While MPs prepare for Monday's debate on Canada's military role in Afghanistan, a new poll suggests Canadians are split over whether the mission is a good idea.

The poll, conducted by Decima Research, shows that 46 per cent of Canadians think the mission is a bad idea, compared to 45 per cent who feel the opposite is true.

The online poll drew responses from 2,131 people from March 31 to April 4, and is considered accurate plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times in 20. Results were given to The Canadian Press.

The same poll indicates that 43 per cent of Canadians want troops to return home within the year, compared with 10 per cent who want troops to stay for another one or two years, and 15 per cent who want troops to stay for up to five years.

Eleven Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan since 2002. There are currently about 2,200 troops stationed in the country's southern region.

"It's hard to see what's being done over here by the general Canadian population," Cpl. John Gute told CTV News. "But if only they could actually be here and see what we're doing, that we're actually making a difference."

Taliban member critical of Canada's determination

Meanwhile, a Taliban member who spoke to CP this past weekend said Canadians lack the determination to stay in Afghanistan.

"We think that when we kill enough Canadians they will quit war and return home," spokesperson Qari Yuosaf Ahmedi said by satellite phone.

He added that Monday's Parliamentary debate on the issue further demonstrates the unease Canadians feel with the mission.

However, Prime Minister Stephan Harper has insisted there will be no vote on the mission itself, saying Canada will not "cut and run" from Afghanistan. As such, Monday's debate will be largely symbolic.

"We made a commitment last Parliament to commit to the peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan, and our commitment to help rebuild that country hasn't changed and I think the prime minister was clear on that," Conservative House Leader Rob Nicholson told CTV's Question Period.

Liberal Defence Critic Ujjal Dosanjh supports the mission in Afghanistan, but he told Question Period that a debate is necessary if Canada is required to stay in Afghanistan for a prolonged period of time.

"My view is there should be a discussion if at all this mission is to be extended beyond February of next year," he said.

The NDP has urged a full vote on the issue, but New Democrat Defence Critic Dawn Black said Monday's debate is a step in the right direction.

"I think it does serve a purpose," Black said. "We are sorry that it's not a full debate in the House, but we will have an opportunity to ask the government a number of questions that we have about our current commitment to Afghanistan which…ends in February."

The NDP is fully supportive of the troops who are currently serving in Afghanistan, but still has questions about the current mission that they will be raising during the debate, Black said.

She argued that Canadian troops are no longer operating under a NATO-led mission, adding that Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, the multi-national commander in the region, wears "the American patch on his sleeve for the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army."

In Afghanistan, military officials said Sunday there have been no surprises about Canada's role in the country, as troops work to increase security and hunt for Taliban insurgents.

"We knew what this was going to be like when we came over here," said Fraser.

Other officials see the debate as a necessary evil, although allowing it could weaken the morale of troops.

"If you don't have a debate, all you're going to hear about it how they want a debate. So let's have a debate," said Maj. Derron Bezin.

With files from CTV's Sarah Galashan in Kandahar and The Canadian Press