Harper Won’t Seek Parliamentary Approval for Extended Afghan Mission

The prime minister says because the proposed mission focuses on training, it is a decision the government can make on its own.

Although Harper has yet to make an official announcement, it’s widely believed he will extend Canada’s Afghan mission beyond the July 2011 pull out date, leaving 1,000 soldiers behind until 2014 to train Afghan forces. When the Conservatives extended the mission in 2008 they took the decision to a vote in Parliament, but yesterday Harper told reporters that the most recent extension focuses on a non-combat role and therefore does not need to be endorsed by the opposition. Although the prime minister’s comments suggest the mission would not be dangerous, the U.S. ambassador to NATO recently urged Canada to undertake training operations in the field, which would likely expose Canadian troops to live fighting.