TORONTO – New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair clashed with his Conservative counterpart Monday as he defended his view that Canada should withdraw from the military attacks on Islamic extremists in the Middle East.
Speaking at a foreign-policy debate broadcast from Toronto, Mulcair said an NDP government could not back that mission because it was neither a NATO nor UN mission.
“We understand that there will be times when we have to, either under the NATO charter or under our international obligations at the UN, use force,” Mulcair said. “We won’t shy away from that.”
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper fired back, arguing that while other measures were needed as well, the Islamic State could not be left to its own devices.
“It will slaughter literally millions of people,” Harper countered.
The fourth of five debates ahead of the Oct. 19 vote took place before a packed Roy Thomson Hall and was the first ever during a campaign devoted solely to foreign-policy issues.
Mulcair, who found himself somewhat overshadowed by his two rivals, criticized Harper and previous Liberal governments for allowing Canada to abdicate its traditional role as peacekeepers, saying an NDP government would work to restore the country’s once leading position as peacekeeping.
“Under Mr. Harper, we are at No. 68,” Mulcair said.
Harper also insisted Canada was taking action to help refugees but said there are security risks that have to be taken into account.
“We’re not chasing headlines,” Harper said – a response Mulcair later said was offensive.
Mulcair accused the Conservative leader of using code language to single out Muslims as being the threat.
“Mr. Harper always has one group in mind and he tends to finger-point and objectify one particular group,” Mulcair said.
“He doesn’t talk about houses of worship; he specifically refers to mosques, and Muslims across Canada know how to interpret that for exactly what it is.”
READ MORE: Stephen Harper stands ground on response to refugees, ISIL mission
On the emotionally charged topic of Middle East refugees, Mulcair accused Harper of being disrespectful for suggesting that allowing the most desperate to enter Canada was “somehow chasing headlines.”
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who garnered both several rounds of applause and appreciative laughs for his views, suggested at one point that Mulcair was a hypocrite, saying different things in French and English.
Mulcair called that “malarky.” He repeated his party’s opposition to Bill C-51, which expands powers for the country’s security forces but, as critics charge, does not increase oversight. The Liberals supported the legislation despite its flaws, the NDP leader said.
WATCH: NDP Leader Tom Mulcair talks Bill C-51 during debate
“Sharing information on peaceful protests? That’s fair?” Mulcair said to Trudeau.
“Going against basic rights and freedoms? You voted for that, Mr. Trudeau. I stood on a question of principle. I am not afraid of Stephen Harper: I voted against Bill C-51.”
Harper retorted, to applause: “The threat we face today is not CSIS, it’s ISIS.”
Comments