Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the total cost of Canada's participation in the war in Afghanistan is mounting. It is now pegged at $3.1 billion since the war's start in 2001. Yesterday the defence minister admitted that the costs of the war were inevitably going to get higher and higher.

Canadians are paying for an ill-planned, poorly executed and dangerous mission, a mission that has no exit strategy. Commanders admit there is no military win to be had in Afghanistan.

Could the minister tell the House what the total cost for Canada will be by February 2009?

Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, this government has provided the Canadian Forces with the tools and the protection they need to maintain a high level of activity and intensity in a very remote and undeveloped region. They are conducting more joint operations, mentoring more Afghan police and Afghan soldiers and are facilitating long term reconstruction and development in that country

Unlike the Liberals who starved the armed forces and did not give them the right tools, this government is working to provide the soldiers with what they need for an effective mission in Afghanistan.

Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that I asked a very specific question and all I got was jingoistic ballyhoo.

Canadians want to know what the cost of the war is. It is too bad the minister cannot figure it out.

The cost has increased by a half billion dollars in the last six months alone. If Canada continues on this current track, the war could cost $4.1 billion by 2009 and $5.2 billion by 2011.

Last May, Canada was spending $10 on combat for every dollar it was spending on aid. Five hundred million dollars later, could the minister tell this House what the new ratio will be?

Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, it is important to know that the Canadian Forces do get the resources they need for effective operations in Afghanistan, which requires security and development, as well as international reconstruction. It is all about making Afghanistan a democratic country, and as a world member, it is absolutely important that we provide these resources to our armed forces.