Trudeau plans to put more trainers in Iraq

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will increase the number of military personnel in Iraq to train local forces as a way of making a bigger contribution to the coalition fighting Islamic militants.

Trudeau talked about the plan during a wide-ranging, 20-minute press conference aboard his Canadian Forces airliner, prior to touching down in the Philippine capital of Manila for the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit.

Trudeau says Canada will increase the number of Canadian Forces trainers in Iraq, which currently stands at 69.

He said he has told allies that Canada will make a bigger military contribution to the fight against Islamic militants after he ends Canada’s air combat mission in the U.S.-led coalition that is bombing targets in Iraq and Syria.