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Hyer to vote against ISIL mission extension and expansion; proposes C-51 amendments

THUNDER BAY – Bruce Hyer will not be supporting what he calls an “extremely irresponsible motion” to extend and expand Canada’s fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
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MP Bruce Hyer (Green, Thunder Bay-Superior North) confirmed on Monday he will vote against a motion by the federal government to expand and extend the country's involvement in international fight against ISIL. (tbnewswatch.com file photograph)

THUNDER BAY – Bruce Hyer will not be supporting what he calls an “extremely irresponsible motion” to extend and expand Canada’s fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Hyer, the Green Party MP from Thunder Bay-Superior North, on Monday morning said he will be voting against the House of Commons brought forward by the Conservative government to extend the mission for Canadian troops in Iraq another 12 months and allow for air strikes in Syria.

In October he voted in favour of Canadian air strikes against ISIL in Iraq but said he can’t back Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s new proposal, which is expected to be voted on by Parliament on Monday night.

“If we do choose to take military action in any foreign country we need to know when and how to get in, have a real plan concerning how not to get overextended and especially a plan for how and when to get out,” Hyer said in a telephone interview from Ottawa.

“Mr. Harper seems to have no criteria for success in this mission and he has no plan for ending it.”

Last week Hyer expressed concern about the new role the country’s armed forces would be taking on in the international fight against the terrorist organization. He asked constituents to contact him to provide input.

In the fall the majority of people he heard from were in favour of Canadian intervention but that has now changed, with 78 per cent out of hundreds of responses urging him to vote against the extension and expansion.

Both NDP and Official Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair as well as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau have publicly stated they do not support the Conservatives’ motion.

Hyer, the deputy leader of the Green Party, is particularly disturbed by the notion of Canada getting involved in Syria and the impact on President Bashar al-Assad’s hold on the country.

“No other European powers are foolish enough to follow the (United States) into this no-win serious situation,” Hyer said. “Even if Assad were to invite us in, which he’s not, do we really want to prop up his corrupt and oppressive dictatorship? I sense it’s as bad as ISIL.”

Hyer also spoke out about Bill C-51, the federal government’s new proposed anti-terrorism legislation.

He, along with Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, have suggested a series of amendments to the bill. In particular, Hyer is targeting changes to the federal no-fly list.

“Any one of us in Thunder Bay or Superior North could end up on that list and we would not know it. We can’t appeal it and certainly if it’s a secret you won’t know you need to appeal it and there’s a 60 day time limit to appealing it if you get on it accidently,” he said.

“The no-fly lists are secret. Their criteria are vague. It involves secret evidence, arbitrary deadlines and there are no set guidelines on how to be removed from the list.”

His amendments attempt to provide clear language to determine who ends up on the list, notifying individuals on the list and a process to review appeals to the list.

With the Conservatives holding a majority in the House of Commons both motions are expected to pass.





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