OTTAWA — The Conservative government has moved, despite the objection of opposition MPs, to end debate on Canada’s proposed deployment of CF-18 jet fighters to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
That means a vote on the mission is expected to happen sometime this evening.
The outcome is hardly in doubt as the Conservatives have enough of a majority to push through the motion, which would give the military a green light to join allies in the bombing campaign in northern and western Iraq.
Liberal defence critic Joyce Murray says there are a number of opposition MPs who feel they haven’t had the time to speak and she accused the government of taking a divisive approach.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says prior to the motion, there was an emergency debate in the House of Commons, and notes the Liberals and NDP can ask about the mission in question period.
He says the government is facing the “most unreasonable official Opposition that we’ve ever had in this country.”