HOUSE OF COMMONS
CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES
CANADA

OFFICE OF THE LEADER I BUREAU DU CHEF
NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY NOUVEAU DEMOCRATIQUE

June 23, 2017

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada

Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street, Langevin Block
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister,

I write to you with concern about recent news reports regarding an elite Canadian Special
Forces unit?s sniper fire against enemy combatants in Iraq. It is not clear exactly how and when
this engagement occurred but it seriously calls into question your government?s claim that
Canadian Forces are not involved in direct combat in Iraq.

Your government increased the number of Special Forces trainers in an ?advise and assist? role
in order to train Iraqi forces in their fight against Daesh. Earlier this year, however, the Chief of
the Defence Staff confirmed Special Forces were operating inside Mosul, much closer to the
front lines.

Let me take the opportunity to acknowledge the excellent capabilities of our Canadian Forces.
Canadians can be confident that the skill and expertise of our men and women in uniform
places them amongst the best in the world. However, Canadians also deserve to know whether
your government has accurately characterized Canada?s role in Iraq as an ?advise and assist?
mission to train Iraqi forces in their fight against Daesh.

In March 2015, you stated unequivocally, ?involvement in direct combat in this war does not
serve Canada?s interests.? You have also stated that airstrikes and long-range rifle fire
constitute ground combat. Under the previous government, the Liberal foreign affairs critic, Marc
Garneau, defined a ?combat operation? as ?a military operation where the use or threatened
use of force, including lethal force, is essential to impose will upon an armed opponent or
to accomplish a mission.? Finally, you made a clear commitment in the 2015 Liberal Party
campaign platform that you would ?end Canada's combat mission in Iraq.?



OTTAWA
HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES I 202 SPARKS STREET OTTAWA. ONTARIO, 539
613-995?7224 613?995-4565

-2-

Given this information and what we know about the recent sniper fire through media reports, the
following questions merit immediate, clear answers from you, as Prime Minister: Will you now
confirm that Canadian troops have engaged in ground combat since your government took
office? Why have you not declared that the current military operation is now a combat mission?
Why has there been no debate in the House of Commons regarding this change of mission?
Has your definition of ?combat? changed since forming government? If not, how do you explain
breaking a clear campaign commitment to end the combat operations in Iraq?

Any changes in our troops? role must be announced and properly debated in the House of

Commons. Canadians deserve no less than to know the true extent of our involvement in Iraq.
Our troops deserve no less because it fundamentally affects their own safety.

Sincerely,

mm Wm;

Thomas Mulcair, P.C., M.P. (Outremont)
Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada