Olivia Chow, MP

Afghanistan: We Need Roadmap for Peace

October 9, 2009

OTTAWA –

Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, NDP): After eight years of fighting a war in Afghanistan, there are more corruption, more drug trade, more civilians and troops deaths and more insurgency. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans still don’t have access to portable water. Afghan women still don’t have the right to walk down the street by themselves.

Every one agrees there is no military solution possible and a new direction is needed.

New Democrats have opposed this war right from the beginning. We believe spending nine dollars on war fighting and one dollar for development is wrong. We believe spending $18 billion on a combat mission is wrong.

Canada must formally announce to NATO the withdrawal of our troops, and we should do that now.

Canada must bring hope, peace and stability in Afghanistan by gathering countries in the region to support negotiations to end the war. We must establish a roadmap for peace.

It’s time to end the war, not extend it.