Afghanistan confidence motion plays politics with lives of Canadian soldiers

HALIFAX – The Green Party is denouncing Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s confidence motion on the Afghanistan mission. Mr. Harper tabled a confidence motion today to extend Canada’s combat role in Afghanistan to 2011.

“Turning the Afghanistan mission into a confidence vote was absolutely the wrong political move,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “We need far greater effort at compromise and discussion within the House of Commons before turning the mission into an up or down, yes or no vote. It is still far too early to pull the plug on the chance of conciliation and the Green Party believes Prime Minister Harper should be negotiating with the opposition parties, not playing political games with the lives of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.”

Ms. May added that any minority Prime Minister must be prepared to negotiate with other parties and that she is ready to meet with the Prime Minister at any point.

“Mr. Harper is doing no favour to our soldiers by further polarizing the mission,” said Ms. May. “If he allows an election campaign to be fought on Canada’s role in Afghanistan he will make the mission far more dangerous for Canadian soldiers. When the Taliban realize that our continued presence in Afghanistan depends on the results of an election, their insurgents will undoubtedly target Canadian soldiers in a move to influence public opinion in our country.

“Mr. Harper should withdraw this confidence motion and instead put greater effort into discussion with opposition parties.”