Iqaluit (May 29/06) - Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell voted against extending Canada's presence in Afghanistan, but she isn't happy about having to vote on the mission at all.

Members of Parliament narrowly passed a two-year extension to the Afghanistan mission by a vote of 149-145 earlier this month. Karetak-Lindell was one of more than 90 Liberals to vote against it.

"I think what we're doing now in Afghanistan has changed from what we're known (internationally) which is peacekeeping," she said during a telephone interview.

Since Prime Minister Stephen Harper has the authority to extend the mission without consulting Parliament, Karetak-Lindell said the motion was political, designed to embarrass MPs for voting against it.

"It's not as simple as that and I resent the fact that we get put in these positions," she said.

Karetak-Lindell is also worried the Canadian Forces are stretched to capacity and there are calls for Canada to contribute troops to help stabilize the troubled Darfur region of the Sudan.

Harper said he was willing to extend the mission for a year without Parliament's approval, and call an election over the issues.

Since 2002, 16 Canadian soldiers have died during the Afghanistan mission.