Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you very much, Jake Epp, for your generous introduction.

Today, I’m very pleased to join you and your partners for the official opening of the Health Partners International of Canada medical aid distribution centre.

This is a truly impressive facility. Its sheer size and the sophistication of its inventory and security systems speak to the efficiency and professionalism of the Health Partners International of Canada’s operations.

But I hope people recognize that this place is far more than just a state-of-the-art warehouse.

These pallets stacked with pharmaceutical and medical supplies represent better health and hope for tens of thousands of children and adults in the developing world.

They also represent the faith, humanitarianism and dedication of the people who created and sustain HPIC, people like Jake Epp and its president, John Kelsall.

And, of course, they represent the immense generosity of the dozens of Canadian grassroots and corporate donors who supplied the products and raised the funds to fill this building.

Consider some of the people involved in this endeavour.

It includes CEOs and senior executives from major corporations who normally are fierce competitors. Yet here they come together in a common, noble cause.

And then there are smaller donors - the small businesses, church congregations, community groups and individuals. They may not have as much to give, but the ocean of suffering in the developing world has touched their hearts, so they donate what they can.

In sum, they all represent the deep well of philanthropy that has been a hallmark of Canadian society throughout our history.

It still seems that Canada urgently wants to share the benefits of our great country with the less fortunate people of the world.

For nearly two decades, this organization has been part of that tradition, delivering medical aid to people in 116 countries around the world.

This year, I’m pleased to note, they will concentrate on aid to Afghanistan.

Where Canada, our NATO allies and the United Nations have come together to rebuild a country ravaged by decades of war.

Our soldiers made great progress last year in securing large sections of Kandahar province.

This year, to consolidate those gains, we will need to move ahead with reconstruction, assistance and development in those areas.

Providing basic health services will be crucial to our success.

HPIC and its donors made a major contribution to the Afghan mission in 2004.

Their even larger contributions this year will complement the efforts of our troops, diplomats and aid workers at a critical time.

HPIC is currently building several shipments of medical aid for Afghanistan.

About $1 million worth of products have already arrived here at the distribution centre. They include pain relievers, medicines to treat bacterial, fungal and viral infections, and basic medical supplies such as gloves, masks, sutures, and needles.

Their goal is to send up to $4 million worth of medicines and supplies to Afghanistan this year.

The need is enormous. The average lifespan of Afghans is about 45, younger than I am now and barely half the average lifespan of Canadians.

The efforts of organizations like this supplement the efforts of the Government of Canada. Afghanistan is our biggest single recipient of foreign aid.

CIDA, Foreign Affairs and the Canadian Forces are involved in at least 126 reconstruction and humanitarian projects just in Kandahar province.

This includes health and medical assistance, like polio vaccination for 350,000 children, maternal health, medical services and infrastructure construction.

Sadly, these programs remain at risk from the Taliban.

Last fall, for example, they attacked the only operational medical clinic in the Panjwayi district. They kidnapped the pharmacist and tried to kill the clinic’s only doctor.

Our challenge is to secure these areas and keep them secure so clinics like this can provide desperately needed medical services and supplies.

Ultimately, this is the path to success in all of Afghanistan.

By improving the health of ordinary citizens, we will make them much less vulnerable to intimidation by the Taliban.

And we will restore their hope in the future of their country.

Improving public health and raising hope in Afghanistan will not come easily or quickly.

But when the need is great and the cause is just, Canadians are always there.

And we always will be.

Because that is what Canadians do.

And it’s what you’re doing by supporting Health Partners International of Canada with your donations.

So congratulations, everyone, on the opening of this great facility.

Thank you.

May God keep our land glorious and free.

The Right Honourable Prime Minister,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is indeed a great pleasure to be here today at the opening of the new Health Partners International of Canada Distribution Center.

I know how hard my friends at HPIC have worked to make this happen, and what an honor it is to have The Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper attend the opening and dedicate the shipment of urgently needed medical aid to my country and the Afghan people.

I want to congratulate the Hon. Jake Epp and my friend John Kelsall and everyone at HPIC for their dedication to bringing relief to the sick and needy around the world.

However, this Canadian act of reaching out and touching others on this planet would not be possible without the generosity of the men, women, corporations and industry contributors who know how critical medical aid is in health deprived parts of the world, and how far a pill or a piece of medical equipment goes where it is neither affordable nor accessible to most people.

Two years ago HPIC delivered about $2 million worth of medicine to Kabul, which turned out to be very valuable. Since then we have tried very hard to help them put together another package as part of a multi-year commitment in partnership with the government and the industry. I am very happy to see the tangible results of these efforts today as part of the medical shipments heading for Afghanistan.

Canada’s aid package for Afghanistan – whether through the government or non-governmental sources - in not only in the form of peace-building as demonstrated by the brave performance of your military forces, but also as part of a multi-faceted approach aimed at helping the lives of ordinary Afghans and the country’s economic and developmental aspirations, as spelled out in the Afghanistan Compact.

On behalf of millions of Afghan women, children and men, and my government, I want to thank all of you, HPIC, the industry contributors, the Government and all Canadians for this and all other assistances that you have provided. The humanitarian help that you send today across oceans and continents will be received with gratitude and heartfelt thanks, and will make a real difference.

Distributed by the Embassy of Afghanistan - Ottawa

16 February, 2007