The Liberal government isn't ruling out holding a debate on a Canadian peacekeeping mission as MPs return to the House of Commons Monday.
In an interview with Evan Solomon, host of Question Period, Government House Leader Bardish Chagger addressed the idea of a debate four times without saying whether the government would put the topic to a formal discussion in Parliament.
"[Defence] Minister [Harjit] Sajjan has definitely articulated that we will be considering all options and really looking at the information that is available to us to ensure that Canada has a role to play, and no decision has yet been made. Once a decision is made, we will definitely be communicating the process with Canadians," Chagger told Solomon.
Sajjan had said there would be no debate on the mission in Parliament.
When MPs return to Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in New York City telling the United Nations about Canada's intention to do more peacekeeping, Conservative House Leader Candice Bergen said on CTV's Question Period.
"There absolutely should be a debate in Parliament," Bergen said.
"The Liberals promised that they would have open government, that they would respect Parliament, that they would respect Parliamentarians," Bergen said. "And what would they be afraid of? Why not have that discussion.... We could hear what the goal is, how would the goal be measured, what would be deemed a successful campaign."
Bergen said the decision to deploy Canadian men and women is a serious one, and that Parliament should be part of the discussion.
The previous Conservative government, in which Bergen served as a parliamentary secretary and minister of state, held parliamentary debates when it deployed the Canadian Armed Forces. The government is not obliged to do so and some experts argue to debate a military mission in Parliament takes the responsibility for the decision away from the prime minister and cabinet.
