The hearing schedule for Monday, May 29, 2006 is as follows: 

·         Threats, both in and emanating from Afghanistan and their impact on Canada’s national security from both a security intelligence and criminal intelligence perspective; and

·         How the RCMP and CSIS both support Canadian Forces operations in Afghanistan

Canada’s role in Afghanistan:  why our military is there; the strategy for success; implementation of the “3D” approach for the mission (defence, diplomacy and development).

What the role of the Canadian Forces is in Afghanistan and an understanding of their current mission and operations there.  Lieutenant-General Gauthier is the operational commander responsible to the Chief of the Defence Staff for the conduct of military operations outside of Canada, including Afghanistan. The Committee intends to ask about benchmarks of progress and follow up on his testimony of 3 weeks ago about the mission and its new 2 year extension.

What is the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)’s role in Afghanistan (size, type and scope of activities) and what are the Agency’s expected outcomes; the implementation of the “3D” approach for the mission (defence, diplomacy and development); description of specific CIDA programmes in Kandahar province; and benchmarks of progress. 

Since November 2004, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence has been undertaking a thorough review of Canada’s defence policy and the capabilities and needs of Canada’s military.  To date, the Committee has published the first of three reports on this study, Wounded, in September 2005 and is currently putting the finishing touches on the second instalment.  

For more information on the committee and its work, or to access previous reports or meeting transcripts, visit www.sen-sec.ca.

For further information, contact: