Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is brushing off suggestions Canada was snubbed from an anti-ISIS coalition meeting that several other countries, including Australia and the Netherlands, were invited to attend on Wednesday in Paris.
鈥淢eetings happen all the time,鈥� Sajjan told reporters Tuesday in Saint Andrews, N.B.
However, sources inside the Department of National Defence told CTV鈥檚 Mercedes Stephenson they were surprised by the lack of an invitation, initially thinking it was a mistake.
Retired Maj.-Gen. David Fraser told CTV鈥檚 Power Play he believes the lack of an invitation is a result of the Trudeau government鈥檚 plan to pull Canada鈥檚 CF-18 fighter jets from the mission against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
鈥淭he United States are the ones who determine who comes to the meeting and (we鈥檙e) considered now, apparently 鈥� not a significant contributor and they don鈥檛 want to hear what we have to say,鈥� he said.
Fraser said the Americans view Canada鈥檚 current contribution of CF-18s 鈥渁s very significant,鈥� adding that they are currently making a difference on the ground.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 come to the game standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing the burden and the risk of the hard fighting, you will not be included in the conversation,鈥� he added.
The United States Department of Defense told CTV News that the meeting 鈥渋s not a formal coalition meeting; rather, it is a one-time meeting of defence ministers.鈥�
鈥淭he United States and Canada are great friends and allies, and together with our coalition partners, we will continue to work to degrade and destroy ISIL,鈥� the statement went on.
Former defence minister Peter MacKay told Power Play he sees the lack of an invitation as 鈥渄owngrading of Canada鈥檚 perception and our role in the world.鈥�
鈥淎ny way you want to try and spin it, it signals a diminished role for Canada in this mission and in the world,鈥� he said.
MacKay urged the Liberals to 鈥減ut aside the partisan campaign promise鈥� to pull the six jets.
Conservative defence critic James Bezan said earlier Tuesday that the omission was 鈥減redictable,鈥� because of the Liberals鈥� promise to pull CF-18 fighter jets from the bombing mission against ISIS.
鈥淚t is important that Canada be part of these discussions,鈥� Bezan told CTV News Channel Tuesday. 鈥淲e have a role to play and we have things to say, but unfortunately, under this government, nobody is taking us seriously.鈥�
Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose echoed Bezan鈥檚 comments in a speech to the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce.
鈥淪ix months ago we hosted the (anti-ISIS coalition) meeting,鈥� she said. 鈥淓nter Trudeau, we鈥檙e not even invited to the meeting.鈥�
鈥淭hese kinds of signals matter.鈥�
Ambrose told reporters after her speech that it鈥檚 鈥渙bvious鈥� why Canada wasn鈥檛 invited.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e not a full partner, you don鈥檛 get invited to the table,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e were asked to join by the United States and other partners and now we鈥檝e said we鈥檙e pulling out of that bombing mission,鈥� she added.
鈥淚鈥檝e called on the prime minister to keep our CF-18s in the fight against ISIS and stand resolutely with our allies,鈥� Ambrose said.
But Sajjan brushed off suggestions that Canada has been sidelined in the fight against terror.
鈥淢eetings happen all the time,鈥� Sajjan told reporters Tuesday in Saint Andrews, N.B.
Although Canada won鈥檛 participate in Wednesday鈥檚 meeting, Sajjan said he is actively engaged in anti-terror talks and will be discussing ISIS with Canada鈥檚 allies at two other upcoming meetings.
That includes another coalition meeting of defence ministers on Feb. 11.
Sajjan also said that Canada is contributing to anti-terror efforts around the globe, including the aftermath of the November attacks in Paris and the more recent attack in Burkina Faso.
鈥淲e are actively participating on a meaningful basis,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not just looking at the current situation in Syria and Iraq, we鈥檙e actually looking at the overall threats around the world as well.鈥�
But Bezan said that the Liberals have been sending 鈥渃onfusing messages鈥� about Canada鈥檚 role in the fight against ISIS. Despite the promise to withdraw fighter jets from the bombing missions in Iraq and Syria, a timeline has not yet been given.
Bezan said the Tories 鈥渇irmly believe鈥� that Canada鈥檚 CF-18s should stay in the battle. The party also supports a more robust training mission for local troops on the ground, he said.
鈥淧rime Minister Trudeau wants to talk about his sunny ways and that Canada is back on the international scene, and quite the opposite is true,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e should be sitting at the table. We have made significant contributions until now.鈥�
The Globe and Mail reported that Wednesday鈥檚 meeting is for 鈥渟ignificant contributors鈥� to the anti-ISIS coalition, including the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands.
