Mr. Speaker, we are pleased and supportive of the fact Canada will not take part in this coalition that is not backed by the UN.
However, the presence of Canadian ships in the Persian Gulf or Canadian soldiers as part of American or British battalions, or even Canadian officers as part of the joint command means that Canada might end up doing indirectly what it does not want to do directly.
It is hard to believe that Canadian soldiers or materiel will not be used in the conflict against Iraq, even if they are there as part of the fight against terrorism.
Would it not be more consistent to withdraw all of the materiel and soldiers from the Persian Gulf and the region?