“Mr. Speaker, I am rising at the hour of adjournment, or as we colloquially call it around here, the late show, to pursue a question I asked the Prime Minister but to which the response came from the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs. The question I asked was on March 9 and was in relation to the events of February 28, when, illegally, the government of Israel and the government of the United States authorized attacks, strikes, on Iran. In my question to the hon. minister, I quoted our former minister of foreign affairs, the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, who actually wrote to the Toronto Star to say, “Canada once rejected America’s aggressive, unlawful foreign policy. Today [the Prime Minister] embraced it.” He went on to say, again quoting Lloyd Axworthy, “Under the [United Nations] Charter, cross-border uses of force are prohibited except in two narrow cases”. He then pointed out that Operation Epic Fury, as the White House called it, applies to neither. I wanted to ask the Prime Minister at the time whether he would belatedly condemn what the U.S. and Israel did in attacking Iran. The response from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, just to summarize, was that while we support Iran’s never obtaining nuclear weapons, this support is not a blank cheque. Canada reaffirms that international law binds all parties. The U.S. and Israel must respect the rules of international engagement. In other words, this stopped and fell short of a condemnation of our allies’ ignoring international law. That is in fact what we did. The condemnation should have been from Canada’s government immediately. I want to include in my brief remarks tonight while pursuing this question something that I rarely do. I would like to thank a member of the opposition benches, a newly elected member of Parliament from the riding that abuts mine, shall we say, my neighbour, the hon. Liberal member for Victoria, who was, prior to entering politics, associate professor of international law at the University of Victoria. He was unequivocal in issuing a written statement that Canada’s response fell short. I will quote the hon. member for Victoria as he was quoted in the Times Colonist: “Canada cannot endorse the unilateral and illegal acts of military force”. He went on to call for “a consistent Canadian standard, one that applies the laws of war and the principle of protecting civilians, whether the actors are allies or adversaries.” The difficulty we have is that Canada should have been quick to condemn in the first Trump administration. I think we actually did that when the Trump administration tore up the agreement that had been reached with Iran, which was working. Of course the goal is to make sure Iran never has nuclear weapons. The Government of Iran is ruthless, ignores human rights, is abusive and also exports terrorism. Nobody questions that, but ignoring international law is a grave error. In the case of the original U.S.-Iran deal, it was working. It was “Trust but verify”. The international atomic energy experts were getting access to all the research facilities. As the time passes, I wonder what the government is saying about the United Nations charter and international law. Is it only when it is convenient?”
Statement grade
C–
The average of Signal, Relevance, Respect and Clarity is 61. The grade is held to 59, 30 above Relevance.
59 / 100, held down by Relevance
A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 47 wordsI want to thank the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands for her commitment to, tenacity with and passion for the issues that we both care about deeply.I also want to thank her for elaborating on the question because, on March 9, she never got to the question.ThanksClaims · 11 wordsShe gave the Minister of Foreign Affairs lots of air time, Partly on pointProcedure · 21 wordsbut now I know what the question is.Without chiding too much, I am really glad to get to the question.ProcedureClaims · 173 wordsLet me be clear that Canada has been consistent and clear in its position regarding Iran.We continue to call for an end to the hostilities.We call for all parties to uphold the April ceasefire agreement, exercise restraint and respect international humanitarian law.1We urge all parties to avoid actions that can further destabilize the region.Canada continues to work with international partners to support diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and ensuring the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.2Vague promiseIn parallel, Canada is working through the G7 to support coordinated engagement with gulf partners, Vague promisewhich would restore that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.Canada stands ready to support a Strait of Hormuz defence mission in only three potential areas, maritime logistics, demining support and satellite imagery, which would support efforts by the U.K. and France.We must maintain pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran to address its destabilizing behaviour, including nuclear and ballistic missile programs, support for terrorism and human rights violations, through sanctions and UN engagement.Partly on pointProcedure · 6 wordsWe must be unequivocal on this.ProcedureClaims · 20 wordsIran can never acquire a nuclear weapon, and its support for terrorism through proxies and on its own must end.Reasoning · 34 wordsThe U.S. and Iran must reach an agreement that ensures robust International Atomic Energy Agency verification of Iran’s nuclear program that limits Iran’s ballistic missile program and addresses Iran’s support for those regional proxies.Partly on pointProcedure · 18 wordsI also want to comment for a moment on the concurrent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.3ProcedureClaims · 67 wordsWe are deeply concerned by its escalation and the risk of further regional instability.Real people are losing their homes and their livelihoods and are being put at risk.That is why we firmly support the Lebanese government’s effort to restore, exercise full state authority, including through the disarmament of Hezbollah, which is listed as a terrorist organization in Canada, 4and to advance credible and durable peace.Promise · 27 wordsOur government will continue working with international partners to support an end to the conflict, the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Lebanon.Off pointVague promisePositioning · 9 wordsWe are clear-eyed about the challenges facing the region.PositioningClaims · 8 wordsIt is a region that is in disruption.Reasoning · 25 wordsA lasting solution will never be achieved through military action by anyone.It will only be secured through diplomacy, dialogue, sustained negotiations, conversation and goodwill.Positioning · 9 wordsWe have to reach a new position of understanding.PositioningClaims · 8 wordsWe remain guided by international law every day, Promise · 41 wordsand we stand ready to play our part.Vague promiseWe will continue to prioritize and respond to the safety of Canadians in the region as well.Vague promiseWe will work to support a return to stability in the whole of the Middle East.Vague promisePositioning · 43 wordsThe hearts and minds of Canadians are with the people of Gaza, the people of the Palestine as a whole and the people of Lebanon, including the south and Beirut, as we are with the people of the gulf who are bombarded daily.PositioningPartly on point