PM would go with one-year extension in Afghanistan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he would extend Canada's mission to Afghanistan by only one year if the House votes against a motion to extend it by two years.

He also raised the prospect of going to the polls over the issue.

Leading off the parliamentary debate, Harper said if the motion does not pass, he will proceed "cautiously" with a one-year extension.

But the prime minister said if he still can't get support,he will "go to the Canadian people to get that mandate."

Harper said the mission is in Canada's interests and important in the fight against terrorism.

"We must eliminate the threat posed by al-Qaeda and their allies," he said.

The Conservatives announced the surprise vote for a two-year extension earlier this week. MPswill spend six hours debating whether Canada's 2,300 troops will come home next February or stay in Afghanistan until early 2009.

Liberals vote by 'conscience'

The Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party earlier announced they will vote against the motion, while the Liberals say their MPs can vote according to their conscience.

Opposition Leader Bill Graham said he would waitto see if the Conservativesanswer all his questions regarding the two-year extension before deciding which way to vote.

But he criticized the government for holding a vote without providing sufficient time to debate the issue.

Earlier, Graham said his party supports the troops and the mission in Afghanistan, but that MPs would be voting "with a gun put to our heads."

He questioned why opposition parties received only 48 hours notice of the vote, and asked why the decision had to be made so quickly.

But Harper says MPs have had lots of time to decide.

"Members of this House, the parties of this House, have had five years to decide what their position is on this mission. We want to be sure that our troops have the support of this Parliament going forward."

Tories support extension

During the debate, NDP Leader Jack Layton said he would vote against the motion, saying the mission would mean Canada would stray further fromits role as peacekeeper.

With 29 and 51 seats, respectively, the NDP and BQ have 80 of Parliament's 308 seats. At 125 seats, the minority Conservative government needs 29 of the 102 seats held by the Liberals in order to win. There is one Independent.

The Tory motion reads: "That this House support the government's two-year extension of Canada's diplomatic, development, civilian police and military personnel in Afghanistan, and the provision of funding and equipment for this extension."

The vote comes asa female Canadian soldier was killedwhile fighting Taliban insurgentsin Afghanistan on Wednesday.