial system can be put in place. Without such a system, justice and basic human rights will continue to be ignored in Afghanistan.
The other major purpose of the Canadian mission is a humanitarian one. Today, more than 80% of Afghan citizens have access to health care, up from only 9% five years ago. This is progress by any measure. In Kandahar province alone, 350,000 children have been vaccinated against polio.
Canada has helped set up 4,000 schools and train 9,000 teachers. This will benefit 120,000 children, more than 85% of them girls. In Kandahar itself, several thousand adults have learned to read and write because of Canadian aid.
Canada is the main donor country behind funding for a micro-credit program, which has given 360,000 Afghans in 23 provinces access to loans to set up small businesses.
Canada has also contributed to hundreds of community development and infrastructure projects in Kandahar province, such as the construction of wells, roads and bridges.
Between 2001 and 2011, we will have allocated more than one billion dollars to development assistance and reconstruction in Afghanistan. That makes Canada one of the top five donor countries.
Our mission in Afghanistan is about helping people rebuild their lives after years of oppression. It is about ensuring they have the resources to realize their aspirations.
It is a stabilization mission. A development mission. A mission that promotes freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. For that to be accomplished, though, there must be security in Afghanistan. That security is still threatened by the Taliban, who want to bring back their totalitarian regime.
This is why our soldiers are playing such a vital role. True, their mission is risky. They are all aware of that, but have nonetheless chosen to serve. The men and women in uniform are ready to risk their lives to serve their country and help others.
They have been specifically trained to carry out this task. And all of them are proud to serve Canada and help the Afghan people, despite these risks.
Members of Quebec's Royal 22nd Regiment -- the famed Van Doos -- are now serving in Afghanistan. To those Quebecers who want an immediate end to this mission, I would say this: I know that you are proud and responsible people, people of your word. Quebecers finish the job they have started when they have made a commitment to do so.
Canada cannot, without losing all credibility in the international arena, simply go back on its word and abandon such a crucial mission.
We also cannot simply abandon the Afghan people to their fate, without jeopardizing all the development work and security building that has been done on the ground.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said it several times in recent weeks: Any extension of our military mission past February, 2009, must be approved by Parliament. We must pursue this debate as realistic and responsible adults [emphasis added] who are aware of our obligations to our allies and to the Afghan people. - Maxime Bernier is Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. This article was adapted from a speech delivered on September 19 at a Montreal colloquium on Canada's mission in Afghanistan.
