Anxious spouses, children and relatives said goodbye to their loved ones as the next wave of Canadian soldiers left for Afghanistan Tuesday.

The farewells were especially tough, because there's been a lot of talk in recent weeks about the risks of the mission.

The six-month mission was described by Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, as dangerous but necessary.

"Afghanistan has been a risky place… it has not changed in that area, it is still a risky place, '' Hillier told CTV News at Edmonton International Airport before the troops' departure.

Those sentiments were reflected by the departing soldiers and their families.

"There's always a chance of injury, death, whatever. This one may be a little bit heightened but to compensate we've trained extra hard for this," said Sgt. Major Shawn Croucher.

His wife, Sherry, is not just concerned about missing her husband.

"Usually you're worried about being lonely and how it's going to be, this time they're going into a situation where it's not peacekeeping," said Sherry.

Canada's work in Afghanistan is shifting from the relative calm of the capital, Kabul -- to the wilder frontier of Kandahar.

Along with combat operations, Canadian troops will also form a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) to provide security for communities trying to rebuild.

Their tasks will include training local police and soldiers, patrolling Kandahar's streets, as well as ensuring that international supplies get through.

The 40 soldiers who left Tuesday will be followed by two more sets of troops departing later this month.

The 250 personnel from the Edmonton Garrison include soldiers, Mounties, members of the Canadian International Development Agency and Foreign Affairs personnel.

Hillier said that Canadian soldiers will not directly hunt for Taliban guerrillas but they might encounter them. Kandahar is widely known as a main stronghold for Taliban and suspected Al Qaeda operatives.

Last week Hillier called the militants "murderers and scumbags," who "detest" the freedoms and liberties enjoyed by citizens of democracies.

He said Canada is already a terrorist target by virtue of its status as a democratic member of the Western alliance. He said Canada can't let fear of reprisal stop it from confronting the threat.

This departure marks the first time Canadians have returned to Kandahar since 2002, when four Edmonton-based soldiers were killed in a friendly fire incident. This mission will last 18 months.

Canada's elite Joint Task Force 2 commandos are also expected to provide protection for the team, although Department of Defence officials are refusing to provide details or even confirm their participation.

Critics of the PRT mission warn that Canadian soldiers could face dangers in Kandahar similar to those seen by American forces in Iraq.

U.S. officials predict the fighting in Afghanistan will intensify in the coming months as al Qaeda and Taliban fighters attempt to destabilize national assembly elections scheduled for September.