Reality Check: Did Ministers mislead on detainees?

A Globe and Mail story today reveals evidence that detainees transferred from Canadian custody were abused by Afghan authorities: “Sworn testimony by senior Canadian officers and rare uncensored documentary evidence contradict Defence Minister Peter MacKay's repeated assertions that no proof exists of even a single case of a Canadian-transferred detainee abused by Afghan security forces.”

For the record, here are statements by Ministers who should have been aware of this report, all quotes from Hansard:

“There has not been a single proven allegation of abuse of a Canadian-transferred prisoner” John Baird, December 04, 2009

“There has never been a single, solitary proven allegation of abuse of a detainee, a Taliban prisoner, transferred by Canadian Forces. That is the issue.” Peter MacKay, December 2, 2009

“Let me be perfectly clear. There has never been a proven allegation of abuse involving a transferred Taliban prisoner by Canadian Forces.” Lawrence Cannon, December 1, 2009

“There has never been a single proven allegation of abuse involving a prisoner transferred by the Canadian Forces, not one.” Peter MacKay, November 23, 2009

“There has not been a single proven allegation involving a prisoner transferred from the Canadian Forces” Peter MacKay, November 23, 2009

“Mr. Speaker, there has not been a single, solitary, proven allegation of a prisoner being abused that was transferred from the Canadian Forces.” Peter MacKay, November 23, 2009

“It is also important to note, again, that not a single, solitary, proven allegation involving a transfer of a Taliban prisoner from the Canadian Forces has been proven” Peter MacKay, November 23, 2009

“I should remind members opposite that there has not been a single, solitary proven allegation involving a transferred Taliban prisoner.” John Baird, November 20, 2009

“Mr. Speaker, it has been stated here a number of times that there has not been a single, solitary proven allegation of abuse involving a transferred Taliban prisoner by Canadian Forces.” Peter MacKay, November 19, 2009

“Mr. Speaker, let me state the truth again. First, there has never been a single, solitary proven allegation of abuse involving a transferred prisoner from Canadian Forces.” Peter MacKay, November 19, 2009

“The Government of Canada has received no proven allegation of abuse since instituting our strengthened detainee arrangement in 2007.” Peter Kent, November 18, 2009

“I do want to be very clear on one thing. There has never been a proven allegation of abuse involving a Taliban prisoner transferred by Canadian Forces.” Peter MacKay, November 18, 2009.

I state again that there has never been a single solitary proven allegation of abuse of a Taliban prisoner transferred by the Canadian Forces.” Peter MacKay, November 18, 2000.