’The government has to be free to act’

The Prime Minister doesn’t think a vote in Parliament is necessary to move forward with a training mission in Afghanistan.

“My position is if you’re going to put troops into combat, into a war situation, I do think for the sake of legitimacy, I do think the government does require the support of Parliament,” he said. “But when we’re talking simply about technical or training missions, I think that is something the executive can do on its own ...  I’m not resistant to having debates on that matter in the House of Commons. But I do think when it comes to decisions such as this, the government has to be free to act.”

The Liberal foreign affairs critic doesn’t necessarily disagree with him.