On Friday, October 3rd, Prime Minister Harper called on the House of Commons to support Canadian participation in a six-month air-strike campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Here’s what the four party leaders had to say about the motion.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced on February 14th that Canada will extend its military support for the French operation in Mali for another month.
Canadian special forces soldiers are already deployed in Mali protecting Canadian diplomats, but according to the government they are not on a “combat” mission.
Will Canadian special forces soldiers be sent to Mali? Prime Minister Harper has clearly stated that his government is “not considering” a “direct” military role in the current conflict. But can his words be trusted?
The West’s intervention to overthrow Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi in 2011 was one of the triggers of the current war in Mali, and as Canada’s role in Mali slowly grows, the danger of being drawn further into a spreading West African conflict also grows.
Prime Minister Harper announced on Monday that Canada would assign one RCAF C-17 transport aircraft to provide logistical support to the French military intervention in Mali for a period of one week.