Quite The Team

Not to harp on this point, but the Afghanistan panel is almost comical on so many levels. In looking at the website, it provides a detailed bio for all the panel members, listing their “experience”. Nothing says expertise on military and humanitarian matters like backgrounds in banking, railroads, trade and gas pipelines. I suppose you could argue Manley has some assets that would give him a degree of credibility, but the same can’t be said for the others:

Derek H. Burney:

Senior Strategic Advisor, Ogilvy Renault
As Senior Strategic Advisor to the firm, Mr. Burney assists clients in dealing with cross-border and domestic issues as well as trade and investment policy matters.

Mr. Burney is Chairman of the Board of CanWest Global Communications Corp. and a director of TransCanada Pipelines Limited.

Mr. Burney also once had a neighbor, who’s son became a heroin addict, which gives him some valuable experience as it relates to the opium trade.

The Honourable Jake Epp:

Chairman of Ontario Power Generation Inc. since 2004 and served as the interim Chairman from December 2003 to April 2004.

Mr. Epp was the Senior Vice President, TransCanada PipeLines and President of TransCanada International (1993 – December 31, 2000).

Mr. Epp also serves as Chairman, Health Partners International Canada, 2002 – present

Mr. Epp once flew over Afghanistan, in a 747 wide body, on a connecting flight from Paris to India for a family vacation. This experience will lend itself to a better understanding of the geographic challenges that Afghanistan faces.

The Honourable Paul Tellier:

Paul M. Tellier was President and Chief Executive Officer and Director of Bombardier Inc. in 2003 and 2004. Prior to this, Mr. Tellier was President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Canadian National Railway Company (CN), a position he held for 10 years.

Mr. Tellier is a director of several corporations including Alcan, Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), Bell Canada and Telesat Canada, GM Canada and McCain Foods Ltd. He is Chairman of Global Container Terminals Inc. (GCT). He is also Strategic Advisor to Société Générale, a global bank headquartered in France.

Over the years, Mr. Tellier has purchased several Afghan rugs for the family home, which gives him intimate knowledge of domestic commerce and economic matters.

Pamela Wallin:

In Canada, she serves on several corporate boards, including CTVglobemedia, Canada’s premier multimedia company with ownership in CTV and The Globe and Mail; Gluskin Sheff & Associates, an investment and wealth management firm; Oilsands Quest, an energy development company; and Jade Tower, an independent antenna site and tower company.

Pamela was also a broadcaster, and reported on Afghanistan for years for the CTV, from her cushy chair in Toronto. Pamela also was known to frequent Bamiyan Kabob, an exceptional restaurant located near Don Mills and Eglinton. This cultural experience will serve Pamela well as she tackles the myriad of problems faced by the Afghani people.

Quite an impressive field of expert opinion that Harper has brought to the table. Canada will be well served by the final report, because clearly this panel represents the best of the best.