Canada has not only extended its presence in Afghanistan until 2011, but it has promised to increase its participation in fighting the Taliban and other terrorists.

The motion passed overwhelmingly (198-77) on Thursday, receiving support from both the Conservative government and the opposition Liberals.

Parliament voted Thursday to extend Canada’s mission in Afghanistan to 2011, provided NATO supplies more troops and equipment to back up its forces in the volatile south.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has been under growing pressure to withdraw Canada’s 2,500 troops as the death toll has mounted, now at 80 Canadian soldiers and a diplomat. The mission was set to expire in February 2009.

Conservatives had declared the motion a confidence vote, which would have triggered early elections if it failed.

Ed makes the case, and I agree, as to why our neighbors to the North had every right to complain about the lack of full ally support in the mission. The United States, United Kingdom, and Denmark have shouldered most of the combat-related operations, while other NATO members insist on only non-combat related jobs.

Canadians became frustrated when their casualties began to mount while, simultaneously, other NATO members refused to kick up the support. To most of the world’s surprise, the French agreed and decided to kick up their combat commitment. Sarkozy’s government has now requested that other European allies do the same.