admin @ Wed, 2006-09-06 11:00
FEDERAL NDP Leader Jack Layton can only wish for a touch of the political savvy that manages to keep trouble at arm's length for one of his most popular MPs — Sackville-Eastern Shore's Peter Stoffer — when it comes to Canada's mission in Afghanistan.
Stoffer, whose riding includes 12 Wing Shearwater and many of the surrounding communities that many current and retired Forces personnel call home, was re-elected in January with the highest majority of votes of any Nova Scotia MP. That popularity has continued for Stoffer despite NDP positions that have been viewed in some quarters as not quite robust, if not downright ridiculous, when it comes to issues affecting Canada's military.
Stoffer estimates that former or current Forces members comprise about 20 per cent of his riding. It's not so much that Stoffer is backing the military policies of the governing right-wing Conservatives — he's much too crafty for that. But he manages to fudge his way around party positions that might jeopardize support in his own riding.
As Stoffer bluntly put it to Chronicle Herald military reporter Chris Lambie last weekend: "It's not the first time I've disagreed with the leader on a particular subject."
The most recent case in point relates to Layton's musings on the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. Last Thursday he said Canada should withdraw its troops from the conflict-ridden country by February, saying the mission "lacks a comprehensive rebuilding plan and commensurate development assistance."
Layton went on to suggest inviting Taliban extremists to peace talks in order to sort out the ongoing conflict. One has to wonder what planet he's been on, given the atrocities Afghans endured under Taliban rule in recent years. The statement earned Layton well-deserved criticism across the country.
Canadians may not be jumping up and down with enthusiasm for the mission, especially after five more of our soldiers were killed on the weekend. But anyone who thinks this country can get away with just closing its eyes and plugging its ears to overseas conflicts and the impact of international terrorism has failed to grasp the post-9-11 realities.
When it comes to Canadian troops, Stoffer is of a different mind than his leader, saying that "it may be a bit early" to request that our soldiers be brought home.
Stoffer is still a bit short of donning combat fatigues in terms of the mission, however. It was Nova Scotia's Liberal MPs who voted with the Conservatives this spring to pass a motion to extend Canada's role in Afghanistan for another two years. In this instance, Stoffer voted with his party against that motion.
"You just can't say, ‘Well, we're going to stay in Afghanistan for two more years' without a plan. And I don't think you can say, ‘We'll pull out right away or in February' without a plan. I think both elements of that discussion should be more comprehensive in their approach."
Both he and Layton should know better, in terms of casually suggesting an international resolution for Afghanistan in advance of sending military support.
If Canada had waited for that sort of diplomatic event to occur, our troops would never have deployed to assist Afghans in search of some level of security within their country. Talk of an international rebuilding plan makes for a good sound bite, but insisting on this in advance of achieving even the most basic military and security objectives within Afghanistan is extremely naive.
Stoffer has not hesitated to publicly disagree with his leader before. Just last year, he was highly critical of Layton's demand that all NDP MPs vote in favour of the governing Liberals' same-sex marriage bill.
In some instances, Stoffer has managed to abstain from votes or absent himself from the House of Commons when he finds himself at odds with his party.
This might help him to build a gritty resume as an independent-minded renegade, but at some point he should really make up his mind about whether he supports his party — and its positions.
Still, I'll give Stoffer credit: He has never been one to avoid getting into hot water with his boss, even if it ends up happening on the public stage.
That's a good thing, because he and Layton can expect to see a fair bit of each other this weekend, as the party holds a national policy convention in Quebec City. The flies on that wall are sure to get an earful.
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