Afghan detainees - Irwin Cotler in QP, Feb. 29, 2008

Liberal human rights critic Irwin Cotler questions the government on the resumption of transfers of Afghan detainees to Afghan officials. (FR/EN, Question Period, February 29, 2008) [02:21]

Hallucinating about the Afghan mission

The Irrational Post strikes again with a hallucinatory editorial about Dion's position on the end of the Afghanistan mission.

Dion has said for a year (since February 2007) that the combat mission must end in February 2009, and that Canadian troops could have other roles in Kandahar, including providing security, training and help with development projects.

He has explained many times that a "combat mission" is defined as "proactively seeking out" the enemy, whereas security is more defensive in nature.

Are the people at the Irrational Post too stupid to understand that, or are they perhaps a little less than objective?

On February 12, 2008, Joan Bryden of the Canadian Press was interviewed about Stéphane Dion's Afghanistan position. Bryden said:

Stéphane Dion has actually been pretty clear for about a year now about the Liberal position, which is, 'the end of the combat mission in February 2009.' He has been unequivocal and categorical about that point for a long time... It's been a good spin job by the Conservatives to put all the onus on the Liberals. The Conservatives are the ones who have actually changed their position.

Dion reiterated his long-standing position on Thursday (February 21, 2008) during an interview in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan:

The Conservatives owe a big debt of gratitude to their friends at the Irrational Post for their help in spinning the story.

Video of today's QP & scrum + Sunday's CTV QP

Question Period, February 11, 2008"



Stéphane Dion questions Peter Van Loan on the timeline for the mission in Afghanistan. [03:50]

Scrum, February 11, 2008

Stéphane Dion takes questions from the media on the upcoming budget and the deadline of the Afghanistan mission (EN/FR, 11 février 2008) [4:52]


CTV's Question Period, February 10, 2008

Stéphane Dion discusses the timeline of the Afghanistan mission (February 10, 2008). [08:50]

"With our plan, Canadians are winners"

Stéphane Dion's stellar performance during Question Period, February 5, 2008, on assistance for Canada's manufacturing and forestry sectors.

We have proposed ... to make targeted investments in our manufacturing and forestry sectors to stimulate the economy, create jobs and green technologies right here in Canada. But the finance minister says he's not capable of identifying winners. Mr. Speaker, with our plan, Canadians are winners.

Also today's scrum on Dion's expectations for his meeting with the prime minister on the Afghanistan mission. (Click the "menu" button on the video player to see the second video.)

Why does the prime minister fire public servants for doing their jobs?

Stéphane Dion, Question Period & scrum, February 4, 2008



1. Stéphane Dion, Question Period, February 4, 2008. [03:53]
Dion questions prime minister about the threatening and firing of public servants, e.g. Deanna Allen, vice-president of the Canadian Wheat Board. "Why does the Prime Minister fire public servants for doing their jobs? Why does the Prime Minister insist on crushing dissent, on silencing those who dare to disagree with him?"

2. Stéphane Dion scrum, February 4, 2008 [05:55]
Stéphane Dion takes questions on Afghanistan mission (meeting with Harper), Bill C-3 (security certificates), aid package for one-industry towns (forestry).

What part of "February 2009" don't you understand?

"The combat mission must end in February 2009." Sounds pretty clear to me. And completely consistent with what Dion's been saying since February 2007. Here's today's scrum on the Afghanistan mission and the Dimitri Soudas/Rosdev affair as well as QP on Afghanistan:

"When will the prime minister realize that the buck stops with him?"

Dion - "Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister allowed his government to mislead Canadians on an issue as serious as torture. They even blamed the military for their own failure of leadership. This is completely unacceptable. Why won't the Prime Minister do what he should have done months ago - Stop blaming others and take responsibility for his own decisions?

Harper - "I'm not sure what the honourable member is even talking about."

He's been living in a bunker with no outside access for the last week?

Dion - "When will the prime minister realize that the buck stops with him on the leadership of this mission and that he cannot scapegoat the military - this is completely unacceptable."

Harper - "This government hasn't attempted to scapegoat the military for anything."

Oh well then, that's all right. All those annoyed military types can just get over it.

Really, don't you just cringe when you hear Milliken refer to Harper as the "Right Honourable Prime Minister?" I mean it's a bit of an oxymoron.

Today's QP and scrum -

Now it's the lawyers' fault

Last week it was the military's fault for not telling the government. That didn't go over so well.

So today it's the lawyers' fault for disclosing the information to the court.

Whose fault will it be tomorrow? Stay tuned to QP for the next exciting installment.

Monday's QP & scrum (on combat mission in Kandahar post-2009)....

1. Question Period, January 28, 2008. Opposition leader Stéphane Dion questions Harper on lack of disclosure re the change to the Afghan detainee transfer policy.
2. Scrum discussing continuation of the combat mission in Kandahar after 2009. (EN/FR)

Sandra Buckler & the sound of screaming

It's up to PM whether to fire spokeswoman over Afghan comment, says Tory MP
(Canadian Press, January 26, 2008, 6:20 pm)

. . . But one telephone receiver was shaking with the sound of screaming as a livid Department of National Defence official vented his fury at the Prime Minister's Office.

The military official said his colleagues are incensed by the insinuation that they would be incompetent enough to withhold key details on a politically charged file from their civilian bosses.

He said the Canadian Forces should be receiving plaudits for having signed a detainee-transfer deal when Foreign Affairs failed to do so in 2005, and for having then immediately halted transfers when proof of torture was uncovered in November.

"Instead we've been wearing this," the military official said, shouting loudly enough to shake the phone receiver. He described the mood at DND as "outraged and frustrated." . . .

Stéphane Dion on Afghan detainees, Mulroney-Schreiber

Stéphane Dion on transfer of Afghan detainees

[09:44]

Press conference on January 25, 2008. Stéphane Dion gives a brief review of Harper government record followed by lengthy discussio Stéphane Dion gives a brief review of Harper government record followed by lengthy discussion of Conservative policy on transferring Afghan detainees (scrum, January 25, 2008). Dion reveals that he and Michael Ignatieff were informed confidentially of the change in detainee transfer policy while in Afghanistan earlier in January. Dion and Ignatieff were bound by confidentiality not to disclose the information until it was made public by the government. Stéphane Dion, chef de l'Opposition, commente la politique du gouvernement sur le transfert de détenus afghanes (point de presse le 25 janvier 2008). (EN/FR)

Stéphane Dion commente l'affaire Mulroney-Schreiber

[00:38]

Point de presse le 25 janvier 2008. Stéphane Dion, chef de l'Opposition, commente l'affaire Mulroney-Schreiber - «on a besoin d'av Point de presse le 25 janvier 2008. Stéphane Dion, chef de l'Opposition, commente l'affaire Mulroney-Schreiber - «on a besoin d'avoir une enquête complète». (Français)

Stéphane Dion in Kandahar

Stéphane Dion interviewed on CTV's Question Period from Kandahar, January 13, 2008 - click for video.

Or on YouTube:

Stéphane Dion et Michael Ignatieff à Kandahar

Stéphane Dion et Michael Ignatieff effectuent une visite en Afghanistan. (Presse canadienne, français)

After visiting President Hamid Karzai on Saturday, Dion visited the Kandahar Airfield and a forward operating base on Sunday.

In addition to meeting Karzai and Canadian soldiers, Dion has also met with many diplomats and NGOs.

NGOs have suggested many forms that Canadian involvement could take after the end of the combat mission, including assistance with police training, dealing with corruption, strong programs for women, education and water management. Dion reiterated that even after the end of Canada's combat mission, Liberals would support Canadian military involvement in security, training, monitoring etc.

More at the G&M et Radio-Canada.

Video of Stéphane Dion's January 9 press conference

For anyone who missed it, here's video of Stéphane Dion's January 9 press conference.

Dion opened with a discussion of the economy and the Conservative record of leaving large deficits which have had to be cleaned up by Liberal governments.

He talks about federal-provincial relations and the first ministers' meeting.

On the subject of the Chalk River / AECL issue (nuclear isotopes), Dion calls again for Gary Lunn's resignation; calls for Lunn to appear before the parliamentary committee on natural resources; calls for the release of the Auditor-General's report on AECL and discusses government interference with administrative tribunals.

On the subject of the environment, Dion discusses the report of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy and similarities with the Liberal white paper released last March, Balancing Our Carbon Budget.

Re: the Mulroney-Schreiber affair, Dion calls again for a full public inquiry and for the Johnston report to be made public.

On election speculation - Dion will decide how to vote on the budget after seeing and discussing it with his caucus.

In response to a question from Joan Bryden on the Saskatchewan byelection, Dion explains why he appointed Joan Beatty as candidate in Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River.

On David Orchard, he says "I have strong regard for David Orchard, I'm in touch with him often. I hope we'll find a way to use his talents and skills in an optimal way."

Dion reiterated his view that Canada should inform NATO and the government of Afghanistan that our combat mission in Afghanistan will end in February 2009, but that we are willing to take a role in development, training, water management etc.

The video is in three parts, English with voiceover translation of French-language segments. See below for details of contents of each part.



Part 1 [09:22]
In part 1, Dion discusses the economy and the Conservative record of leaving large deficits which have had to be cleaned up by Liberal governments; federal-provincial relations and the first ministers' meeting; the Chalk River / AECL issue (nuclear isotopes); the report of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy; the Mulroney-Schreiber affair; election speculation. He responds to a question on the Saskatchewan byelection, Joan Beatty and David Orchard.

Part 2 [08:21]
In part 2, Dion responds to questions on the first ministers' meeting; CNSC, Gary Lunn, Chalk River, Linda Keen, the Auditor-General's report on AECL; election speculation; extending the combat mission in Afghanistan.

Part 3 [07:03]
In part 3, Dion takes questions on the economy; Chalk River, Gary Lunn, Linda Keen, government interference with administrative tribunals; and the first ministers' meeting.