OTTAWA — Tom Mulcair says Canadian military personnel will immediately come home from Iraq and Syria this fall — months earlier than planned — if the NDP wins the Oct. 19 federal election.
Mulcair, campaigning in Winnipeg, says the mission falls neither under the umbrella of the United Nations nor NATO, and a New Democrat government wants no part of a U.S.-led coalition.
Canada has a half-dozen fighter jets flying bombing missions in both Middle East countries, and several dozen special forces military trainers working with Kurdish fighters in Iraq to fight Islamic militants — a commitment that now extends to March.
The other side of the mission in Iraq and Syria is the ensuing refugee crisis, which has been dominating the campaign debate for more than a week.
At an event in Prince Edward Island, Stephen Harper is hinting that Canada can and will do more to help, in the face of mounting public pressure.
After converging Wednesday in Ontario, the three federal leaders were fanning out to both coasts and central Canada.
