Statement made on 03 May 2007 by Senator Frank Mahovlich (retired)
Hon. Francis William Mahovlich:
My question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Canada has signed a commitment to be in Afghanistan until 2009. That is a commitment we made to the world and to the people of Afghanistan. We obviously want to honour that commitment.
Last week, in the other place, the government voted against an opposition motion that would have made it clear that the Canadian commitment in Kandahar will end in 2009. This leaves the door open to indefinite and infinite extensions of the mission. We are leaving our troops and their families with no certainty about when their huge personal commitments will end, and we are denying Canadians clarity on this mission.
Will the minister tell us how long this mission will go on, or does she think it is a playoff hockey game, where games go into overtime and could last longer than the game itself?
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