Where do the parties stand on Iran?
What we learned from the debate in Parliament
Members of Parliament had their first opportunity to debate the Iran war and its implications for Canada this week.
The attacks launched on Iran by the United States and Israel has engulfed at least 15 countries, and there is no sign of slowing down.
The death toll is rising, including more than 100 school girls killed by what was almost certainly a U.S. cruise missile. Nearly a million people are displaced in Lebanon. The global economy is being impacted greatly by rising energy prices.
Here is a summary of the positions taken by Canada’s political parties at the “take note” debate (where there is no vote) on Monday evening.
Liberal Party
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand called on all countries involved to respect international law, and stressed Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon or threaten international peace and security.
“We did not participate in the recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. We were not consulted in advance about these operations, and we have no intention of joining them. At the same time, Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons and grow its arsenal of missiles that represent a serious threat to international peace and security,” she said.
“The U.S. strikes come as a result of a failure of the international order. This [support] is not a blank cheque. Canada reaffirms that international law binds all parties, including the United States and Israel.”
Conservative Party
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the Liberals for not being clear in their support for the U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran.
“We as Conservatives make it clear that it is in our national interest that the regime in Iran, which has infiltrated our country, murdered at least 55 of our citizens, and harassed countless others, be removed. That is why I supported the Prime Minister’s initial support of the U.S. and Israeli air strikes,” he said.
Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet agreed with the government’s aims of preventing Iran’s nuclear program, but the focus for the government should be to alleviate the war’s impact on the economy and people of Canada and Quebec.
“Above all, the Prime Minister must do three things: relaunch tariff and trade negotiations, deploy short-term measures to support the economy and people’s needs, and stand firm by partnering with other middle powers to save as many lives as possible during this war, which is no reality TV show. It is a war and people are dying,” he said.
Green Party
Green Party leader Elizabeth May called for everyone to overcome partisan divisions, and put international law front and centre of Canada’s policy.
“No one will disagree, I do not think, that the Iranian regime is a despicable and brutal regime that oppresses, suppresses and kills its own people. However, that does not mean that the United States and Israel had any legal grounds to bomb Tehran. That was reckless and dangerous, and we will continue to see the consequences, maybe into generations,” said Elizabeth May.
New Democratic Party
Interim party leader Don Davies said the attack on Iran was outside international law, and that the government can’t logically and ethically acknowledge that a war is illegal, but continue to support it and refuse to rule out participation in that very illegality.
“New Democrats are calling on the government to take three clear positions immediately: Condemn the war and explicitly recognize it violates the UN charter, categorically rule out any Canadian military participation and call for an immediate ceasefire and a return to multilateral diplomacy,” he said.
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Most think PM Carney will keep troops out of Iran war
Last week’s newsletter looked at the shifting pronouncements from Prime Minister Carney about the U.S. and Israeli unprovoked attacks on Iran. After being quick to endorse their actions, the Prime Minister attempted to walk-back his support by saying that war was, “inconsistent with international law.” But he did not rule out sending Canadian troops.
I asked readers if you think Prime Minister Carney will keep Canadian troops out of the war on Iran? Nearly half of respondents did not offer an opinion either way, choosing “don’t know/unsure” (42%). Of the remaining, slightly more readers said troops will be kept out of the war (32%) than those who thought troops will be sent (26%).
“If NATO countries are attacked during the debacle, it will be very difficult for Carny to keep Canadian troops out of this conflict.” - J. Carmichael
“Can you tell what your mutual funds represent?” - S. Walke
Iran a nuclear threat! Oh, please. If there's one thing that motivates Iran to develop nuclear weapons, it is the constant threat from the U.S. and its puppet state, Israel. When Iran gets nuclear weapons and ICBMS to carry them, no one will dare attack them. But from what credible U.S. intelligence sources say, that day is a long way off. The world's greatest nuclear threat and global destabilizer is now and long has been the U.S.
Where was our firm resolve when Israel acquired atomic bombs?