Canada knew ‘from the beginning’ CAF wouldn’t help attack Iran: minister

Defence Minister David McGuinty said the Canadian Armed Forces 'are not involved in the prosecution of this war' while underscoring that position is not going to change.

Defence Minister David McGuinty said Tuesday that Canada’s decision not to join the U.S. and Israel’s military attacks on Iran was clear “from the beginning” of the war more than two weeks ago, while underscoring that position is not going to change.

During a press event in Brampton, Ont., highlighting Canada’s military aid to Ukraine, McGuinty was asked about the resignation Tuesday of U.S. National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent, who said he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war because “Iran posed no imminent threat” to the U.S.

McGuinty told reporters he had not been aware of Kent’s resignation but suggested he “made a principled decision, I suppose.”

“Look, the United States is going to find its way forward on this with Israel,” he said. “In terms of Canada’s position, we’ve looked at this very carefully. We’re following it hour by hour. It’s a very volatile situation, and so we’re very, very careful in terms of taking steps in any direction.

“But for us, from the beginning, it was clear that joining this in terms of the prosecution of the war offensively was not going to occur.”

McGuinty reiterated the federal government’s position that Ottawa was not consulted before the U.S. and Israel launched military action in Iran, that Canada “has not participated in this conflict, and Canada has no intention of doing so.”

He said he could not reveal much more than that about Canadian military operations in the region for security reasons.

“It’s very important that we, first of all, focus on Canadians in the region who want to leave that region,” he said. “Secondly, is very important for me as minister of defence to make sure that we protect, that we keep our forces out of harm’s way.”