OTTAWA - The Conservatives and Liberals tangled yesterday over key elements of the government's confidence motion on Afghanistan, which would not only extend Canada's combat mission by two years, to 2011, but provide an option for renewal after that.

Pressed by deputy Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff on whether the government is proposing "a limited mission or an endless war," House leader Peter Van Loan confirmed the government wants to leave legislators in 2011 the option of renewal.

"We are not going to tie the hands of a future Parliament," Mr. Van Loan said in the Commons during Question Period.

Liberal leader Stephane Dion, who condemned the proposal as "an open-ended mission and a recipe for disaster," was set to present a counter-proposal for approval by his caucus that would strike out the possibility of renewal.

The Liberals were finalizing proposed amendments that would end combat in February, 2009, and extend the mission for two years for non-combat security duties and training. They would give NATO notice now that Canada is withdrawing troops in 2011.

While the majority of caucus members are expected to support the proposals, Mr. Dion faced a tough audience among some Grit MPs who are uncomfortable with the notion of leaving Canadian Armed Forces in the main combat zone of Kandahar without undertaking combat operations.

"If you're out there with some people that are building a road and suddenly you're attacked with mortars or whatever, but people are hiding somewhere away from the road, what do you do?" asked LiberalMPRoy Cullen. "Do you just sort of stand guard and put on your helmets or do you call for the 'search and destroy' people?"

Mr. Cullen said in an interview that both Liberals and Conservatives should be willing to compromise. "I'd like to see us acting in the best interests of Canadians, instead of being so partisan about it."

"It seems to me what's lost in this equation, apart from everyone protecting their ego and being seen as tough and determined and very categorical, is what in the hell is the best for us and what's best for Afghanistan," Mr. Cullen said.

The renewal element of the government proposal was in question for several days because of the wording of the motion. The motion contains a "whereas" clause, referring to a 2011 review of progress that has been made in Afghanistan, including Canada's military deployment, and a "therefore" clause, which asks MPs to support a continuation of the current mission to the end of 2011.

In fact, the government motion contains so many "whereas" clauses -- eight of them -- that New Democratic Party House leader Libby Davies asked the Commons Speaker yesterday to rule it out of order on grounds it is "more like a speech that is disguised as a motion."

She said it is open to too much interpretation and the NDP wants a replacement motion that presents "a clear and straightforward question that can be debated and decided upon."

Debate could begin later this week, but the government is expected to wait until after Mr. Dion releases the text of his amendments. Mr. Dion may do that today.

Comparing the positions of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mr. Dion, NDP Leader Jack Layton said the question comes down to whether Canadian Armed Forces "are going to be doing combat or combat light" in Afghanistan. Both the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP oppose any extension.

---------

ELECTION TRIGGERS:

Feb. 26 Finance Minister Jim Flaherty confirmed yesterday he will table the government's annual budget on Feb. 26. The NDP and Bloc Quebecois have given strong indications they will oppose it, while Liberal leader Stephane Dion says his party will wait and see. There will be up to four days of debate, although not necessarily on consecutive days, on the budget motion and any opposition amendments. The first confidence vote could come on the second day of debate, when MPs will vote on the first set of amendments.

March 1 Parliament is expected to pass a motion this week calling on the Senate to pass the government's violent-crime bill by March 1. If the Senate does not pass the bill by then, the Prime Minister could ask the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament on the grounds the Senate is impeding his government's agenda.

March 31 The government has tabled a motion calling for the extension of the Afghanistan mission until at least 2011, provided the government can procure additional equipment and convince its allies to commit roughly 1,000 more troops. The government has said it will put the motion to a vote before Prime Minister Stephen Harper heads to a NATO leaders summit in early April. Last week, government House leader Peter Van Loan said the vote could come "sometime" next month.

The government must also schedule seven "opposition days" between now and March 26. The opposition can use those days to introduce non-confidence motions that could topple the government.

Copyright © 2007 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest MediaWorks Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved.