Iraq crisis: Canadians on the ground in Iraq, Rob Nicholson says

Canadian personnel are already working in Iraq following a pledge to send dozens of military advisers to help Kurdish forces battle ISIS, Defence Minister Rob Nicholson said Tuesday.

Last week, the federal government said it would send a group of experts to advise on tactics for fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The Canadian military advisers willmainly be membersfrom the Canadian Special Operations Regiment.

Nicholson and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird appeared before the House foreign affairs committee Tuesday morning, where they gave few details of the 30-day deployment, citing operational security.

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"We're moving as quickly as possible and, as I indicated to you, there are already on the ground members of the Canadian lead in this area," Nicholson said.

"We don't give the exact time and place up for obvious security reasons."

Both Nicholson and Bairdsaid the mission will be re-evaluated after 30 days, making no promises that the deployment will end then.

'Inaction is not an option'

Baird said MPsshould consider the risks of not helping Iraq fight back against the militant group ISIS.

"It is easy to ignore it as we go about our comfortable lives here in Canada," he told the committee. "It might seem convenient to brush options off as leading to mission creep in the future, but the hard reality is inaction is not an option."

The foreign affairs committee's special meeting comes just days after the government announced thatCanadian military advisersareheading to Iraq to assist the Kurdish forcesin the fight against ISIS.

New Democrat MP Jack Harris asked how the government will decide what comes after the 30-day mission is up.

"Do we have any specific criteria by which a judgment might be made whether Canada might continue in the role that's being proposed?" he said.

Baird said Canada has two short-term goals in northern Iraq.

"One is obviously to stop the advance of ISIL so we can contain the growing humanitarian catastrophe. Two [is] to provide support to the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] and Iraqi officials and forces to turn back the advance. To support, to help them help themselves," he said.

Some of the questions focused on what specifically Canadian advisers could do for the KurdishPeshmerga militia, who are known to be excellent fighters. Canada's top soldier said the Peshmerga have "no shortage of fighting spirit or courage" but lack a professional standing army.

"What we've got the luxury of here in Canada is having that very thing, certainly battletested in ways in Afghanistan that have provided us a tremendous ability to advise and assist, and it is that very thing the Peshmerga seek from Western allies now," said Chief of Defence Staff Tom Lawson, who also appeared before the committee.

Supplying arms?

New Democrat foreign affairs critic PaulDewar, who accompanied Baird to Iraq last week, asked whether Canada was supply arms to the militia, something they've requested, and questioned why they would need Canadian military advisers.

Baird said the battle with ISISis a "more conventional type battle" than the Peshmerga are used to, with afront lineand with air support supplied by the Americans and other allies.

"So I think they will need support," he said.

Dewar also asked for assurances Canada was considering doing more on thehumanitarian aid side of the conflict, including support:

• To set up refugee camps, especially following a UN appeal for$315 million US.
• Toprotectminorities, with Christians and other religious minorities under attack by ISIS.
• To prosecute theperpetrators of sexual violence and to helpvictims.
• To investigate and prosecutealleged war crimes.

Baird said Canada has received the UN's appeal for more financial assistance and that he'd be speaking with International Co-Operation Minister Christian Paradis, as well as officials in their departments, about it. He also noted he'd speak to his officials about taking the allegations of war crimes to the International Criminal Court.

"We should certainly be very clear, the humanitarian mission will not be going for just 30 days. It clearly will have to be something that will be more long-term," Baird said.

Canada has pledged$28million in humanitarian aid and $15 million for security needs in Iraq since the start of 2014.

Details to be worked out

Bairdspentseveral days in Iraq last week, during which he visitedKurdish front lines,where heannounced the $15 million in aidearmarked for security, including helmets, body armour and vehicles to support Kurdish and Iraqi forces battling fighters from ISIS.

Liberal foreign affairs critic Marc Garneau, who alsoaccompanied Baird onthe trip, said he understood from Baird and Nicholson that Canadians won't be involved in combat for the 30-day mission, and that the government would advise Parliament should that change.

"Some of these things actually do need to be developed and worked out in real time," he told reporters following the meeting.

Garneau called for an emergency debate in the House of Commons so MPs can more fully discuss what Canada can do to assist.

Last week, Liberal public security critic Wayne Easter served notice that he intends to push for a full parliamentary inquiry into ISIS recruits in Canada when the House returns next week.