Liberal MPs to hold call Friday as caucus raises concerns about Carney's shifting Iran position
CBC
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is set to brief Liberal MPs on Friday morning about the government's position on the war that has now engulfed Iran and surrounding countries in the Middle East, after some both privately and publicly raised concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney's initial statement regarding the U.S.-Israeli strikes, CBC News has learned.
Four sources with knowledge of the event told CBC News about the briefing, which will take place virtually as the House of Commons is not sitting this week.
One source said the briefing will provide MPs a chance to learn about the situation in Iran and consular services provided by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).
The source also said MPs will have a chance to ask questions about Canada's position and the government's messaging, given Carney's multiple statements on the matter.
The Liberal caucus call is to take place a day after all parliamentarians received a briefing on the Middle East by GAC.
At the outbreak of the war on Saturday, a statement bearing the names of both Carney and Anand said "Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security."
The statement also said "the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world's worst human rights records and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons."
It made no mention of the obligations of any parties to follow international law.
That quickly got the attention of Will Greaves, the Liberal MP for Victoria.
"Canada cannot endorse the unilateral and illegal use of military force, the killing of civilians or the kidnap and assassination of foreign heads of government while also insisting that our sovereignty, our fights and our independence must be protected," he said in a video he posted to social media.
CBC News has also spoken to two other MPs who privately expressed similar concerns to cabinet.
One voiced their concerns to Global Affairs about the initial lack of mentioning the need to respect international law.
Another said they expressed their displeasure to staff at the Prime Minister's Office after the Saturday statement.
"This is a complete abrogation of international law that we are now condoning," that MP said. "Would [former prime minister Jean] Chrétien have supported this? Absolutely not."
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