CEFCOM Commander visits Kandahar

During the week of 21 September 2009, Lieutenant-General Marc Lessard paid his second visit to Afghanistan as Commander, Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. His visit had two objectives: to see how Canada’s stability operations are progressing, and to introduce the Deputy Minister to the Privy Council Office, Ms Greta Bossenmaier, and members of her staff to Afghanistan.

LGen Lessard visited the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar City and the Dand District, where he noted the progress of the “whole of government” effort in and around the village of Deh-e-Bagh. During his trip, he also attended a ceremony for the transfer of authority from the outgoing Representative of Canada in Kandahar, Mr. Ken Lewis, to his successor, Mr. Benjamin Rowswell. He also addressed the troops and presented commendations and commemorative coins to highly deserving individuals.

LGen Lessard, who received a Meritorious Service Cross for his professionalism and dedication following his nine month tour in command of ISAF Regional Command (South) in 2008, noted in his remarks that he sees significant changes in Kandahar Province since completing his tour. The greatest of those changes is in the Afghan National Army (ANA). “Seeing them in operation, they are more confident,” he said. “They’re starting to take the lead in saying ‘I want to do an operation here, and I want to do it this way.’ It’s one thing to have more Afghan troops but, for me, the critical, critical thing is having Afghans take the lead.”