Bloc to Force Vote on Afghan Extension

Gilles Duceppe said yesterday he will use the Bloc’s opposition day in Parliament to call for a vote on Canadian Forces’ post-2011 Afghan mission.

When his party has the floor on Thursday, Duceppe will push for a vote on Canada’s Afghan training mission, scheduled to continue until 2014. A vote could take place as early as next Thursday. The move could be disastrous for both the Liberals and the Conservatives, as the Grits are said to be divided on the issue and Stephen Harper already committed to the mission at a NATO conference last weekend. Michael Ignatieff appears confident he can paper over the differences in his own party however, and yesterday said he welcomed a parliamentary vote on the issue. Harper has long said the post-2011 mission does not need Parliament’s approval because it will focus on training rather than combat.