Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, meets with Premier of Prince Edward Island Rob Lantz in in Ottawa on Monday.Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press
Criticism of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s response to the conflict in the Middle East largely shifted Tuesday to how the government is protecting the security of Canadians in light of the hostilities.
But Mr. Carney was also asked to account for his position on the conflict itself, after he was accused of hiding by not appearing at a take-note debate on the issue in the House of Commons late Monday night.
Mr. Carney had initially not been scheduled to appear in the Commons on Tuesday either, but his office updated his schedule early in the morning to reflect that he would attend Question Period.
The Prime Minister expressed support for the U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran when they began. Mr. Carney later said he took that stand “with regret” and that the strikes appeared to be in violation of international law.
On Monday, the Conservatives, Bloc Québécois and NDP had criticized Mr. Carney for appearing to change Canada’s position on the conflict multiple times since Feb. 28, when the first strikes on Iran were launched. All parties demanded he appear in the Commons to address their questions.
Prime ministers don’t always appear at take-note debates, but Mr. Carney’s decision to skip the one on Monday was notable, said Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet, because it had been organized by the Liberals themselves.
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Mr. Carney wants to present himself as one of the most important leaders in the world, Mr. Blanchet told reporters ahead of Question Period on Tuesday.
“I don’t believe that the lack of clarity and coherence in the last 10 days have contributed for Canada or Mr. Carney to pretend to any kind of leadership,” he said.
The Bloc repeated that criticism during Question Period, asking Mr. Carney for that clarity.
“Canada’s policy is clear,” Mr. Carney said, in French.
He said Canada supports the necessity of preventing Iran from developing its nuclear program and exporting terrorism. He also reiterated that Canada is not participating in the offensive operations and will not.
The Bloc also pressed Mr. Carney on whether he was speaking to his fellow G7 leaders to arrive at a co-ordinated global response.
Mr. Carney revealed that he’d spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day. The later readout from the Prime Minister’s Office said there will be a G7 leaders meeting on the conflict Wednesday.
Much later in the debate, NDP interim leader Don Davies accused Mr. Carney of betraying a commitment to respect to international law by supporting the strikes, which the Prime Minister has also said appear to violate international law.
Mr. Carney had left the chamber by that point and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand provided the answer.
“The support is not a blank cheque,” she said, also reiterating past comments.
“Canada reaffirms that international law binds all parties.”
The Conservatives used Mr. Carney’s appearance Tuesday to further push the government on the potential domestic fallout from the conflict.
They pointed to recent shootings at synagogues in Toronto and the presence of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members in Canada. The IRGC is an Iranian military force listed as a terrorist entity by Ottawa in 2024.
“Liberals are allowing foreign conflicts to spill on to our streets and Canadians are paying the price,” Conservative MP Tamara Kronis said.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the government is working to ensure IRGC members are removed and noted that Iranian regime officials are under sanctions in Canada.
Conservatives also seized on the effect the conflict has had on global energy markets and urged the government to speed up its plans to increase natural resource development in Canada.
“Why won’t the PM repeal his anti-development laws and taxes so Canada can fuel allies abroad and bring affordability home?” asked MP Shannon Stubbs.
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson pointed to work being done with provincial governments on energy exports.
“They’re all working with us to build Canada,” he said.
“Maybe they should try that, too.”