Supplementary Report of the New Democratic Party of Canada
The New Democratic
Party agrees with a majority of the recommendations in the present report, but we
reiterate our opposition to a combat and training role for Canadian Forces in
Iraq and Syria.
It is clear that
Canada needs to play a constructive role in the region over the long term, and
that is why we called for this study.
We also feel the
need to add the following recommendations:
- The Government of
Canada should substantially increase its contribution to humanitarian efforts
to assist victims of ISIS, and ensure that all commitments are paid in full as
soon as possible. Humanitarian and governance assistance in the region should
form the core of the Canadian response to ISIS.
- The Government of
Canada should restrict its military contribution to the transportation of
weapons and equipment to the Iraqi and Kurdish authorities, in support of their
efforts to combat ISIS on the ground. In particular, Canada should not
participate in airstrikes or other military activities in Syria.
- The Government of
Canada should avoid any conflation of humanitarian and military activities. Humanitarian
actors depend upon perceptions of impartiality, and independence. Humanitarian
assistance must not be tied to military activity.
- The Government of
Canada should take immediate and specific steps to meet its international
obligations concerning the travel, financing, and arming of terrorist and
extremist organizations, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions
2170, 2178, and 2199. As part of this effort, the Government should immediately
sign and ratify the UN Arms Trade Treaty to demonstrate commitment to ending
the flow of weapons to illegal armed groups and human rights abusers.
- The Government of
Canada should partner with domestic communities in order to develop a strategy
to counter radicalization.