Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the opposition, the NDP, does not understand how the government operates.
Clearly, all decisions of such importance are reached in cabinet. The decision was in fact reached there, but that did not prevent the Minister of Foreign Affairs from speaking with his U.S. counterpart and indicating that this discussion would be taking place within cabinet.
The decision was therefore reached in the appropriate manner in cabinet and then made public after the Minister of Foreign Affairs had announced it in the House of Commons.