Layton demands a vote on Afghan extension

The Globe and Mail:

Jack Layton wants Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff to agree to a vote in the House of Commons on the extension of the Afghan mission – because it is the “right thing to do.”

As well, the NDP Leader says it’s important to hear from Canadians about whether they want the mission extended, in any capacity, past next July’s deadline.

“We can’t even take care of those returning injured and traumatized now,” Mr. Layton said. “And yet we’re going to extend our military engagement ... and spend millions more without even a vote in the House of Commons?”

The NDP Leader held a news conference Monday morning to press for a parliamentary debate and vote. He and defence and foreign affairs critics, Jack Harris and Paul Dewar, are trying to hold both the Prime Minister and Liberal Leader to account.

Mr. Harper has said the government is not legally required to hold a vote because the extended mission involves training Afghan forces, not combat. He maintains the government continues to respect the all-party resolution calling for the combat mission to end in July of 2011.

Mr. Ignatieff and his Liberals agree with the government. In June, the Official Opposition called on the Conservatives not to cut and run from Afghanistan, pushing instead for a training mission.

“Michael, we have disagreed more than once on matters of war,” Mr. Layton said. “But let’s agree to respect Parliament’s right to debate this. And let’s hear what Canadians have to say.”

The NDP Leader also implored the Prime Minister to stand by his word.

“Mr. Harper, bring this vote in the House of Commons not because you are required to do so, legally ... but because it’s the right thing to do and because you need to answer the question so many Canadians are asking themselves: After all the broken promises, why should they believe Stephen Harper, this time?”

The post-2011 role for Canadian troops continues to be an important political story, dominating the agenda as the House returns from a week-long break. News leaked out last Sunday that the Conservative government was considering a training mission for the troops. While attending economic summits in Asia a few days later, the Prime Minister confirmed the decision to keep a large contingent of troops on the ground in the war torn country.

But Canadians are still in the dark on precisely how many Canadian soldiers will stay – there are reports of between 750 and 1,000 – and exactly what the mission would look like. The Liberals will also be pressing for the issue in Question Period later Monday.

“There's no question that we'll be raising Afghanistan and calling on the Prime Minister to explain the details of the mission to Parliament,” a senior Ignatieff official told The Globe. “And with the Prime Minister speaking to this overseas, and the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs not speaking to this at all, we will be criticizing the absence of leadership in setting out the parameters of a mission of this importance.”

In addition, the Liberals will go after Peter MacKay over speculation he was poised to leave his post for a job at a Bay Street law firm.

“Why is the Minister of Defence in hiding when the future role of our Canadian Forces is up for debate?” the Ignatieff official asked. “Are questions about his own future side-lining him at a critical time and impairing his ability to provide the leadership Canadians would expect?”