Liberal Leader Stephane Dion says he will propose amendments to the motion the Conservatives will put forward on the future of Canada's role in Afghanistan.
"You need to be prepared to fight but the combat role is when you are proactively seeking the engagement with the enemy. It's something I have said that we will interrupt in February 2009,'' Dion said Wednesday.
The news comes one day after Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned Dion that the Conservative government was prepared to present a motion extending the combat mission in Afghanistan.
Dion wouldn't speculate over the possibility of an election being triggered over the issue, but said he isn't afraid of going to the polls if it comes to it.
However, CTV News has confirmed that the government will introduce its federal budget on February 26. A vote would follow in early March, creating another chance for an early election.
Harper said he would table the Afghanistan motion on Thursday, and a vote on that motion would also come in March, according to reports.
The move seems designed to ensure one of two outcomes -- either that Canada will extend its mission, or that an election will be triggered because it could be a confidence motion.
Dion's position has been that Canada's combat role should end in February 2009, as scheduled, with Canada remaining in the country but in a non-combat role.
"This was never a forever and ever and ever and ever mission on the part of the people of Canada in one particular place, doing one particular thing," Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae told CTV Newsnet's Mike Duffy Live.
Rae said that Canada should shift its mission to training, reconstruction, development, and anti-corruption.
But there are reports that not every Liberal agrees with the position that Canada should end its combat role in Afghanistan.
"Right now the Liberal caucus is in a very serious division," said CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife.
"Sources in there have told me, for example, that Liberal Roy Cullen from Toronto has told Dion his position is wrong and untenable, and that he will make up his own mind on how he votes and that he is leaning towards the Conservatives in terms of the Afghan mission."
There is also word that three other Liberal MPs have expressed disagreement with Dion's position, Fife told CTV Newsnet. Harper alluded to the division within the Liberal Party during question period.
Ignatieff rose in the Commons to vehemently take issue with Harper's suggestion that the Liberals want to pull out of Afghanistan.
"As usual the prime minister gets it wrong," shouted Ignatieff.
"The party over there wants to pull out of Afghanistan. Not this party!"
Harper replied, he has little doubt that that is Ignatieff's position, and he added it should also be Canada's position.
The NDP and Bloc Quebecois have said they will not vote for an extension of Canada's mission in Afghanistan.
Dion said Harper told him on Tuesday that he intends to present a motion that will extend Canada position as a combat force.
"I suggested to him if he was willing to contemplate a non-combat role, that could be very positive for Afghanistan. And he said he wants to continue the combat role, so on that we have a big difference," Dion told reporters.
While Dion said he's not budging in his position that Canada's combat role must end, he wouldn't entirely rule out supporting a Conservative motion.
"So, yes, we will propose amendments, we will do our best to convince our colleagues in the House to come to our position," he said.
Dion also said Harper assured him there would be lengthy debate and discussion on the issue before any decisions are made.
Harper met Dion for 25 minutes on Tuesday in his Centre Block office to discuss the Manley panel recommendations on Afghanistan. Harper has said that Canada will remain in Afghanistan only if NATO offers 1,000 additional troops and more equipment for the mission.
