NDP REALITY CHECK: Stephen Harper in September “Canadian soldiers are not accompanying the Iraqi forces into combat”

Yesterday the Prime Minister’s Office assured journalists that despite Canadian Forces being involved in combat in Iraq, they were still not on a “combat mission”.

For the record, here is what Stephen Harper said in September under questioning from NDP Leader Tom Mulcair in the House of Commons:

September 30th, 2014: Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that the rules of engagement are to advise and assist the Iraqis, but the question is, assist them how? For instance, are Canadian soldiers currently going on patrols with Iraqis or Kurds? Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I said “ advise and assist the Iraqis”. [English] If I could just use the terminology in English, it is quite precise. It is to advise and to assist. It is not to accompany. I think that was laid out before the parliamentary committee. [Translation] Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP): Mr. Speaker, are they going into combat zones? Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I just said that Canadian soldiers are not accompanying the Iraqi forces into combat. [English] Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP): Mr. Speaker, have Canadian Forces assisted in targeting ISIS troops? Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, once again, as I have said, the purpose of Canadian Forces in Iraq is to assist and to advise the Iraqi forces as they have been resisting, particularly in the north, a force bent on the genocide of the people who live there. These are the actions they are undertaking. While there is some risk, there is not a direct combat role. I say once again, we are very proud of people who do this work on our behalf and keep all of us, not just in that part of the world but all of us here in Canada, safe. Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP): Mr. Speaker, is targeting or coordinating attacks by others a combat role, yes or no? Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC): Mr. Speaker, as you can understand, I neither have the will nor the desire to get into detailed discussions of military operations here. As I have said repeatedly, the Canadian Forces involved in Iraq are not involved in combat. They are there to assist Iraqi and Peshmerga forces in undertaking combat against a brutal enemy that is intent on their slaughter. We will go there and we will assist them and make sure we stop that kind of problem there and not at our own shores.

Canadians deserve better.