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Adjournment Proceedings

2026-06-02 Sitting 127 Showing 1–4 of 4

Elizabeth May asked the Prime Minister to condemn Israeli settlements and violence in the West Bank. The Liberals responded that Canada has sanctioned two Israeli ministers and some settlers, and called for all parties to stop hostilities. The exchange was substantive and on-topic, though May's initial question in March apparently never fully got asked. May was thankful for a fuller answer now.

Official Hansard ↗

Elizabeth May

Green 6:20 p.m.

“I want to put the U.S. and Israel in their place. Canada should have condemned them for attacking Iran without permission. I don't want Canada endorsing anything unilateral or military. I don't care if our allies do it.”

Official Hansard

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?

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Hon. Robert Oliphant

Liberal 6:25 p.m.

“Canada wants Iran and the U.S. to reach an agreement. We're working with other countries to reduce tensions and make sure ships can pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz. Canada will help, but only with some specific things like getting rid of mines and satellite pictures. We want Iran to stop causing trouble with nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism. Israel and Hezbollah need to stop fighting too. It's bad that people are losing their homes and livelihoods. We need to talk and have goodwill to really solve this. We're on the side of international law.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I 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. She gave the Minister of Foreign Affairs lots of air time, but now I know what the question is. Without chiding too much, I am really glad to get to the question. Let 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. We 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. In parallel, Canada is working through the G7 to support coordinated engagement with gulf partners, which 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. We must be unequivocal on this. Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon, and its support for terrorism through proxies and on its own must end. The 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. I also want to comment for a moment on the concurrent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. We 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, and to advance credible and durable peace. Our 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. We are clear-eyed about the challenges facing the region. It is a region that is in disruption. A lasting solution will never be achieved through military action by anyone. It will only be secured through diplomacy, dialogue, sustained negotiations, conversation and goodwill. We have to reach a new position of understanding. We remain guided by international law every day, and we stand ready to play our part. We will continue to prioritize and respond to the safety of Canadians in the region as well. We will work to support a return to stability in the whole of the Middle East. The 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.

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Elizabeth May

Green 6:30 p.m.

“I want Canada to condemn Israel's actions. I want sanctions against Netanyahu and Israel, not just Iran and Hezbollah. Trump, Netanyahu, and Putin are destabilizing the world. How can Canada step up its diplomacy and consider sanctioning them?”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate my hon. friend, the parliamentary secretary, for giving such a thoughtful answer. He is quite correct that I did not get out the last words, which were, will the Prime Minister belatedly condemn these actions? The actions have continued, as the parliamentary secretary indicated, from that horrible attack of February 28. We have now had the spreading of conflict in multiple directions. There are sanctions against Hezbollah and sanctions against Iran, but when are we going to talk about sanctions against Netanyahu and Israel for persistently violating international law? Again, what can we do? I know it is complicated by Trump's attacks on Canada in terms of our commerce and trade, but the reality is that there are several great destabilizers around the world right now. There is Trump, there is Netanyahu, and there is Putin. How can Canada amplify our diplomatic efforts and consider sanctions against these bad actors?

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Hon. Robert Oliphant

Liberal 6:30 p.m.

“I want to look balanced. We sanctioned some Israeli officials and settlers. We want a ceasefire and peace talks. Canada is working with others to reduce tensions. We're helping trade, stability, and aid in the region.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will close by reiterating Canada's position. We have indeed issued sanctions on two key ministers in the Netanyahu government, and we have issued sanctions on some settlers who have perpetrated violence in the West Bank. At the same time, we will call on all parties to stop hostilities and to uphold ceasefire agreements. A lasting peace in any region will only be achieved through diplomacy, dialogue and sustained negotiations. Canada is working closely with allies and partners in reducing tensions, trying to safeguard the free flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz and supporting the stability that underpins global economic security, while continuing humanitarian aid and the building up of democratic institutions and the people of the region.

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What they said. What they meant.

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