Question Period Note: Afghanistan

This Government failed to anticipate the fall of Afghanistan, leaving thousands of Afghans stranded, many of whom were critical to our mission in the country. What is this Government doing to rectify the situation?

• National Defence recognizes the sacrifices made by Afghans who supported Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and the dangers they continue to face.

• That is why we worked tirelessly with other government departments and international partners to resettle eligible Afghans in Canada.

• For example, more than 500 Canadian Armed Forces personnel supported evacuation efforts from Kabul in summer 2021.

• These efforts successfully facilitated the air evacuation of 3,700 people from Kabul, on 15 Canadian Armed Forces flights and 2 chartered civilian flights.

• National Defence remains ready to assist the Whole-of-Government effort to resettle 40,000 Afghans in Canada, if needed.

If pressed on the Afghanistan Committee Report:

• National Defence welcomes the Special Committee on Afghanistan’s report.

• We value the input of Parliamentarians as we improve our operations at home and abroad.

• We will review the report’s findings and work collaboratively to better the whole of government response to international crises.

• National Defence continues to stand ready to assist other government departments in cases of emergency.

If pressed on National Defence’s support for Canada’s Special Immigration Measures Program:

• National Defence recognizes the sacrifices made by Afghans who supported Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and the dangers they continue to face.

• That is why National Defence supported Canada’s Special Immigration Measures Program.

• Upon request, National Defence validated whether an Afghan applicant to the program worked alongside our members, and referred them to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for eligibility review.

• National Defence remains ready to assist the Whole-of-Government effort to resettle 40,000 Afghans in Canada, if needed.

Quick Facts

• Special Committee on Afghanistan Report

  • On June 8, 2022, the House Special Committee on Afghanistan released their report on the events related to the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban.

  • Three recommendations that implicate National Defence include:

    • Conduct a Whole of Government review of lessons learned

    • Assess opportunities for better interdepartmental collaboration in cases of emergency

    • Establish a Whole of Government team to bring further displaced Afghans to Canada

• Operation AEGIS (Evacuation of Afghans)

  • National Defence provided strategic airlift capabilities, including CC-130 Hercules, CC-150 Polaris, and CC-177 Globemaster aircraft, aircrew, and support staff to assist in evacuations alongside flights chartered by Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

  • Approximately 555 Canadian Armed Forces members supported the evacuation, including 305 members deployed from Canada to the region and 250 members already deployed on Op IMPACT and Op FOUNDATION, reassigned to support evacuation efforts.

  • As referral partners, National Defence, alongside Global Affairs Canada, submitted names to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for eligibility review and processing. IRCC retains full authority to accept or deny a referral submitted by National Defence or Global Affairs.

• NATO Operation ALLIED SOLACE: The Canadian Armed Forces provided three translators to assist NATO-Affiliated Afghans at NATO’s temporary accommodation in Kosovo. This commitment ended in February 2022.

Background

Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan: over 13 years.

• First deployment: December 2001

• Departure from Op ATTENTION: 2014

Number of Canadian Armed Forces members involved: over 40,000.

Operation AEGIS

• Operation AEGIS was the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the Government of Canada’s effort to evacuate Afghans with a significant and/or enduring relationship with the Government of Canada, and their accompanying family members.

• As referral partners, National Defence, alongside Global Affairs Canada, submitted names to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for eligibility review and processing. IRCC retains full authority to accept or deny a referral submitted by National Defence or Global Affairs.

• The Canadian Armed Forces provided capabilities such as personnel and equipment to evacuate the Canadian Embassy – Kabul, Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and eligible Afghans identified by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

• National Defence provided temporary military accommodations to approximately 1,300 persons at a third country location to facilitate the onwards transit of evacuees to Canada.

Special Immigration Measures (SIMS):

• The Government of Canada plans to resettle approximately 18,000 individuals and families who had a significant and / or enduring relationship with Canada through their work with National Defence or Global Affairs Canada.

• This complements the Government’s broader commitment to resettle 40,000 Afghans in Canada.

• As of May 31, over 14,000 Afghans have arrived in Canada under all streams since August 2021

NATO’s Operation ALLIED SOLACE

• In August 2021, NATO stood up Operation ALLIED SOLACE to airlift over 1,000 NATO-affiliated Afghan contractors and their immediate families from Kuwait and Qatar to temporary camps in Kosovo and Poland. Canada’s commitment to Operation ALLIED SOLACE ended in February 2022.

• Canada resettled 472 NATO-Affiliated Afghan contractors, inclusive of their families, from the camp in Kosovo.

• The Canadian Armed Forces provided three translators to assist NATO’s temporary accommodation in Kosovo of evacuees from Afghanistan.

Timeline

• 27 July 2021: The Canadian Armed Forces received a joint request for assistance from Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to support the evacuation of the Canadian Embassy – Kabul, Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as Afghan nationals eligible for resettlement under IRCC’s new Special Immigration Measures (SIMS) Program.

• 30 July 2021: The Canadian Armed Forces received approval to deploy to Afghanistan to support the evacuation from Kabul of the Canadian Embassy and those Afghans, and their family members, eligible under the Special Immigration Measures Program.

• 4 August 2021: A combination of Canadian Armed Forces aircraft (CC-130 Hercules, CC-150 Polaris, and CC-177 Globemaster) and flights chartered by the Government of Canada started transporting evacuees out of Afghanistan.

• 15 August 2021: the Canadian Armed Forces evacuated the remaining personnel from the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan.

• 15 August: Taliban seized Kabul – fall of the Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan.

• 19 August 2021: The Canadian Armed Forces commenced its participation in the United States-led coalition air bridge in support of broader efforts by Allies and partners to evacuate at-risk Afghans, Canadian citizens, and Permanent Residents from Kabul.

• Between 19 August to 26 August 2021: Canadian Armed Forces assets facilitated the evacuation of approximately 2,700 persons.

• 26 August 2021: The Canadian Armed Forces assets ceased evacuation operations and initiated retrograde operations in Kabul.

• 27 August: Last Canadian Armed Forces assets left Kabul.

• 30 August 2021: The US completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, bringing an end to its 20 year presence in the country.

• 4 October 2021: The Canadian Armed Forces deployed three translators to Camp Bechtel in Kosovo in support of NATO’s Operation ALLIED SOLACE. The Canadian Armed Forces members assisted those NATO-Affiliated Afghans temporarily sheltered at Camp Bechtel.

Responsible Principals: Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy), Strategic Joint Staff, Canadian Joint Operations Command