Canada is going to war in Iraq.
As expected, the Conservative majority in the House of Commons ensured that the government鈥檚 motion to join U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants passed Tuesday night. The vote was 157-134.
Nearly all the opposition MPs voted against the combat mission, while accusing the government of not providing enough information about Canada鈥檚 military commitment. Liberal MP Irwin Cotler abstained.
Six CF-18 fighter-bombers, two CP-140 surveillance planes, one aerial tanker aircraft and 600 personnel are expected to join coalition airstrikes in Iraq for up to six months. The Conservatives鈥� motion said there would be no troops on the ground.
In a statement after the vote, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it was 鈥渋mperative鈥� for Canada to act with its allies to halt the spread of ISIS.
鈥淲e do not take this step lightly. The threat posed by ISIL is real,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f left unchecked this terrorist organization will grow and grow quickly. They have already voiced their local and international terrorist intentions and identified Canada as a potential target.鈥�
Harper was referring to a video message from presumed ISIS fighters, in which they made direct threats against Canada and other countries.
Despite acknowledging the threats and the brutality of ISIS, opposition MPs said they were concerned about a prolonged combat mission since there is no proof that airstrikes will work.
"The Conservatives are plunging Canada into a prolonged war without a credible plan to help victims of ISIL terror,鈥� NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said in a statement after the vote.
鈥淭hey have also opened the door to Canadian involvement in Syria's bloody civil war.鈥�
Mulcair said the NDP had laid out a 鈥渟trong alternative action plan that would significantly increase Canada's humanitarian response to this crisis.鈥�
But the NDP amendment to the government鈥檚 motion was defeated Tuesday, despite support from the Liberals.
Earlier Tuesday, NDP鈥檚 foreign affairs critic, Paul Dewar, questioned the government on whether the mission will eventually be extended to Syria to fight the ISIS extremists there.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e left the door open to extending the mission without returning to the House,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey left questions unanswered about why we would be getting involved in Syria鈥檚 civil war.鈥�
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said that Canada is 鈥渘ot going to war with Iraq, we鈥檙e not going to war with Syria -- we鈥檙e going to war with ISIL terrorists.鈥�
鈥淲hat we have said very clearly is the motion that鈥檚 before the House that we will go into Iraq, the democratically elected government has invited us, and we will take real and significant action alongside our colleagues, whether its military support (or) humanitarian support.鈥�
Baird also said that Canada will work with its allies, such as the U.K., the U.S. and France to determine 鈥渨hether we鈥檝e been successful in stopping the growing crisis.鈥�
Just after he abstained from the vote, Cotler issued a statement saying that the government motion lacked 鈥渃larity.鈥� He also said he was 鈥渄eeply disturbed鈥� by the possibility that Canada 鈥渨ould require the approval of the criminal Assad regime to carry out operations in Syria.鈥�
First mission since Libya
The White House press secretary issued a statement late Tuesday welcoming Canada鈥檚 contribution to the fight against ISIS.
鈥淲ith these deployments, Canada demonstrates its continued leadership and resolve in addressing the urgent and critical security challenges that threaten Canada, its people, and the broader international community,鈥� the statement said.
鈥淐anadians and Americans have fought alongside each other in several major conflicts over the past century, and we are grateful for Canada鈥檚 further contribution against terrorism.鈥�
This will be Canada鈥檚 first combat mission since the 2011 NATO-led airstrikes in Libya. That mission was originally supposed to last 90 days, but was extended to seven months, until the death of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Canada sent seven fighter jets to Libya, in addition to other naval and air equipment, and deployed more than 650 Canadian Forces personnel at the mission's peak. Canada鈥檚 contribution cost a total of $347 million.
Retired Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard, who led the Libyan mission, told CTV鈥檚 Power Play Tuesday that no two combat missions are alike, but some basic principles always apply.
He said 鈥渁ir power鈥� alone won鈥檛 destroy ISIS in Iraq, but coalition airstrikes have already had an impact, limiting the militants鈥� movements in the region.
鈥淭here is an array of potential targets that can be engaged with air power to have an effect,鈥� he said.
During the mission in Libya, NATO forces were always aware of potential civilian casualties, Bouchard said.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e not sure, or if you have any doubts civilian casualties will take place, go home. Do not drop bombs,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檇 rather come back to fight another day and make sure we do not lose that moral high ground.鈥�
Bouchard said it鈥檚 not only important to understand the ISIS targets, but also the politics and the culture involved.
鈥淲e have to consider that this is more than a military operation,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou cannot stop the political dialogue, the diplomatic dialogue that continues with that.鈥�
With files from Andrea Janus and The Canadian Press
