NDP
Puts Politics First
OTTAWA
– The NDP’s opposition day motion on Afghanistan is yet
another example of Jack Layton helping the Conservative government instead
of doing what’s best for Canada, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Ujjal
Dosanjh said.
“For
the NDP to table this motion the day after voting with the Conservative
government to leave Canadians in limbo regarding the Afghanistan mission
is the height of irresponsibility,” said Mr. Dosanjh.
The
NDP motion calls on the government to start withdrawing Canadian troops
from Afghanistan now. On Tuesday, Mr. Layton’s party joined with the
government to kill a Liberal motion, introduced by Defence Critic Denis
Coderre, which reaffirms Canada’s commitment to end our combat mission
in Kandahar in February 2009.
“The
Liberal motion would have provided clarity for Canadians on the length of
our combat role and would have given notice to our NATO allies and the
Afghan Government. Instead, thanks to the NDP supporting the government,
they have left the mission open to the possibility of indefinite
extensions,” said Mr. Dosanjh.
“No
responsible political party should ever lightly turn its back on any
international commitment signed by Canada.
The fact remains that Canada has made a commitment on the world
stage to remain in Afghanistan until 2009,” he said.
The
NDP would know, realistically, that Canadian troops will remain in
Afghanistan until 2009. This
NDP motion is irresponsible and unrealistic – and doomed to failure in
the House of Commons, said Mr. Dosanjh.
“The
behaviour of the NDP lays bare their willingness to give the Harper
government a pass – as demonstrated in the last federal election –even
if the end result is to produce an outcome contrary to their policy and
their stated values,” he said.
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