Politics

ISIS mission: Rob Nicholson addresses coalition ambassadors

A day after Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his intention to "expand and extend" Canada's ongoing military mission in Iraq, Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson held a last-minute noon-hour briefing for ambassadors from other countries involved in the battle against ISIS.

Foreign affairs minister's speech comes a day after pledge that mission will be 'expanded and extended'

Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson called in coalition country ambassadors on little notice for Thursday's briefing on efforts against 'the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,' also known as ISIS. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

A day after Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his intention to "expand and extend" Canada's ongoing military mission in Iraq, Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson held a last-minute noon-hour briefing for ambassadors from other countries involved in the battle against ISIS. 

On Wednesday, the prime minister said he plans to put forward a motion in the House of Commons next week to extend Canada's mission beyond the current deadline, which expires in early April.

Ambassadors were notified of the briefing on Wednesday evening after office hours. A news release regarding the speech was sent at 7 a.m. ET.

In his remarks on ISIS, Nicholson warned ambassadors that "left unchecked, this terrorist threat can only grow and grow quickly.​"

He didn't take any questions following the speech.