Harper OK's release of report on costs of Afghan war

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | 9:58 PM ET

CBC News

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, speaking at a news conference Wednesday in Welland, Ont., said his party would 'co-operate with the public budget officer' to have a potentially volatile parliamentary report released. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said Wednesday he will allow the release of a report on the cost of the Afghan war, despite concerns it could sway voters in the federal election.

Parliament's budget officer, Kevin Page, tallied the full cost of the mission since it began six years ago and wanted to make his findings public this month.

But after Harper called the Oct. 14 election, Page put off issuing his report, saying he would first seek all-party consent to allay concerns that its release would interfere with the election campaign.

The leaders of all opposition parties gave their blessing Tuesday and demanded the Conservative leader give his approval.

The prime minister, speaking at a news conference in Welland, Ont., agreed Wednesday morning.

"Obviously, we will co-operate with the public budget officer," Harper said.

In a press release Wednesday afternoon, the budget officer said the report can be released during the election, though did not set a date.

He said the report will be released in the coming weeks once analysis is finalized on the costs of veterans programs and the final report is submitted to peer review.

Canada has about 2,500 troops in Afghanistan's volatile province of Kandahar.

The mission started in early 2002, shortly after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban government, although some Canadian soldiers on exchange with the American military were in Afghanistan months earlier.

"The Afghan mission is expensive. There is no getting around that," Harper said.

His minority Conservative government has estimated the total cost to date of Canada's mission at under $8 billion.

If the new figures are much higher, it could be problematic for Harper at the polls, said the CBC's Julie Van Dusen, who is covering the election campaign in Ottawa.

"We also know the prime minister is trying to contain the Afghanistan mission as a political issue," she said.

Public opinion surveys have repeatedly shown that Canadians — especially voters in the key electoral battleground of Quebec — are lukewarm to the mission.

Canada to stop combat operations in 2011

The Conservatives confirmed a limit on the Afghan mission last week, when Harper pledged to withdraw most of Canada's military forces from combat duties by 2011.

Harper's announcement came after a bloody August in Afghanistan in which Taliban insurgents stepped up their attacks, in what they said was an attempt to influence the Canadian election.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay said last week the pullout was in line with a resolution passed by the House of Commons last May, extending the mission past its original end date of 2009.

He said some troops would stay on to aid with reconstruction and training initiatives.

Of the 36 NATO countries militarily engaged in Afghanistan, only the Netherlands and Canada have provided definite dates for ending combat operations.

The Dutch government has said it will pull military forces out of Afghanistan by 2010.

To date, 98 Canadians, including one diplomat, have lost their lives serving in the conflict.