In a Minister's Defence

Being a Minister of Defense in times like these is an unenviable task.  With the Afghanistan mission winding down and Canada’s role in the region continually being questioned, the task of standing up in Question Period and fending off opposition attacks is difficult at best.  In my view, Peter McKay has done a better job than most in his role.  I was with him in a hospital in Germany as he visited our own injured soldiers flown in from Afghanistan and was impressed with how he dialogued with those under his charge and how his visit provided them renewed hope.  He’s an able minister in a difficult file and deserves our respect for handling it the honourable way he has.This post is about something remarkable he did but which he would never tell himself.  Last week, I received an urgent call from a London, Ontario firefighter who had been on my crew when I was a captain for the department.  His mother had passed away suddenly and the family was in shock.  Worse still, his brother was a helicopter pilot at the Kandahar airbase and they had no idea how to reach him, especially in such a remote region.  “Please help if you can, Glen, the family is finding this really difficult,” my friend said.  I offered to do what I could.What can you do in a situation like that?  Who would you approach?  What would you ask for?  Even as an MP, it feels somewhat hopeless.And so I took a chance.  I had Peter McKay’s email address for his Blackberry and I sent him a brief message explaining the circumstances.  As Defense Minister, he was my only real chance of getting things done quickly.  Within 30 minutes he returned my message, stating that he was, in fact, in Kabul, and though it was midnight there, he would get on it right away.  He kept in touch with me through the night, updating me on the progress he was making.The next day, the grieving helicopter pilot was on his way to his father’s side, his pain somewhat mollified by a respectful military and an able Defense Minister who overcame significant challenges to get him where he needed to be.Today, I handed Minister McKay and thank you letter from the family.  To their delight and shock, their government, their military and their minister had brought to pass what they thought was impossible.  This is what we would want for our forces and it was delivered.  In Question Period today, Peter McKay was challenged by an opposition member on a certain issue.  He stood in his place and reminded the entire House that our forces are the best in the world and are willing to sacrifice all they have for the safety of our country and the Afghan people as well.  He sat down and the House rose in applause.  That’s respect.  So here’s to a man who brought together a grieving family, and to a proud military that acted under that leadership to care for one of their own as only they can.  This is how government should work.