It is almost 9:45 pm and I am on the floor of the House of Commons. The emergency debate on extending our mission in Afghanistan will end in a few minutes and one of the clerks of the House, Susie, will hit the keypad a few feet from my desk, at exactly 9:47 pm, triggering an historic vote 15 minuters later.
Right now the House is filling quickly. It is noisy, spirited and charged with emotion. The vote now is clearly one of confidence – not in the government, which will not fall this night – but in our troops, the military leadership and the struggle in the desert and moutains so far away. It is a confidence vote on Canada’s role in this new world, on the quest for freedom and morality, and on the war against extremism and intolerance, whatever its form.
Tonight I had dinner at 24 Sussex with the prime minister, Laureen Harper and a few of my colleagues. The PM was pensive, serious and frank. He was also determined, resolute and clearly full of internal conviction. I do not know this man as a freiend, but I saw him as a leader facing a serious test tonight – weighing the options, finalizing a private plan and absolutely convinced in the correctness of his own position.
Frankly, there is a very good chance we will lose this vote in a few minutes. The Liberals who sent these troops into battle are ready to abandon them. They are turncoats of a new colour, and I cannot believe the political hypocrisy. Now that we have Canadians being killed, and courageously performing in full combat, the opposition politicians are ready to cut and run – chasing poll numbers. It is so distressing to hear them speak right now. So crass and oportunistic.
But this is politics. No moral high ground here. It is a night of revelations for me.
One minute to go and the speaker is nervously watching the clock. Susie is hanging around in the doorway to his right side, and the motion is now being read.
Susie hits the numbers. Fifteen minutes to history. Here we go.
