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David Emerson: Our man in Afghanistan, or is that Washington?

February 11, 2008
Posted by Stuart Trew

If the Harper-appointed Manley panel stacked with pro-integration business types didn’t convince you that the Afghanistan mission is about trade rather than democracy then perhaps Stephen Harper’s new Cabinet Committee and Task Force will do the trick.

The Prime Minister announced on February 8 the creation of a Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan and an Afghanistan Task Force.  The two new bodies were recommended by Manley in his group’s final report on Canada’s future role in Afghanistan.

“The new Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan will have the mandate to consider diplomatic, defence, development and security issues related to Canada’s mission in Afghanistan,” claimed a press release. “The Committee will report to the Prime Minister and the Priorities and Planning Cabinet Committee on a regular basis.”

Great, so why did Harper choose David Emerson, Canada’s trade minister, to chair this committee and not someone like Peter McKay or Maxime Bernier?

Emerson, more than Harper’s other key ministers, is extremely tight with Washington. They trust the former Canfor CEO down there, and not just because of his softwood lumber sellout that let Bush keep $1 billion of the $5 billion in illegal penalties the Americans were collecting on Canadian exports.

Emerson, a former vice-chair of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, has been an SPP minister since the beginning, first as Industry Minister with two previous Liberal governments, then as International Trade Minister with the Conservatives since February 2006. This is the guy who crossed the floor a mere fifteen days after being elected a Liberal. It’s pure speculation, but could the shift have had anything to do with providing Harper with some expertise and familiarity on the Security and Prosperity Partnership file.

The point is, Emerson doesn’t seem to bring much to the Afghanistan file besides his ties to Washington, which, as Harper keeps indicating through all these panels and committees, might be the most important part of the puzzle.