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As news of the deaths of six more Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan hit home, NDP leader Jack Layton stepped up his call to start bringing our troops home.
Layton urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to do what Canada is best known for - initiating a peace process that will not only help stabilize the region but will also help the country scale back their military operations in Afghanistan.
"A comprehensive peace process must include all combatants, all elements, all countries involved in the region with international leadership," Layton told a press conference in Ottawa Wednesday.
"Canada is an expert in this area. We used to be known globally for our expertise in this area. I believe it's time for Canada to get back on that path and begin to carve out with those many nations who are concerned about what is happening in Afghanistan, and Afghan leadership, to adopt a new strategy."
The current strategy implemented by NATO and supported by Harper is only fueling Taliban support in the area, and civilians are paying for it, Layton said. So far, 270 Afghan civilians have been killed during the military operations.
If Canada doesn't start implementing peace instead, Canadians could be stuck in an extended role in Afghanistan that is escalating day by day, he continued.
"What is happening now is working for the Taliban, not against them," he said. "In other words, we're seeing growth of support of the Taliban because of these airstrikes, the escalation of war and the death of civilians. That's why comprehensive peace process involving all of the countries, involving all of the players has got to be initiated."
The Afghan mission will be a priority issue for the NDP in the next federal election, Layton promised.
"Any time Canadian soldiers are killed, Canadians are thinking of their families and comrades and supporting our troops," said Layton when asked about the latest casualties.
"This simply underlines, with this escalating death toll of the soldiers and of civilians in Afghanistan, that this mission is going in the wrong way."
Since 2002, 66 Canadian military personnel have now lost their lives in Afghanistan, along with one diplomat. Canada has committed to sending troops to the NATO alliance for the next two years. Harper has said he will seek a consensus among all political parties on Canada's future role with NATO.
The six Canadian soldiers who died Wednesday were killed by a roadside bomb 20 km from Kandahar. They were traveling in a RG-31 Nyala armoured vehicle with an Afghan interpreter when they were hit. The interpreter was also killed.
Canadian Forces have yet to reveal the names of the dead soldiers pending notification of next of kin.
With a report by the Canadian Press
As news of the deaths of six more Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan hit home, NDP leader Jack Layton stepped up his call to start bringing our troops home.
Layton urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to do what Canada is best known for - initiating a peace process that will not only help stabilize the region but will also help the country scale back their military operations in Afghanistan.
"A comprehensive peace process must include all combatants, all elements, all countries involved in the region with international leadership," Layton told a press conference in Ottawa Wednesday.
"Canada is an expert in this area. We used to be known globally for our expertise in this area. I believe it's time for Canada to get back on that path and begin to carve out with those many nations who are concerned about what is happening in Afghanistan, and Afghan leadership, to adopt a new strategy."
The current strategy implemented by NATO and supported by Harper is only fueling Taliban support in the area, and civilians are paying for it, Layton said. So far, 270 Afghan civilians have been killed during the military operations.
If Canada doesn't start implementing peace instead, Canadians could be stuck in an extended role in Afghanistan that is escalating day by day, he continued.
"What is happening now is working for the Taliban, not against them," he said. "In other words, we're seeing growth of support of the Taliban because of these airstrikes, the escalation of war and the death of civilians. That's why comprehensive peace process involving all of the countries, involving all of the players has got to be initiated."
The Afghan mission will be a priority issue for the NDP in the next federal election, Layton promised.
"Any time Canadian soldiers are killed, Canadians are thinking of their families and comrades and supporting our troops," said Layton when asked about the latest casualties.
"This simply underlines, with this escalating death toll of the soldiers and of civilians in Afghanistan, that this mission is going in the wrong way."
Since 2002, 66 Canadian military personnel have now lost their lives in Afghanistan, along with one diplomat. Canada has committed to sending troops to the NATO alliance for the next two years. Harper has said he will seek a consensus among all political parties on Canada's future role with NATO.
The six Canadian soldiers who died Wednesday were killed by a roadside bomb 20 km from Kandahar. They were traveling in a RG-31 Nyala armoured vehicle with an Afghan interpreter when they were hit. The interpreter was also killed.
Canadian Forces have yet to reveal the names of the dead soldiers pending notification of next of kin.
With a report by the Canadian Press
