Article content continued

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

“I ask that as we consider whether or how to act, we also consider what happens if we don’t act,” Mr. Baird said. “It might seem convenient to brush options off as leading to mission creep in the future. But the hard reality is that inaction is not an option.”

Much will depend on U.S. President Barack Obama’s long-awaited strategy for combating ISIS, which will reportedly be to systematically wear down the terrorist group’s capabilities and shrink the territory they’ve captured.

Mr. Obama will outline his strategy in a speech Wednesday night. The White House said Tuesday the President has told congressional leaders he has the authority he needs to take action.

In Ottawa, the ministers would not provide specific details about what Canadian forces will be doing in Iraq. That includes exactly how many Canadian troops will be on the ground in Iraq, when they will arrive and, perhaps most importantly, the exact goal of the mission and how far the government is willing to go to fight Islamic militants there.

Mr. Nicholson said the government would not follow up the deployment with “boots on the ground” — meaning a regular army presence.

“We’re not engaging in combat activity and our role is very specific and very clear,” he said, noting the current deployment is slated to run 30 days, after which it will be re-assessed. A handful of Canadian soldiers are already on the ground as an advance team.

Mr. Nicholson confirmed the troops to be deployed are from the Petawawa-based Canadian Special Operations Regiment and that they will be sent to northern Iraq to provide advice to Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic militants.