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And the need for Canada’s continued assistance will only grow as the fight escalates. To this end, France should seek to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Treaty and Canada should unequivocally support this effort.

Article 5 requires that an attack on one NATO member be considered as an attack on all and has only been invoked once before: 24 hours after Sept. 11, 2001. The government of the day supported it then, along with the Opposition, to provide our Canadian soldiers with the democratic legitimacy and authority to engage fully with the U.S. and our allies in the fight against Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan.

Invoking Article 5 now will allow Canada, along with its NATO partners and allies, to mobilize the military strength, humanitarian assistance, financial resources and the legal authority to remove the threat ISIL poses. Under the authority of NATO, direct and meaningful support can also be provided to Turkey and Jordan, as they cope with being on the frontline of the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Finally, Canada should let it be known that any interference by other countries or interests will be seen as a direct assault Canada and its allies. ‎This means Russia should unequivocally support this war against ISIL by joining France in calling for the immediate removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.

The Halifax Security Conference hosted by Canada this week provides the new Trudeau government with a unique opportunity to engage proactively with our allies, in order to chart the best and most effective route forward. It will also provide Canada’s new government with a platform to influence the rules of engagement necessary for Canada to help succeed in this war against ISIL, and contribute to stability in the region. But in order to make this contribution to a post-ISIL world, Canada needs to be there from the outset and make a meaningful contribution to the fight.

One year ago, it was our Parliament that was attacked. It was our Canadian soldiers who were run down and gunned down by jihadists. In our entire history, Canada has never walked away from a fight that is just and right. We cannot — we must not — do so now.

That is the tradition we celebrated and honoured just a few days ago on Remembrance Day. ‎If asked by France to help wage this current war, we must do as we have always done — answer the call with decisiveness and resolve.

National Post

Peter MacKay is the former minister of foreign affairs, defence, justice and attorney general.