NATO Parliamentary Association Vice Chair MP Gallant Leads NATO Delegation To Washington

February 01, 2010

Washington, D.C U.S.A…. Vice Chair of the Canadian North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Association, Cheryl Gallant, MP (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke), recently led a Canadian delegation to discuss the Alliance’s current political and security agenda in high level meetings with NATO military officials.

“As the Member of Parliament for the federal riding that includes CFB Petawawa, I am honoured to represent Canada and our soldiers and their families as the senior Government Representative on the delegation. This is a very busy time for government members as we prepare for the federal budget and the Speech from the Throne to mark the new session of Parliament. I thank Prime Minister Stephen Harper for making it possible to attend to our important international obligations with our NATO partners,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP

Including Vice-Chair Cheryl Gallant, M.P., Opposition Members Claude Bachand, M.P., and Senator Joseph Day accompanied the Ottawa valley MP. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NPA) brings together members of Parliaments throughout the Atlantic Alliance, providing an essential link with NATO, helping to build parliamentary and public consensus in support of Alliance policies.

“It is very unfortunate that Opposition members say one thing to our NATO allies and take a very different public position when in Canada. They profess support for our mission to Afghanistan in Washington, and then make outlandish, outrageous accusation of war crimes against our soldiers in Canada. This confuses our allies.”

Prior to 2006, Canada had a reputation as a NATO ‘freeloader.’ All Canadians can now be proud that when called for assistance for operations like Haiti disaster relief, we now have the capability to put “boots on the ground” when aid is needed most.

“There is considerable pressure from the American President to extend the Canadian Mission to Afghanistan. The Americans do not understand that there was a vote in our minority Parliament. Our Conservative government has a deep and abiding respect for the democratic process and we will honour our commitments,” said Cheryl Gallant, MP.

The aim of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association is to increase knowledge of the concerns of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly among fellow parliamentarians. The Assembly's work deals with social, cultural, political and economic questions, as well as military matters, all of which are of vital concern to NATO member countries.