Conservatives looking into extending ISIS mission in Iraq

WATCH: Defence Minister Rob Nicholson visited Canadian troops in Kuwait, to see firsthand how the fight against ISIS is progressing. Jacques Bourbeau speaks with Nicholson about what the mission is costing and how long it’s expected to go on.

OTTAWA – Defence Minister Rob Nicholson says the Conservative government will ”have a look at” extending the six-month air combat mission against ISIS forces in Iraq.

Nicholson made the comments in an interview with Global News as he was in the midst of a day-and-a-half visit to various locations in Kuwait, including Camp Patrice Vincent, the staging base for Canadian CF-18s, Aurora surveillance aircraft and a Polaris refuelling plane.

The Conservative majority in the House of Commons voted two months ago to deploy six CF-18s to Kuwait, and the mission is slated to end in April.

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When asked if, after his visit, he now sees the merit in extending that mandate, Nicholson said, “We will have a look at it. The mission is planned right now until April of this year. That’s the mandate that we have,” he said.

“We’ll have a look at it but my impression is that has been useful, helpful and that we’re supportive of the people of Iraq and we’re standing up against the atrocities of ISIL.”

Nicholson spent his time in Kuwait speaking to many of the 600 personnel stationed there, and he says they are “completely dedicated, they’re enthusiastic and they’re determined in their mission.”

The defence minister says he is being told by military commanders that the mission is achieving it goals. “The mission is to stop, contain and degrade ISIL. I believe they’re making progress in that,” he said.

Nicholson points to the successful liberation of the Iraqi city Baiji by Iraqi government troops as proof the air campaign by the U.S. and its partners is working.

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Canadian fighter jets have their sights focused on targets in Iraq. Even though ISIL is active in Syria, they are not being targeted by Canadian bombs.  When asked whether Canada might change that policy, Nicholson did not rule it out.

“The focus right now is on Iraq. We’ve been very clear about that. Any change or any decision on that matter would of course be announced. But our focus is on Iraq.”

The Conservative government has refused to tell Canadians the cost of this mission. Nicholson says that eventually the costs will be made public “when they become known to us.”

However, the minister warns, “there will be substantial incremental costs.”

When asked if the Defence Department may have to re-allocate internal budgets to cover those extra costs, the minister says: “that’s not our plan.”

“If there are incremental costs they will be dealt with in the usual way.”