Mr. Speaker, in the take note debate on Mali on February 5, 2013, my colleague opposite said:
The government's alternation between disengagement and divisiveness has weakened Canada's voice on the world stage....
I would argue that in this motion here today, we are being decisive. I would encourage him to support it. Canadians around the world understand the urgency of this situation.
To his direct question, I read an article in the Calgary Herald this morning by a columnist who is on the ground there. One of his comments was:
Those packed into the grounds at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church were astonished when they were told that two of Canada’s three main political parties have opposed the Harper government’s plan to send half a dozen warplanes to the Middle East....
Somebody from his article basically said that if these air strikes do not happen now, there will be further advance upon this territory.
We need to act now. We need to send these planes there and we need to join our allies in this combat.