HALIFAX — Prime Minister Stephen Harper declared Thursday that Canada will not send ground troops into Libya — even though he sees a clear need to depose that country's ruler, Moammar Gadhafi. Harper's comments came following recent reports that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has operatives on the ground in Libya working with rebel forces. Another media report said that U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a presidential order which authorizes secret aid to the rebels.
"Our position has been very clear," Harper said in response to a reporter's question on the campaign trail.
"We're not putting boots on the ground but we are working very closely with our allies to enforce United Nations resolutions and to try to see the departure of Mr. Gadhafi from power.
"We have all been clear that he has lost legitimacy and he needs to go for the benefit and for the welfare of the people of Libya."
Asked if he supports arming the rebels in Libya, Harper reiterated that Canada is enforcing resolutions from the UN Security Council from mid-March.
"We are going to work closely with our partners in the international community and as you know, that is not the position they have taken today and so that is the position we have," he said.
"So we will work closely with them as we move forward, understanding as we all do that Col. Gadhafi has to go for the good of that country."
Earlier this month, Harper announced that Canada was committing six CF-18 fighter jets, and a contingent of 140 pilots and support personnel.
They were tasked with working with other nations in the anti-Gadhafi coalition to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.
They joined roughly 240 Canadian sailors already in the region aboard HMCS Charlottetown, assigned to assist with evacuation and humanitarian efforts in Libya.
Speaking Thursday, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff also said there should be limits to Canada's contribution to the anti-Gadhafi coalition.
"No arming the rebels . . . seems to be not where we want to go," he said "But we have to then be part of the international effort to get Col. Gadhafi to leave. Our party supported the use of Canadian air power, for one purpose, to keep Col. Gadhafi (from) massacring his people.
"The point here is to maintain steady, concerted, disciplined pressure on a regime that has totally lost the confidence of the Libyan people. But the ultimate question of what happens in Libya is for the Libyan people."
NDP leader Jack Layton said his caucus supported the imposition of the no-fly zone but warned against the risk of "mission creep."
"We expressed concerns, and I expressed them personally and directly to the prime minister, (about) the possibility of the mission creeping into the use of ground forces or other kinds of engagements that might lead, for example, to the active pursuit of regime change. We do not support that direction. We do not think that Canada should become involved in such initiative or that the purpose of NATO should be allowed to creep into that kind of engagement."
With files from Althia Raj and Tobi Cohen, Postmedia News
