Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre rises in the House of Commons during a take-note debate on Canada’s approach to U.S.-Israel war on Iran on Monday.Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of going into hiding for failing to show up Monday for a debate about the government’s position on the conflict in the Middle East.
Mr. Poilievre’s party and the Bloc Québécois also accused the government of making contradictory statements about U.S. and Israeli air strikes and demanded he explain those contradictions.
“In this crisis, Canadians deserve to know where the Prime Minister stands,” Mr. Poilievre said.
“Indeed, they deserve to know where the Prime Minister is.”
Mr. Carney’s office pointed to his public schedule when asked why he didn’t participate in the take-note debate, which the Liberals had proposed earlier Monday morning.
Carney says Ottawa’s position supporting U.S., Israeli strikes on Iran was taken ‘with regret’
A take-note debate provides MPs the opportunity to discuss government policy, but there is no vote involved.
The Liberal motion was for the House to hold a take-note debate on “the hostilities in Iran and the Middle East and the impact for Canadians abroad.”
The debate followed days of criticism from opposition parties about Mr. Carney’s position statements on the conflict since it began with U.S. and Israeli air strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.
Since then, Iran has retaliated with strikes on U.S. bases in the region.
Carney was absent from a debate on the U.S.-Israel war on Iran as opposition parties continued to question the government's position on the conflict.
The Canadian Press
During the debate, Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong noted that Mr. Carney supported the air strikes when they began but then on March 4 said he took that stand with regret and said the strikes appeared to be in violation of international law.
“So the government sees the air strikes as inconsistent with international law, but supports them anyway, and the government policy is to always and everywhere support international law?” Mr. Chong asked Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand at the start of debate.
“Can the minister explain this mumble jumble of foreign policy?”
The Bloc added to the criticism, asking how the Prime Minister could say international law must be defended while supporting an offensive that he thinks goes against international law.
Carney says Canada could be called to help NATO allies in Middle East but no aid requests have come
“Let’s be honest. Does she honestly find this a serious position from the Prime Minister of Canada?” Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe asked of the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Ms. Anand pushed back, saying the government’s position was clear.
“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. International law must be respected, and we will stand for the safety and security of Canadians wherever they may be in the world,” Ms. Anand said.
Ms. Anand also called on all parties involved to respect international law, and stressed Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon or threaten international peace and security.
“Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle for freedom,” she said.
First government-chartered flight evacuating Canadians from Middle East lands in Istanbul
The New Democrats have also raised concerns about Canada’s stand.
Interim NDP leader Don Davies called Mr. Carney’s absence “unacceptable,” and said Canadians deserve an answer as to Canada’s position.
“The proper answer here is a ceasefire and diplomacy undertaken immediately,” Mr. Davies said at a news conference earlier Monday.
The NDP did not participate until the close of debate Monday night, with Mr. Davies giving the final speech of the evening. Their absence had been noted several times by the Bloc Quebecois, who criticized them for appearing to be sitting out the night after holding a press conference about the debate earlier in the day.
Mr. Carney’s schedule Monday listed a meeting with Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Lantz in the morning, and then Monday evening he was scheduled to attend a Ramadan-related event.
Though his schedule did not mention it, Mr. Carney also spoke Monday with the Emir of Qatar, thanking him for assistance in helping Canadians leave the region.
The pair also discussed efforts to de-escalate the conflict and find a diplomatic solution, according to a readout from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mr. Carney has made several comments in response to the conflict since it began.
Carney’s government has proposed a debate on the Iran war, House leader says
His initial remarks offered support for the U.S. and Israeli campaign to unseat the Iranian regime, but he later said he came to that position with regret and that their actions appeared to violate international law.
He also seemingly left the door open to Canadian military involvement, before clarifying that to say Canada will not engage in the conflict itself, though it may act to support affected allies.
The government has since sought to further clarify that point.
“Canada was not consulted, did not participate and has no plans to participate in these operations,” Defence Minister David McGuinty said on Monday night.
During his speech Monday, Mr. Poilievre also raised the issue of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ presence in Canada, delays in deporting them and concerns they could threaten Canadians.
MPs demand answers about failure to deport and name Iranian regime officials
Mr. McGuinty later told the Commons that Canadian authorities have assessed the potential for Iranian-linked malicious cyberactivity and organizations have been told to remain vigilant.
The fact Mr. Carney was absent Monday reflects a theme of his first year in office, Bloc House Leader Christine Normandin had said earlier in the day.
It indicates “a disinterest, at best, for parliamentary work and for answering questions and for accountability,” she said.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced Monday that later this week he is travelling to Norway to observe a NATO-led exercise in the Arctic Circle and to meet with Norwegian leaders.
He’ll then travel to London for meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.