Defence Minister Peter MacKay dismissed the suggestion that the decision to pull out of Afghanistan by 2011 is akin to cutting and running.
His comments followed a statement by military mom Connie Perchaluk who said Canada must not abandon its work in Afghanistan until the job is complete.
"We started a mission, we're part of NATO, let's finish the mission," Perchaluk told CTV's Canada AM.
"(Conservative Leader Stephen Harper) needs to take a firm stance on it whether Canadians like it or not. He's letting down our military, he's letting down NATO forces and military parents if he doesn't stay there past 2011."
MacKay said the decision respects the will of the Canadian Parliament and the desire to prop up democracy in Afghanistan.
The notion that the pullout is a slap in the face to soldiers who have served in Afghanistan or even died there, is simply not accurate, he said.
"In fact it's in keeping with the democracy they defend both in Canada and Afghanistan -- respecting Parliament is what we're doing and respecting the will of the people," MacKay told Canada AM.
"We've had two democratic votes taken on the subject of extending the mission and what we intend to do obviously is transform to more training, more emphasis on the rehabilitation of the country and democratic enhancements. Canada has done a great deal and we can be extremely proud of the contribution we're making and continue to make until 2011."
MacKay also said the mission in Afghanistan involves 40 countries and there are "ongoing" efforts to convince more of those nations to contribute in the volatile Kandahar province, where Canadian troops are stationed.
Liberal defence critic Bryan Wilfert said his party agrees with the principle of military rotation in Afghanistan, but said the Conservatives have not yet sent a diplomatic note informing NATO of their intention to fully withdraw Canadian troops by 2011.
"Until we inform NATO, in order for them to get prepared for the rotation, this date is really meaningless," Wilfert told Canada AM.
New Democrat foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar said there is little chance Canada will achieve its security and reconstruction goals in Afghanistan. That means one of two things is likely to happen, he said.
"They're going to leave when the job's not done according to their own benchmarks or they're going to extend the mission beyond 2011," Dewar told Canada AM.
