Merasty Votes Against Afghan Mission Extension

Merasty Votes Against Afghan Mission Extension

Friday, May 19, 2006 at 17:41

Northern Saskatchewan’s Member of Parliament says he doesn’t know why the Prime Minister bothered having a vote in Parliament the other night.

Gary Merasty feels Stephen Harper had already decided to extend the Canadian Forces mission in Afghanistan despite the outcome of the vote, which passed by a margin of 149-to-145.

He says he voted against extending the mission due of a lack of information about it and concerns it would limit our ability to respond elsewhere in the world.

Merasty denies suggestions that by voting against the mission it sends a negative message to Canadian troops.

Merasty also doesn’t feel the decision by some liberals to vote with the government will lead to divisions within the party.