Military drawing up new peacekeeping plans

Officials at National Defence have dusted off their briefing books and are back looking at where they could send Canadian peacekeepers as the clock ticks down to a major UN summit on the subject next month in Vancouver.

The flurry of activity ends months of idling as military planners waited for some signs of interest from the Trudeau government, which first promised up to 600 troops and 150 police for peacekeeping last year.

National Defence conducted a number of fact-finding missions and drew up options on possible missions following that commitment in August 2016, but the Liberals refused to pull the trigger.

Instead, the whole idea was put on the back burner for months amid concerns about the potential risks of modern peacekeeping missions, and as the government turned to dealing with the Trump administration.

In the meantime, National Defence’s proposals collected dust as they sat largely untouched with the Prime Minister’s Office and Global Affairs Canada.

Sources tell The Canadian Press that defence officials are now back at it and that the Liberals hope to make a decision before the Nov. 14-15 peacekeeping summit in Vancouver, though it’s not certain they will.

The government has previously said it will not be rushed into a mission, but the UN expected last year when it agreed to let Canada host the meeting that Canadian troops would already be on the ground.

The summit, to be hosted by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, is only supposed to be open to officials from countries that have made concrete pledges to peacekeeping missions.

Defence officials are still looking at possible roles for Canada in Africa, but have also reportedly expanded their search to include the new mission in Haiti.

The UN has prepared a list of requirements in advance of the Vancouver summit, which includes three missions with “critical” shortages of specialized troops and equipment: Mali, South Sudan and Haiti.

The UN is specifically looking for an intelligence unit, bomb-disposal company and transport helicopters for Mali; a special forces unit and transport company for South Sudan; and helicopters for Haiti.

But it also needs more medical personnel, engineers, female peacekeepers, francophone troops and police officers across the board — all of which Canada has in supply.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that the Liberals remain committed to peacekeeping.