Mr. Speaker, in recent months, the international community has reacted, with virtually unanimous outrage and alarm at the rise of ISIL, the so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.’
ISIL has established a self-proclaimed Caliphate, at present stretching over a vast territoryroughly from Aleppo to near Baghdad, from which it intends to launch a terrorist jihad notmerely against the region but on a global basis.
Indeed it has specifically targeted Canada and Canadians, urging supporters to attack, quote, ‘disbelieving Canadians in any manner’, vowing that we should not feel secure even in ourhomes.
It would be convenient to dismiss such statements as the mere rambling of lunatics were itnot for the fact that ISIL’s deeds have been fully in line with its words.
More shockingly, ISIL’s words are matched by its actions.
In the territory ISIL has occupied it has conducted a campaign of unspeakable atrocitiesagainst the most innocent of people.
It has tortured and beheaded children, it has raped and sold women into slavery, it hasslaughtered minorities, captured prisoners and innocent civilians whose only crime is being orthinking differently from ISIL.
Indeed by late last summer, ISIL stood on the brink of committing large-scale genocide inNorthern Iraq.
It was at that moment that Canada’s allies in the international community, led by PresidentObama, decided to intervene.
Canadians have joined in this response.
On September 5th, I announced that members of the Canadian Army, in a non-combat role,would advise and assist security forces in Iraq battling the terrorists.
We had already begun, through the Royal Canadian Air Force, moving weapons and suppliesdonated by our allies to security forces in Northern Iraq.
And we indicated that Canada was prepared to do more.
Today we are bringing forward a motion asking this House to confirm its confidence for agovernment decision to join our allies and partners – the United States, the United Kingdom,France, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, theUnited Arab Emirates and likely others – in launching air strikes against ISIL.
In addition to these air strikes, the Government of Canada will, in response to requests fromIraqi authorities as well as other allies and partners, continue to assist in other, non-combat,counter-terrorism roles.
We will also contribute one air-to-air refuelling aircraft, two Aurora surveillance aircraft, andthe necessary air crews and support personnel.
