Prime Minister Stephen Harper owes Canadian Troops & Veterans An Apology

bana2166 · Published by bana2166- 09-19-06

Prime Minister Stephen Harper owes Canadian Troops & Veterans An Apology

OTTAWA ? Prime Minister Stephen Harper?s suggestion that Canada has stood back and done nothing to restore peace and stability to the world?s troubled nations over the years is a slap in the face to our soldiers past and present, Liberal Defence Critic Ujjal Dosanjh and MP Denis Coderre said today.

?For our Prime Minister to sit there and say that we have been ?hanging back? for the last 30 or 40 years is not only wrong, it is insulting to our troops and our veterans,? said Mr. Dosanjh.

?The Prime Minister should know that the only significant conflicts that Canada did not participate in, during that period of time, are Vietnam and Iraq. The Canadian approach is an approach that balances diplomacy, development, and defence ? an approach that was supposed to be at the core of Canada?s mission in Afghanistan.?

In an interview with CBC?s The National on September 18, the Prime Minister, in discussing the mission in Afghanistan, said: ?For a lot of the last 30 or 40 years, we were the ones hanging back.?

?What planet is Mr. Harper living on? Our Canadian Forces have participated in the majority of significant overseas mission since 1967, in Cyprus, Haiti, Sinai, the Golan Heights, Bosnia and Kosovo, just to name a few,? said Mr. Coderre.

Mr. Dosanjh continued, saying, ?In many of the more recent cases, including in Afghanistan, Canada has been a leading force because the international community recognizes the professionalism and expertise of our men and women in uniform. Their contributions have helped stabilize and rebuild troubled nations, while many have paid, and are still paying, the ultimate price for their sacrifice ? with their lives.?

?To suggest that Canada has been lax in its international obligations is beyond insulting to those who have worked, and continue to work, so hard on our behalf. Does this sound like a country that has been ?hanging back?? Mr. Harper owes our troops and our veterans a profound apology,? said Mr. Coderre.