OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood fast Thursday on Canada’s limited role in Mali and its desire to conclude free trade talks with the European Union.
Appearing with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Parliament Hill, Harper said Canada will continue providing a military transport jet to French troops battling Islamic militants in northern Mali as long as required.
The C-17 Globemaster has been transporting French troops and military equipment into the West African nation since early January, and was set to return to Canada Friday.
“We’re obviously very pleased to assist with our plane,” Harper told reporters as Ayrault looked on. “It will remain there as long as we feel there’s a need.”
But while France has said it plans to ask the United Nations to authorize a peacekeeping mission to Mali in the coming weeks, Harper would not comment on whether to Canada would participate.
Instead, he reiterated the government is “not looking to have a combat military mission there,” and that while Canada will provide foreign aid, “our long-term engagements are still the subject of discussions.”
For his part, Ayrault did not call on Canada to participate in a peacekeeping mission to Mali, but simply thanked Canada for lending the C-17.
However, he did warn that Islamic militants in northern Mali and the surrounding region pose a threat to “not only France and Europe, but also all democracies.”
The two men also extolled the importance of the pending Canada-EU trade deal, which has been lauded as the most important trade agreement in a generation.
The talks were supposed to have concluded last year, but have instead dragged on over a number of outstanding issues.
The fact the EU and United States have now launched their own set of negotiations has added pressure on Canada to get the deal done soon to take full advantage before the U.S. gets in on the game.
Harper acknowledged that sense of urgency Thursday.
“I think it’s important for Canada to sign a deal with the European Union in and of itself,” he said.
“It obviously would be an added benefit to us to get this done long before the Americans get such a deal.”
While the government has been reluctant to explain what the hold-up is, Ayrault confirmed that agricultural concerns – including Canadian protections around its poultry sector – are front and centre.
“The most sensitive issues have to do with balanced exchanges in the agricultural sector,” he said. “You have a concern about beef and pork, and we have a concern about poultry.”
Ayrault also found himself explaining France’s relationship with Quebec as his itinerary said he was visiting Canada and that province.
The French prime minister said his country is “very lucky” to have a “special relationship with Quebec, and it’s also wonderful for France to have such a close relationship with Canada.”
“These are two privileged relationships, and they are assets for France,” he said.
Before their press conference, Harper and Ayrault oversaw the signing of a number of bilateral agreements, including one that will see Canada and France working together to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War, and the 75th anniversary of the Second World War.
lberthiaume(at)postmedia.com
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