KABUL - The federal cabinet's march through Afghanistan continued its brisk pace Monday as International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda turned up in Kabul, the latest emissary in Ottawa's ongoing push to refine the goals and objectives of Canada's Afghan mission.
Following closely on the heels of Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, Oda's stated objective in Afghanistan is to help establish new "benchmarks, timelines and objectives'' that dovetail with existing international goals and also fit within Canada's new 2011 timeline.
"We believe it is time for us to ensure we are making a particular and focused contribution to development in Kandahar'' province, where Canadian forces are deployed, Oda told delegates at a donor conference at the Afghan Foreign Ministry.
"We can and must do a better job of building up mechanisms to better inform policy-making and budget decisions, and to keep track of progress and results achieved.''
Her visit comes less than a week after much the same message was delivered by Bernier, who was himself preceded by MacKay last month.
"We have to ensure we are more focused, that we are going to outline the benchmarks that we want to achieve,'' Oda said.
"We've accelerated the pace; that's why I'm here, and why we've had other ministers visiting as well.''
At a newly minted teacher's college in the bustling capital, funded with Canadian help, Oda was greeted with flowers and open arms by grateful administrators and Afghan Education Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar.
A hand-painted banner over the door to the school, flanked by Canadian and Afghan flags, read: "We welcome the Canadian delegation from the bottom of our heart.''
Alongside Atmar and Arif Lalani, Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan, Oda toured the facility and listened to the stories of its students, which included -- as such visits often do -- pleas for more financial help for their troubled country.
Oda and her handlers beamed when Atmar pointed out that Canada is already the top donor to the Education Quality Improvement Project, or EQUIP, Afghanistan's largest education program.
"Already, (Oda) was kind enough, with the ambassador, to support your programs,'' he told the students.
"Your national centre for teacher training and your provincial colleges ... will all be supported with significant (funds) that come from Canada.''
Last October, Atmar was in Montreal with Oda as she announced $60 million over four years to better allow schools and communities to manage teaching and learning activities, build facilities and hire personnel, all with a special emphasis on educating girls.
"We now see young girls and young women attending teacher's college -- they have curriculum developed, they've got textbooks now, as well as teacher training manuals,'' Oda said later.
"This (Atmar) kindly attributed to Canada's contribution.''
A key component of Canada's new development strategy in Afghanistan is to ensure the Afghan government is "in the driver's seat'' and pushing its own development agenda, Oda said.
Donor countries must push development and reconstruction in those parts of the country "where they are well established and best placed to do so,'' she added.
"I've met with various ministers to get a sense of their assessment of the progress made and where they would like to see greater progress,'' Oda said.
"I've been able to talk to them about their contributions and their plans, and as well to get a picture of the realities of what is possible within the time frame we've laid out for ourselves.''
