Ottawa, ON – Today, the House of Commons will be debating and potentially voting on a motion put forward by the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, asking the House to confirm its confidence for a government decision to authorize air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
This motion is in response to the increased violence and brutality of actions taken by ISIL forces in Iraq. Furthermore, ISIL has specifically targeted Canadians by urging their supporters to "attack disbelieving Canadians in any manner", vowing that we should not feel secure in our own homes.
On August 10th, 2014, the Government of Canada announced support for humanitarian needs in Iraq in the amount of $5 million. Furthermore, on September 4th, 2014, a subsequent $7 million was announced to support further needs including: kits of food items and safe drinking water for civilians, blankets, lamps and items to support displaced families, medicine, clothing, money to pay for rental housing for displaced civilians, as well as support for physical and mental healthcare in the region.
The motion before the House will:
- Ask the House to confirm its confidence in joining the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and likely others, in launching air strikes against ISIL.
- In response to requests from Iraqi authorities as well as other allies and partners, authorize Canada to continue to assist in other, non-combat, counter-terrorism roles.
- Contribute one air-to-air refueling aircraft, two Aurora surveillance aircraft, and the necessary air crews and support personnel.
- Extend the deployment in a non-combat role of up to 69 members of the Canadian Army to advise and assist security forces in Iraq.
- There will be no ground combat mission which is explicitly ruled out in the resolution.
- These contributions are for a period of up to six months.
"The Government has stated in the past that all combat missions undertaken by the Canadian Forces will be subject to a debate and vote in Parliament, which is what we are doing here today," said Larry Miller, MP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. "Canada has been consistently providing humanitarian assistance in Iraq. However, increased violence and a direct threat to Canada have called on us to do more. The motion authorizes airstrikes against ISIL that will be done in coordination with our allies. I will be voting in favour when this comes up for a vote in the House."

Source - Larry Miller, MP (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound)