SYDNEY, Australia (CP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he won't be holding a vote in Parliament on Canada's Afghanistan mission unless he can get some other party to support his desire for an extension beyond 2009.
Harper, speaking after a summit of pan-Pacific leaders in Sydney, Australia, said there's no rush to have a debate or a vote on mission.
He says his obvious preference is for Canada to "finish the job" in Afghanistan.
The Liberal Opposition has said it plans to introduce a motion early in the fall session of Parliament seeking a vote to confirm that Canada's military mission will end as scheduled in February 2009.
The prime minister says there will be no vote until at least some of the opposition in the minority Commons will support the government - in Harper's words - "give a mandate to our armed forces."
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press
Harper, speaking after a summit of pan-Pacific leaders in Sydney, Australia, said there's no rush to have a debate or a vote on mission.
He says his obvious preference is for Canada to "finish the job" in Afghanistan.
The Liberal Opposition has said it plans to introduce a motion early in the fall session of Parliament seeking a vote to confirm that Canada's military mission will end as scheduled in February 2009.
The prime minister says there will be no vote until at least some of the opposition in the minority Commons will support the government - in Harper's words - "give a mandate to our armed forces."
Copyright © 2007 Canadian Press