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Canada's new role in Afghanistan On Nov. 16, our government announced a new role for Canada's military in Afghanistan. Next year, our combat mission will end and our training mission will begin. From 2011 until March 2014, our military will be deployed in a non-combat role to train the Afghan National Army (ANA). In addition, our military engagement in Afghanistan post-2011 will be centred on Kabul instead of Kandahar province. Up to 950 military personnel will be provided to train the ANA and up to 45 civilian police officers will be deployed to train the Afghan National Police (ANP). This training is essential for a self-sufficient Afghanistan, where Afghans themselves provide security and stability. Canada is in Afghanistan as part of an UN-mandated, NATO-led mission with more than 60 other countries and international organizations, at the request of the democratically-elected Afghan government. Although Afghanistan remains a volatile and challenging environment, we have made real progress. Our key achievements so far include building and repairing 50 schools in Kandahar province, rehabilitating the Dahla Dam and its irrigation system, and contributing to the eradication of polio across Afghanistan. Canada, along with our international partners, has helped train and mentor about 50,000 Afghan troops. Following the overthrow of the Taliban, the Afghan National Army was officially instituted in 2002. In eight years, the ANA has grown from roughly 17,000 troops to 134,000 and is on track to meeting its expansion goal of 171,600 presents 7 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday, December 7, 2010 Michael Chong troops by October 2011. Canadian civilian and military police mentors have helped train and guide more than 2,800 police officers since 2008. Through this work, Canada has provided necessary funding to build police stations, pay police salaries and equip officers. As a result, a growing number of Afghans in Kandahar province say they feel safer in their communities. The Afghan National Police (ANP) now numbers almost 116,000, more than the 2010 goal of 109,000 set by the Afghan government and by the NATOled International Security Assistance Force. We should all remember the sacrifice Canadians soldiers and diplomats have made in Afghanistan. In the past decade, over 150 Canadian soldiers have died and over 500 have been wounded in action. In addition, several Canadian diplomats have either been killed or wounded while stationed at our embassy in Afghanistan. We owe it to them, and to our own domestic security, to see the job through. --Michael Chong is the MP for Wellington-Halton Hills 76 1 50 47 61 Musical Director - A. Dale Wood Artistic Director - Lois Fraser 4 50 Producer - Sharon English Saturday, December 11, 2010 (1pm & 3pm) Sunday, December 12, 2010 (1pm & 3pm) The John Elliott Theatre, 9 Church St., Georgetown Adults $15.00 Youth (under 18) $10.00 Ticketsfor forDec. Dec.11 11(1 (1and and3pm) 3pm) and Dec. 12 (3pm only) the John Elliott Theatre Box Office 877-3700. Tickets and Dec. 12 (3pm only) atat the John Elliott Theatre Box Offi ce 905877-3700. Tickets for Dec. 12 (1pm) call St.John's John'sUnited United Church 877-2531 Tickets for Dec. 12 (1pm) call St. Church 905-877-7668 www.georgetownchildrenschorus.ca www.georgetownchildrenschorus.ca ZELLERS GEORGETOWN From December 7th to December 9th, 2010 30% OFF ALL OUTDOOR DECOR AND ALL NOW OUTDOOR LIGHTS 30% OFF WAS $4.99 - 79.99 ALL CHRISTMAS TREES NOW WAS $9.99 - 199.99 $3.49 - 55.99 $5.99 $6.99 - 129.99 SAVE 25% ALL CHRISTMAS KITCHEN TABLE LINENS HOMESTYLES 10 ROLL WAS $79.99 WAS $9.99 0.9 CU. FT. MICROWAVE WRAPPING NOW PAPER NOW $69.99 SAVE 50% ALL SUNBEAM ELECTRIC BLANKETS SAVE 40% SAVE 40% ALL SUNBEAM ALL UTICA MATTRESS PADS FLEECE AND FLANNEL AND THROWS SHEET SETS ZELLERS GEORGETOWN 905-877-5131