Bloc’s Afghan Motion Defeated in Parliament

The non-binding motion condemned the government’s decision to extend the Afghan mission without approval from Parliament.

The motion put forth by the Bloc Québécois was intended to expose divisions among the Liberals. While party leaders Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae support the Conservatives’ post-2011 Afghan training mission, rank-and-file Liberals were reportedly incensed that they were not consulted before party leadership endorsed the plan. The Bloc’s ploy didn’t work, however, and all Liberals present at Parliament last night voted against the motion, defeating it 209-81. Three Liberals absented themselves. The government’s position is that because the post-2011 mission will focus on training instead of combat, it doesn’t require parliamentary approval. Bloc MP Claude Bachand said after the vote that he didn’t believe Canadian soldiers wouldn’t see some form of combat as part of the new mission.