Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s contempt for Parliament and the Canadian public has rarely been more apparent. As he quietly commits the country to a growing war against the Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria, he has yet to brief the Commons in any meaningful way, hold a debate on his plans or allow a vote.

Instead Harper has surrounded himself with a politically expedient shroud of fog, doling out information in dribs and drabs and only as he sees fit. As the Star’s Tim Harper writes, his real plans are known only to Washington and himself.

That’s not how our key allies operate. They treat the public with a modicum of respect.

In the United States, President Barack Obama has squarely addressed the nation on his plans to battle the jihadists. He has also briefed congressional leaders and mustered a bipartisan consensus. In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron has made the case to Westminster for military strikes, warned that the battle may go on for years, and gotten a strong vote of support. And Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has briefed parliament on his plans and held a debate.

The United Nations Security Council, too, has debated and passed a unanimous resolution demanding that countries toughen their laws to impede the flow of foreign fighters to the Islamic State and other terror groups.

Yet Canadians are still waiting for Harper to seriously consult Parliament even though we are the only American ally with combat advisers already on the ground. Harper didn’t even show up when Parliament held a poorly informed emergency debate earlier this month. If there’s no consensus on Parliament Hill it’s because Harper can’t be bothered to try to forge one.

Instead, he chose a New York business audience this past week to share the news that his government is considering expanding our involvement. That left Canadian MPs watching foreign telecasts to glean some idea of what Ottawa is up to.

And when New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair tried to ask a few basic questions, Tory MP Paul Calandra, answering for Harper, disgraced the government benches by spouting obtuse, deliberate gibberish for which he later had to apologize.

Such is the arrogant attitude of a Conservative government that regards accountability and transparency as the enemy. As Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau rightly observed, Harper has been “playing coy political strategy games” and shading the truth.

The country ought to know where all this is going. And Parliament ought to vote on it.

Harper should have told us by now whether Canadian fighter-bombers may soon be flying sorties over Iraq or even Syria. Cabinet will reportedly consider it this week.

He should be prepared to indicate, as well, whether he intends to send more military advisers, and if so, how many. To explain what they are doing and whether it includes “close combat” advising that exposes them to risk. And to indicate how long he is prepared to keep them in the field.

Harper should provide some idea of what other military assets Ottawa is prepared to deploy. Control and surveillance aircraft? More transport? War-fighting equipment?

And the prime minister should let us know when, if ever, the government will get around to taking in more refugees from the war zone and to matching our aid with the pressing need.

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As the war escalates, the NDP and Liberals are no longer talking about “mission creep.” They are now worried about “mission leap.”

It has been weeks since Harper announced — not in Parliament, but at a NATO summit in Wales — that Canada was sending advisers to Iraq. That’s ample time to come clean with Canadians on what else he has in mind. Yet we’re still waiting for the fog to lift.

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