Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson outlined what Canada has accomplished so far in the "global fight" against ISIS as part of a government-wide push to make the case for expanding and extending Canada's mission in Iraq.
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And while he offered little new detailed information on either the current mission or the proposal to renew the commitment with a year-long extension and authorization to operate in Syria if necessary, Nicholson defended the government against criticism that it hasn't been putting enough emphasis on humanitarian and diplomatic measures.
"We are there to support the people of that area," the minister told reporters. "We're the sixth largest single-country donor to Syria and the fifth-largest to Iraq."
Nicholson added he was "very impressed" by what he saw during a recent visit to Erbil.
"We don't stand on the sidelines when it comes to assistance, and we will continue that," he said.
"Canada is doing its share, and will continue to do its share."
Both the New Democrats and the Liberals have indicated they will vote against the motion, in part because they believe Canada should focus its efforts on humanitarian and diplomatic measures in the fight against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper laid out his proposal Tuesday to extend the current combat mission until March 31, 2016 during a speech to the House.
It would also give Canadian Forces authorization to mount airstrikes in Syria.
'No Iraq-Syria border'
In an interview on CBC News Network on Wednesday morning, Defence Minister Jason Kenney told Heather Hiscox that, "as far as ISIS is concerned, there is no Iraq-Syria border."
But he stressed that Canada has "no interest in getting involved in the Syrian civil war, in any shape or form."
Kenney on ISIS mission8:31
Kenney was initially slated to appear alongside Nicholson at the briefing, but his lectern was removed from the stage shortly before the briefing was set to begin.
According to his office, "something came up," although a spokeswoman said he will continue to be available to the media "as he has been."
Later today, senior government officials will brief MPs during a closed-door session on Parliament Hill.
The motion is scheduled to be debated on Thursday and will go to a vote next week.
Vote not required
Although the prime minister has made it a hallmark of his government to give MPs the opportunity to debate and vote on proposed military missions, parliamentary consent is not actually required to deploy Canadian troops. That authority rests exclusively with the executive, which exercises it on behalf of the Crown.
In an essay published last fall, University of Ottawa professor and defence expert Philippe Lagassé noted that such votes can be seen as a "courtesy" extended to MPs by the executive.
"The votes allow MPs to express themselves on a matter of national importance," he pointed out.
"In addition, they can be seen as a means of assuring the military that their mission has the support of the elected house of Parliament, and the votes add an aura of democratic legitimacy to controversial policy decisions."
But it can also provide political cover for the governing party, he adds.
"By laundering these decisions through the House, the government gives the impression that the Commons shares responsibility for the deployment."
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