Tories back down, will allow debate on Afghan mission

[Minstrel Boy]

The Conservative government bowed to opposition demands yesterday, agreeing to hold a non-binding debate next week on Canada's military involvement in wartorn Afghanistan.

The debate, set for Monday, will allow MPs to air their views on the expanded military mission to a country that has so far cost 12 Canadian lives, but it will have little impact on the mission because it won't lead to a vote.

Indeed, the debate will come five months after the last "take-note" debate on the Afghan mission was held in Parliament -- an event that was largely ignored because it came two weeks before the Liberal government was defeated in a confidence vote.

The Bloc Quebecois and NDP took credit for forcing Prime Minister Stephen Harper to back down on the debate issue. The Liberals, who committed Canada to the mission while in power last year, said they'd continue to support it.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c72c8d03-38e0-413c-b074-42d7a779a72e

[tuvor]

1. So Conservatives never really believed debate "demoralizing to troops"?

I wonder if any of our military--some of whom are on the record, concerned about exactly that--feel duped by Harper's flip-flop.

[MrPrax]

2. Waste o Time...

Wonder what the NDP and BQ gave up to get this 'chitchat' in Hansard...