A Liberal senator who just returned from Afghanistan says he's definitely seen improvements there since his last visit, citing a new road project and better co-operation.
Sen. Colin Kenny, chair of the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence, told Canada AM on Wednesday that an Afghan elder in the volatile Panjwaii district praised a road-building project there that employs about 400 Afghans.
"He was very positive about the employment, the use of the road. It was a project that Afghans wanted for themselves," he said, but added that the workers came under harassment from the Taliban.
"Our sense was that we were doing things there that Afghans wanted, that would be of use to them, and that we were being well received by them."
Top Canadian and Afghan provincial officials held a ceremony Monday to celebrate the $4.5-million project, which will create a 6.5-kilometre stretch of paved road when completed in October.
The project is being carried out using manual labour, rather than the heavy equipment that would be used in Canada.
There are plans to eventually pave about 22 kilometres of road in the district, which is considered the Taliban's heartland.
Paved roads will help Afghan farmers move their produce to market more easily -- and it will make it tougher for the Taliban to plant roadside bombs, which are responsible for the vast majority of injuries and fatalities suffered by Canadian soldiers these days.
Kenny, who has been to Afghanistan three times, said the various Canadian agencies in Kandahar province seem to be working together much better than during his last visit a year ago.
One recommendation of this winter's Manley panel report was that the federal government improve its communications with Canadians about the mission.
"I think we have to publicize it more," Kenny said.
A dinner with Afghan provincial officials, in which they said how Canada's efforts were making a difference in their region, could have been televised, he said. "We would have been happy to have the media there."
More cabinet ministers and the prime minister should speak up more about the mission and explain exactly what Canada is trying to accomplish in Afghanistan, he said.
Canada's military mission is to last in the country until December 2011, but the government has said Canada will be involved in Afghanistan after that date, but with a focus on development and governance rather than security.
Eighty-two Canadian soldiers, one diplomat and one volunteer civilian aid worker have died in Afghanistan since 2002. The body of latest soldier to die, Pte. Terry Street, arrived back in Canada Tuesday evening.
At the recent NATO summit, the U.S. said it will shift 1,000 troops to Kandahar province to help bolster Canada's existing 2,500 troops.
