OTTAWA (CP) - Canadian air force Gen. Ray Henault was formally installed as chairman of <FORM class=yqin action=http://yq.search.yahoo.com/search method=post>    </FORM>NATO's military committee on Thursday, saying perceptions of Canada's contributions to the alliance have changed for the better.

Henault was elected NATO's military chief in November, taking over from German Gen. Harald Kujat, after edging his Danish rival in a close vote by chiefs of staff from the 26 member countries.

Now completing its fourth rotation with NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Canada is overcoming past impressions among some nations and the NATO leadership that it wasn't pulling its weight, he said.

"Canada is very much a contributor to this organization and did a tremendous amount in <FORM class=yqin action=http://yq.search.yahoo.com/search method=post>    </FORM>Afghanistan," Henault said during a teleconference from NATO headquarters in Brussels. "It really is seen as pulling its weight.

"Canada does receive some criticism but I think what Canadians need to remember is the output."

Since fighting with the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan in 2002, Canada has contributed up to 2,000 troops to ISAF and commanded both the NATO force itself and its multi-national brigade - the latter, twice.

Last year, Ottawa recalled more than half its deployed personnel to give its overtaxed armed forces a so-called operational pause - a year's break from full overseas duties. Its Kabul contingent dropped to about 900.

While an armoured reconnaissance squadron will stay on in Kabul through September's parliamentary elections, a 250-member provincial reconstruction team will be sent south to Kandahar in August under U.S. coalition command.

Kabul's Camp Julien will close and be moved to Kandahar, followed by another 1,000 Canadian troops in February. Command of the Kandahar operation will eventually shift to ISAF as it gradually expands its Afghan duties.

Taliban and al Qaida activity is far greater in the area than in the Afghan capital, which has been largely pacified by the presence of nearly 10,000 international troops, as well as thousands of Afghan soldiers and police.

Henault, a 36-year military veteran, is the first Canadian to chair NATO's military council since 1983.