Official Public Debate on War Footing 2001

I dipped into the public record (hansard) to recall the offical positions of the various parties as they were constituted way back in the dark ages of 2001. I think it illuminates the current politically motivated request for a debate which, as you will see by reading the appropriate hansard links, is being prompted by the NDP for nothing more than to gain a strategic advantage. As per normal. When you don't have an actual constituency, or the advantage of electoral numbers you make more noise. To everyone's demise. Layton, STFU.

House of Commons
Sept 17, 2001
Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, BQ): Mr. Speaker, the House was consulted after the decision had been made or without a vote.

I ask the Prime Minister if they could do a little more, ensure that all parliamentarians exercise their responsibility, and have the House vote on the government's proposal when the time comes to make a commitment, even a military one.

Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the House of Commons is consulted. The House of Commons speaks. The members of all parties may have their say, and a consensus is expressed at that point.

This is the procedure that has always been followed. I do not see why we should change it under the circumstances, but we will see. If it needs changing, we will change it.

House of Commons
Sept 25, 2001
Mr. Michel Gauthier (Roberval, BQ) moved:
That this House urge the government, in any reprisals taken in reaction to the terrorist strikes in New York on September 11, not to commit Canadian armed forces in any offensive action until the House of Commons has been consulted and has voted on the matter.

Hon.Art Eggleton (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to this motion and to reassert the government's commitment to consulting and having an open debate on defence and foreign policy issues.

The first part of the motion presented by the hon. member for Roberval calls for consultation. We on this side of the House have no difficulty with that. We have put it into practice and used it in a meaningful way for a great number of years.

However the second part of the motion calls for a different kind of procedure and debate in the House that would culminate in a vote of parliament.

It is for that reason that I rise to oppose the Bloc motion.

Mr. Leon Benoit (Lakeland, Canadian Alliance):
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak to the Bloc motion today:

The Canadian Alliance policy calls for any movement to arms to include a vote in the House of Commons. I would like to look at what the situation is today.

First, one of our NATO allies has been attacked. Article 5 of the NATO convention states that if there is an attack on any one of the NATO allies, that is considered to be an attack on each of the NATO allies. As a result, the attacks on New York City and Washington, the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania and the attempted attacks on other places are considered to have been attacks on Canada.

Mr. John McKay (Scarborough East, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I thank the House for the opportunity to participate in this important debate. The hon. member for Charlesbourg--Jacques-Cartier has stated that while it does provide some difficulties for us all, there are those of us who consider parliament to be a very significant institution in our country where important matters of state get debated and voted on.

However I must take some distance from my colleague. I would like to outline why the motion is premature, hypothetical and absent of facts.

This is a hypothetical motion. At this point in time we have not been asked to participate in any action whatsoever. Any hypothetical request is always a dangerous position to be in, particularly if ultimately we as a government have to make a decision.

The Bloc's Motion did not pass
62 Yeahs
196 Nays

As you will notice from the eventual outcome from all the glorified debate from all parties on the issue, the only ones to vote for a vote in Parliament for military deployment was the Bloc and NDP. The grandstanding and political posturing on the state of our military, as enlightening as it was, amounted to more electioneering, not action. These debates were conducted 6 days after the act of war. The only party with a valid perspective was the Alliance. Issues raised well before the attacks; border security, terrorist organizations funding overseas operations from Canada, screening of immigrants; all matters raised well before the ultimate and predictable events in New York and Washington. I would suggest everyone read Stockwell Day's empassioned plea below. If there was going to be a call to war, this man's words were the ones distinguishing him from all the rest as a true leader.

House of Commons
Sept 26, 2001
The Right Honourable Leader of the Opposition Stockwell Day Telling it like it is

Further Reading:
Afghanistan Timeline (BBC)

October 7, 2001(CNN) -- Daylight broke over Afghanistan Monday after hours of intense bombing by U.S. and British forces overnight, the first strikes in an international campaign to flush out suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden and punish those who have protected him. The attacks against the ruling Taliban came almost a month after the September 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York and heavily damaged the Pentagon.

Government of Canada's Website for Rebuilding Afghanistan
Following condemnation of the terror attacks by the UN Security Council, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced that Canada would contribute air, land and sea forces to the international campaign against terrorism. Since October 2001, Canada has contributed up to six warships to the coalition fleet in the Arabian Gulf-Arabian Sea area in support of Canadian Forces' Operation Apollo. Part of their mandate has been to conduct maritime interdiction operations with allied vessels, preventing al-Qaeda and Taliban members from escaping the area in merchant ships and fishing boats. Canadian military aircraft, including helicopters, airlift and long-range patrol aircraft have also contributed significantly to Operation Apollo, both inside and outside Afghanistan.