Liberal MPs blocked the disclosure of cabinet documents related to Canadian diplomats’ retreat from Afghanistan aboard half-empty military aircraft..According to Blacklock's Reporter, MPs on the House of Commons Special Committee on Afghanistan successfully filibustered a motion to compel the release of the records..“Without receiving that information, the truth is they are already hampering the analysts in doing their work,” said NDP MP Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East). “We still have not received them.”.Opposition MPs sought details of Canadian diplomats’ conduct last August 15 as the city Kabul fell to the Taliban. The committee heard eyewitness accounts that Ambassador Reid Sirrs and staff abruptly closed the embassy then commandeered one of only two Canadian military aircraft to return to Ottawa. Some 1,250 Canadians and thousands of Afghan allies remained trapped in the country..Conservative MP Alex Ruff (Bruce-Grey, Ont.), an Afghanistan War combat veteran, sponsored a motion stating “the Privy Council Office, Department of Foreign Affairs, Canadian Armed Forces and any other government departments provide the Special Committee the already completed or draft after-action review reports with respect to the evacuation in Kabul.”.“We need this,” Ruff said, adding the documents “have been done by the government” and should be public..However Liberal MPs blocked a vote on the motion. “They don’t want us to vote,” said Bloc Québécois MP Alex Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean, Que.). “We know how people are going to vote. Right now there is filibustering. You have never seen me filibustering.”.Members of the government caucus postponed the vote with repetitive speeches. Liberal MP Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre, Ont.) complained he did not understand the call for documents..“I need to understand better what’s behind the motion,” said Baker. “In other words, why is the information that would be provided in these reports relevant? What are these reports and the scope of these reports? I still don’t understand what these reports include, don’t include and how would they be relevant.”.Liberal MP Tony Van Bynen (Newmarket-Aurora, Ont.) said the release of records was overly broad. “It’s virtually impossible,” said Van Bynen..“How many departments do we have that would be engaged in this in the longer term?” said Van Bynen. “Specifically which other departments? This is such a far-reaching description.”.Liberal MP Pam Damoff (Oakville North-Burlington, Ont.) said there was no reason to obtain cabinet records before the committee ends its work June 8..“I don’t think it should be something where we’re holding back,” said Damoff. “We will still be able to table a report if those documents are not available.”.To date, the Department of Foreign Affairs has not explained why Canada was the first G7 country to close its embassy in Kabul, or why it did not plan for the evacuation of Canadian citizens and allies months before the Taliban takeover.
