http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/WinnipegSun/News/2004/12/06/767647.html~snip~
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Paul Martin opened the door yesterday to deploying Canadian soldiers to Iraq once he follows through on a promise to boost military ranks. The PM said the Canadian Forces are too stretched at the moment to contribute to a new mission.
But when pressed during an interview on CNN's Late Edition on whether Canada could deploy to Iraq once it bulks up the military, Martin responded: "That's going to depend on where we're asked to go."
And when asked whether Canada is outright against contributing a military force in Iraq, Martin answered that Canada simply doesn't have the soldiers to staff a mission.
"Our commitments are such that it would be very hard for us to commit troops into Iraq," the PM said.
Martin said Canada is stretched too thin to even contribute 1,000 troops to provide security during the upcoming Iraqi election.