PM-Extends Iraq Mission/will not ask consent from Syria
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:13 pmIraq mission: Stephen Harper says Canada won't ask Syria's consent for strikes
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iraq-mi ... 06469?cid= ]
Debate to happen Thursday as original 6-month mission's end date approaches
By Laura Payton, CBC News Posted: Mar 23, 2015 9:15 PM ET| Last Updated: Mar 24, 2015 11:34 AM ET
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has laid out his case for Canada to renew its participation in the coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The prime minister is proposing to expand and extend Canada's initial six-month military mission in Iraq [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-mi ... -1.2790189 ] and asking for support for an additional one-year air mission against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
That length of extension of the mission is significant. A six-month extension would have put any further renewal in the middle of next fall's election campaign. Canadians must go to the polls by Oct. 19, 2015.
When he initially made the case for joining the coalition fight in Iraq, the prime minister said Canada would strike ISIS "where — and only where — Canada has the clear support of the government of that country."
But that's no longer the case, he said Tuesday morning.
"In expanding our air strikes into Syria, the government has now decided that we will not seek the express consent of the Syrian government," Harper said.
"Instead, we will work closely with our American and other allies, who have already been carrying out such operations against ISIL over Syria in recent months."
Continuing air combat, special forces mission
The expanded and extended mission will include:
■The air combat mission — specifically air strikes, air-to-air refuelling, surveillance by the Aurora aircraft, and deployment of aircrew and support personnel.
■Canadian Special Forces continuing their advise-and-assist mission with Iraqi forces combating ISIS.
- - - - SNIP - - - -
Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair immediately responded that Canada has "no place in this war," to a round of grumbling by the Conservatives. House Speaker Andrew Scheer was forced to interrupt twice to silence them.
"Nothing I heard today has convinced me that the Conservatives are taking this duty with the seriousness that it deserves," Mulcair said.
"The prime minister hasn't earned that trust, because he misled Canadians from the start."
The NDP voted against the initial motion, as did Justin Trudeau's Liberals, arguing Harper didn't provide enough information about the combat operation.
- - - SNIP - - -
A Canadian prime minister does not need authorization from Parliament to launch a combat mission, but Harper has made it a practice to ask the House for support in those instances.
In an essay published last fall, University of Ottawa professor and defence expert Philippe Lagassé noted that such votes can be a way to assure the military that its mission has the support of the elected house of Parliament.
But it can also provide political cover for the governing party, he adds.
"By laundering these decisions through the House, the government gives the impression that the Commons shares responsibility for the deployment."
With files from Kady O'Malley
Related Stories
■ISIS fight: Tom Lawson reassures MPs about risk to special forces
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-fi ... -1.2936134 ]
■Iraq mission should be carefully planned, former diplomat warns
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/david-m ... -1.3002692 ]
■Extending ISIS mission could signal year-long commitment
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-mi ... -1.2997425 ]
■Iraq mission: Read the text of the motion to expand, extend operations
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iraq-mi ... -1.3006704 ]
■Harper, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg discuss anti-ISIS mission
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper- ... -1.3005013 ]
■Tom Mulcair outlines his concerns over the future of the ISIS mission
[ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/extend ... -1.3002126 ]
External Links
■When Does Parliament Get to Vote on Military Deployments?
[ http://cips.uottawa.ca/when-does-parlia ... ployments/ ]
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
= = = = = =
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iraq-mi ... 06469?cid= ]
Debate to happen Thursday as original 6-month mission's end date approaches
By Laura Payton, CBC News Posted: Mar 23, 2015 9:15 PM ET| Last Updated: Mar 24, 2015 11:34 AM ET
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has laid out his case for Canada to renew its participation in the coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The prime minister is proposing to expand and extend Canada's initial six-month military mission in Iraq [ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-mi ... -1.2790189 ] and asking for support for an additional one-year air mission against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
That length of extension of the mission is significant. A six-month extension would have put any further renewal in the middle of next fall's election campaign. Canadians must go to the polls by Oct. 19, 2015.
When he initially made the case for joining the coalition fight in Iraq, the prime minister said Canada would strike ISIS "where — and only where — Canada has the clear support of the government of that country."
But that's no longer the case, he said Tuesday morning.
"In expanding our air strikes into Syria, the government has now decided that we will not seek the express consent of the Syrian government," Harper said.
"Instead, we will work closely with our American and other allies, who have already been carrying out such operations against ISIL over Syria in recent months."
Continuing air combat, special forces mission
The expanded and extended mission will include:
■The air combat mission — specifically air strikes, air-to-air refuelling, surveillance by the Aurora aircraft, and deployment of aircrew and support personnel.
■Canadian Special Forces continuing their advise-and-assist mission with Iraqi forces combating ISIS.
- - - - SNIP - - - -
Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair immediately responded that Canada has "no place in this war," to a round of grumbling by the Conservatives. House Speaker Andrew Scheer was forced to interrupt twice to silence them.
"Nothing I heard today has convinced me that the Conservatives are taking this duty with the seriousness that it deserves," Mulcair said.
"The prime minister hasn't earned that trust, because he misled Canadians from the start."
The NDP voted against the initial motion, as did Justin Trudeau's Liberals, arguing Harper didn't provide enough information about the combat operation.
- - - SNIP - - -
A Canadian prime minister does not need authorization from Parliament to launch a combat mission, but Harper has made it a practice to ask the House for support in those instances.
In an essay published last fall, University of Ottawa professor and defence expert Philippe Lagassé noted that such votes can be a way to assure the military that its mission has the support of the elected house of Parliament.
But it can also provide political cover for the governing party, he adds.
"By laundering these decisions through the House, the government gives the impression that the Commons shares responsibility for the deployment."
With files from Kady O'Malley
Related Stories
■ISIS fight: Tom Lawson reassures MPs about risk to special forces
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-fi ... -1.2936134 ]
■Iraq mission should be carefully planned, former diplomat warns
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/david-m ... -1.3002692 ]
■Extending ISIS mission could signal year-long commitment
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/isis-mi ... -1.2997425 ]
■Iraq mission: Read the text of the motion to expand, extend operations
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iraq-mi ... -1.3006704 ]
■Harper, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg discuss anti-ISIS mission
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper- ... -1.3005013 ]
■Tom Mulcair outlines his concerns over the future of the ISIS mission
[ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/extend ... -1.3002126 ]
External Links
■When Does Parliament Get to Vote on Military Deployments?
[ http://cips.uottawa.ca/when-does-parlia ... ployments/ ]
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
= = = = = =