2006-09 (September)
BLAINE CALKINS MP REPORT
September 28, 2006
Visit to Parliament by His Excellency, Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan
On September 22, 2006, I had the honour of meeting and hearing from the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. His speech to the joint session of Parliament (MPs and Senators) in the House of Commons was, without a doubt, the most incredible experience I have had to date as your Member of Parliament.
In his address, President Karzai articulated precisely why we are in Afghanistan. He spoke of all of the successes of the current UN mission and how the sons and daughters of Canada are making an incredible difference in his once shattered country. If you would like to read his speech, please call my Constituency Office for a copy or follow this link: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&DocId=2349128
He personalized for me the plight of the Afghan people. They tasted democracy for the first time in years, democracy that sometimes we in Canada take for granted.
Afghan people now have access to privately run newspapers and television, whereas under the previous Taliban government there was no freedom of speech. Women now comprise 25% of the elected representatives in the Parliament of Afghanistan, while under the Taliban, women were not even offered the basic rights of human dignity.
Medical clinics are treating the most vulnerable, the frail and the sick. Children numbering in millions, especially young girls, are now receiving an education. Under the Taliban, young girls were not even allowed to become literate.
Foreign aid is being used to reconstruct irrigation systems and build wells, so that farmers can return to their land and produce food for the nation. The rule of law and a new progressive constitution are helping provide a sense of safety.
Police and soldiers are being trained by the allies to defend the interests of Afghan people. This would not be possible if it wasn’t for the incredible courage and determination of Canadians in supporting the people of Afghanistan.
Listening to President Karzai’s kind words made me very proud to be a Canadian. A tremendous debt of gratitude is owed to the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, development agencies and nongovernmental organizations that are paving the way to a future of hope, freedom and peace for Afghanistan and the world. An overwhelming majority of Afghan people want us there. The only ones who don’t are the druglords and the Taliban.
Canadians have a tremendous reputation as peace keepers and we should never break faith with our willingness to keep the peace. However, there is no less honour in making peace in those places across the world where tyranny, corruption and terrorism deny people basic human rights. We simply cannot stand by and allow the drug trade to flourish and our personal safety to be threatened by terrorists.
If you wish more information on any federally related matters please contact my Constituency office at: #6, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, T4J 1S7. Tel: (403) 783-5530; toll free at 1-800-665-0865 or check my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca