Outgoing Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Gary Doer says that while the Americans respect Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 decision to withdraw from the air war against ISIS, they expect Canada to continue contributing to the fight against the terror group.
Speaking to CTV鈥檚 Question Period, Doer said the U.S. administration realizes that Trudeau campaigned on a mandate to end Canada鈥檚 involvement in the combat portion of the U.S.-led mission against ISIS.
鈥淭here was a mandate given in the election campaign. The Americans respect that, but they expect us to continue to be part of the solution to defeat ISIL and I expect we will,鈥� said Doer.
The ambassador said the details related to the future of Canada鈥檚 role in the anti-ISIS mission are still being discussed.
鈥淭he prime minister鈥檚 consulted with the president. The staff are consulting with each other in the White House. The defence minister is consulting with his counterpart,鈥� said Doer. 鈥淪o the consultations are going on.鈥�
It is unclear whether Canada will leave its surveillance aircraft and air-to-air refueller in the mission. And while Trudeau has said Canada will send additional trainers to Iraq to join the 69 Special Forces members already stationed there, he hasn鈥檛 indicated exactly how many more will go.
Earlier this year, the Conservative government extended Canada鈥檚 commitment to the military fight against ISIS in Iraq and expanded air strikes into Syria. That commitment is set to expire in April 2016.
Despite his promise to pull Canada鈥檚 CF-18 fighter jets out of the bombing mission, Trudeau has assured Obama that Canada will do 鈥渕ore than its part鈥� and remain a strong member of the campaign against the Islamic State.
Canada-U.S. relations going forward
Canada-U.S. relations got off to a rough start for the Liberal government when Obama rejected the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project. For Doer, that decision was 鈥渁ll about the president鈥檚 legacy.鈥�
But Doer says the Liberal government is focused on moving forward in its new relationship with the U.S. administration, adding that it is in a good position to do so.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no question that the Liberal government has a lot of their staff 鈥� connected to the White House.鈥�
Doer said International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland鈥檚 role as the head of the cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations is also a boost for the bond between the two countries. Freeland, who is a Rhodes Scholar, author and former journalist, was a frequent guest on political talk show panels before entering politics.
Doer鈥檚 time in Washington will wrap up next year, at which point Trudeau will have to appoint a new U.S. envoy. Doer said he is confident that Trudeau will select the best possible person to replace him, whether that individual is a career diplomat or political appointment. Doer was a political appointment himself, having served as the NDP premier of Manitoba from 1999 to 2009.
