For immediate release – Barrie-Innisfil Member of Parliament John Brassard, Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government, has been appointed to a special House of Commons committee to investigate the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and Canada’s response.
The committee held its first meeting Monday evening.
“I am pleased to take on this very important role,” Brassard said. “The situation in Afghanistan is an extremely troubling humanitarian crisis and Canadians need to know what went wrong, why Justin Trudeau left people behind whose lives continue to be at risk because they supported our troops, and what exactly the government is going to do.”
The 12-member all-party committee was created by a Conservative motion that passed with support of the Bloc Quebecois and NDP. All Liberal MPs but one voted against the motion.
“The Liberals were aware that US troops were withdrawing from Afghanistan and had months to plan to evacuate Canadians, Afghan interpreters and others who fought alongside our troops,” Brassard said. “Thousands of Afghans risked their lives to support Canada during the 20-year war on terror are now they are living under the Taliban flag and running out of time.”
On Aug. 15, 2021, Taliban forces took control of Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul. On the same day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called an election.
The new committee will now shine a spotlight on the government’s handling of the crisis and its promise to bring 40,000 Afghans to Canada.
“NGO’s, experts, and veterans all warned the government that urgent action was needed to help Afghan interpreters, support staff, and their families,” Brassard said. “Liberals ignored the warnings and called an unnecessary election.
“As the Taliban’s grasp of Afghanistan tightens and their hunt for remaining allies continues, now is the time for action. Lives are at stake.”
