A woman views the photos of people killed on Flight PS752 on Parliament Hill in October 2022.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Global Affairs Canada has disbanded an internal task force coordinating the government’s efforts to support and seek justice for the victims of a Ukraine International Airlines flight shot down by Iran six years ago.
Fifty-five Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents and 53 others en route to Canada were among the 176 people on Flight PS752. All onboard were killed when Iranian anti-aircraft missiles struck the plane shortly after takeoff on Jan. 8, 2020.
The impact of the PS752 disaster reverberates in Ottawa even now, with the incident being invoked repeatedly in recent weeks during debates on Canada’s response to the current war in the region.
Canadian families of Flight PS752 victims mark Iran tragedy’s six-year anniversary
But the decision to shutter the task force was made prior to the onset of the Iran war, a spokesperson for the Association of Families of PS752 Victims told The Globe and Mail on Tuesday.
“It’s disappointing, but not unexpected,” Kourosh Doustshenas said in an interview. His fiancée was among the passengers killed in 2020.
He said the decision to end the task force was communicated to families in early March, just days after the launch of U.S.-Israeli air strikes on Iran sparked a broader regional conflict.
Mr. Doustshenas said Global Affairs Canada acknowledged in its communication to families that the timing was not ideal, but his efforts to get the department to reconsider its decision did not bear fruit.
The task force was set up in February, 2020, to oversee communication with the families of victims and to work on Canada’s efforts to seek accountability from Iran for the incident.
That included work to bring victims’ families to Canada under various immigration policies, as well as spearheading cases against Iran at the International Court of Justice and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Both those cases remain in process.
The task force also launched a scholarship program in honour of the victims.
In a statement, Global Affairs said all of that work is still being done, just not out of one centralized group.
“As we move forward with respect to PS752, justice and accountability remain the Government of Canada’s priority,” said departmental spokesperson Samantha Lafleur in an e-mail.
“Over time, the support requested by families from the PS752 Task Force has evolved significantly, with the volume of requests declining considerably. A decision was made that its mandate can be best achieved through a natural transition and incorporation into relevant Global Affairs Canada dedicated lines of effort.”
Mr. Doustshenas said he had previously been told that the task force may be affected by the broad cost-cutting exercise under way within government.
The department did not respond to a follow-up question about whether the decision was linked to budget cuts.
Global Affairs is seeking to cut $2.4-billion in spending over the next three years, and 1,240 positions, according to its most recent planning report.
The planning report does not mention the PS752 task force.
Mr. Doustshenas said he estimates there are between 15 and 20 families with ties to the victims still in Iran, waiting for decisions on their immigration files.
He said that the Immigration Department has, however, proactively offered visa extensions to people who have been cleared to come to Canada but haven’t been able to because of the continuing regional instability.
He said while it is true that the PS752-related demands on the government have shifted, the current war may mean victims’ families who hadn’t previously sought to come to Canada may now reconsider.
He said he’s also worried the end of the task force will cause a problem for families who haven’t engaged with his association and instead work directly with the government, as they will have lost a central point of contact.
“They may find themselves having a hard time,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has not met with the families of the PS752 victims, something former prime minister Justin Trudeau did several times.
Four cabinet ministers did attend the annual commemoration ceremony in Richmond Hill this year, Mr. Doustshenas said.
He said he knows Mr. Carney has his plate full with the current economic challenges thrown up by the Trump administration.
“I’m not criticizing him, every reasonable Canadian would say that’s where he should focus,” he said. “But I feel like he’s neglecting the other parts.”