Afghanistan On The Front Burner As MPs Return In Ottawa

MPs finally returned to work in the House of Commons Monday, reeling from the news that four more Canadian soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan. The rising death toll is expected to be front and centre during a fractious session that sees a still precarious Conservative government battling for its survival against a determined N.D.P. and the still-leaderless Liberals.

The shootings at Dawson College in Montreal are also expected to turn the debate on gun control and the gun registry back into full blown shouting matches.

Here’s a preview of what to watch for over the next few weeks.

Afghanistan

Despite the latest attack and deaths, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay vows that Canada will remain in the Middle Eastern country until its borders are secure, its infrastructure is rebuilt, a stable democracy is in place and that those who fled for the lives are allowed to return and live without fear.

The pronouncement was made in Halifax Monday, and comes just three weeks after the N.D.P. passed a resolution demanding our troops be brought home. They’re demanding a full debate and a vote on the issue, but a Bloc proposal for just such a discussion was denied on Monday.

The Prime Minister faced a blistering attack over our troop commitment, but believes the fact our men were attacked while handing out candy to kids is proof we’re on the right track.

“Nothing more than this incident illustrates the evil that they are fighting and the goodwill and the nobleness of the cause that they are taking to the Afghan people,” Stephen Harper maintains.

But N.D.P. leader Jack Layton takes a different lesson from the tragedy. “Don’t our troops deserve better than to have made-up policy on the fly, copycats of U.S. foreign policy?”  he demanded in the House of Commons.

MPs did at least agree on one thing during their return, standing for a moment of silence to remember those who were killed in the latest attack.

Our troops will remain in the war torn nation until at least 2009.

Gun Control

It was a hot topic before last Wednesday. Now it’s on full boil. Controversy over Tory plans to kill the gun registry is sure to rage, after Kimveer Gill’s bloody massacre at a school in Montreal.

MacKay had earlier speculated the government may attempt to ban all automatic or semi-automatic weapons, except for the military or the police.

Last week, The Tories were shying away from the controversy, calling it ‘too early’ to discuss the political ramifications of the incident and begging the opposition to let the wounds heal before bringing it up for public debate.

But in the House on Monday, Harper made it clear he has no intention of keeping the gun registry, despite catcalls from the opposition that it’s a necessity that can help save lives.

“The events at Dawson College tell us precisely that today’s laws did not protect us,” the P.M. insists. “This government is determined to have more effective laws that would prevent such a tragedy in the future.”

Harper notes the government has already proposed legislation that will toughen penalties for those use who use weapons to commit crimes and that the registry program has cost taxpayers billions.  

Softwood Lumber Vote

It’s the kind of topic that’s sleep inducing to many Canadians, an agreement between the U.S. and Canada over lumber tariffs. But it’s been raging for years and the government has announced it’s a matter of confidence.

The Liberals and the N.D.P. both oppose the recently completed deal. But the Bloc and the Tories support it. That should be enough to ensure it passes, but if it somehow fails when it goes for a vote on Tuesday, we could be headed for another election. And that’s something no one can ignore.

Same Sex Marriage

The issue that won’t go away may be back. Harper promised a free vote on the topic, even though polls indicate the majority of voters want to move on. The debate could re-ignite old passions on an controversy many Canadians thought had long been put to bed.

The Environment

Harper and his ministers have publicly stated they don’t support the Kyoto Accord signed by the former Grit government. But they have yet to come up with a made-in-Canada solution that will satisfy critics. Expect a lot of noise pollution over the issue as the session continues.

Conservatives In Quebec

Some of the government’s more hardline agenda will remain on hold as long as it continues with a minority status. The Conservatives know they won’t be able to retain power without the support of the Bloc Quebecois, whose combined numbers with the Tories can help ram most bills through.

But Harper’s recent stance on Afghanistan is unpopular and his open support of Israel during the war in Lebanon has cost him support in La Belle Province.