DEFENCE, SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS
FIGHTING TERROR
Questions over the government’s antiterrorism Bill C-51 and other security issues surfaced on the election trail, including the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, Bill C-24, made law in June. It allows government to revoke the citizenship of dual nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Conservatives
• The Tories have committed to the military mission against ISIL, sending CF-18 fighter jets to Iraq and Syria for bombing missions — a position that separates the Tories from the NDP and Liberals.
• The government passed Bill C-51, which provides new powers to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to expand surveillance and disrupt threats to security.
NDP
• Mulcair has promised the NDP would end Canada’s participation in the bombing campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, as well as withdraw military trainers from Iraq.
• It would repeal Bill C-51, which the party has tried to use as a wedge issue on the campaign between itself and the Liberals, who supported C-51 but would like to see amendments made to the legislation.
Liberals
• The Liberals have committed to end the military mission in Iraq and Syria and focus the military’s contribution on the training of local forces.
• The Liberals voted in favour of C-51, yet say it was flawed. A Liberal government would make several amendments to the new security laws, including independent, real-time operational oversight of Canada’s chief spy agencies.
THE NIQAB
Conservatives
• Harper has played up the issue by demanding that women who wear a niqab or other face covering remove it before they recite the oath of citizenship. This week, Harper said a re-elected Conservative government would “examine” whether to prohibit public servants from wearing the niqab.
NDP
• The NDP says Muslim women should be able to wear the niqab during citizenship ceremonies and in federal workplaces. Mulcair has attacked Harper for inflaming emotions on what is a divisive issue.
Liberals
• Trudeau says Muslim women should be able to wear the niqab during citizenship ceremonies and in federal workplaces. He has attacked Harper for using the niqab issue as a distraction from what he says is the Conservatives’ weak record on the economy.
F-35 FIGHTER JETS
Conservatives
• They have delayed a decision on the possible purchase of F-35 fighter jets or any other replacement aircraft for CF-18s until after the election.
NDP
• Mulcair says the NDP would define what Canada needs in a replacement for the CF-18s, and launch a process to get a fighter jet rapidly.
Liberals
• Trudeau says he would not buy the F-35 fighter jet and instead would purchase more affordable aircraft to replace the CF-18s through an open procurement process.
REFUGEES
Conservatives
• The Conservatives proposed in mid-August to resettle an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees by 2018, on top of the 10,000 announced in January. In September, after opposition parties and aid groups called for Canada to resettle more, the Tories agreed to expedite the system to allow 10,000 refugees by September 2016.
NDP
• The NDP would accept 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year, Mulcair says, and another 9,000 per year over the following years.
Liberals
• The party is promising to immediately welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees, an ambitious number that the Conservatives warn could mean that proper security checks aren’t completed.