Mr. Chair, the Liberal Prime Minister claimed that he is the man we want in a crisis, but recent days have shown that he cannot live up to his own standard.
Over the last week, Canadians have not seen leadership. They have seen contradictions, confusion and a series of foreign policy flip-flops on Iran and the conflict in the Middle East. First, the Liberal Prime Minister came out clearly in support of the American and Israeli strikes on Iran. His statement was unequivocal. He 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.” However, only days later, he said he made the statement “with regret”, called the strikes a breakdown of the international order and said they are a violation of international law. Then he started calling for a de-escalation and a ceasefire that would, if we carefully read between the lines, leave the same brutal regime in place.
Let us not forget that this is the same regime that terrorizes its own people and, more recently, killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians and injured many more in a short few months. This is also the same regime that has sponsored terrorism across the Middle East and all across the world for the last 47 years and whose agents and proxies intimidate communities here in Canada.
While he calls for de-escalation, the Liberal Prime Minister simultaneously says he is not ruling out military participation with the United States. Canadians deserve clarity, but instead, they are getting contradictions. On the conflict in the Middle East, the Liberal Prime Minister says one thing to one audience and something different to the next. He tells Canadians that he represents a so-called new government, but the more Canadians watch these flip-flopping statements, the more it looks exactly like the old Liberal playbook: confusion, contradictions and someone who is not to be taken seriously. First, he supports decisive action. Then he regrets supporting it. Then he calls the situation a breakdown of the international order and says that international law binds all parties involved, but at the same time, he refuses to rule out sending Canadian troops into the conflict.
If the Liberal Prime Minister believes this is a breakdown of the international order, Canadians deserve to know what exactly Canada's position is. Is the Liberal government supporting decisive action against a dangerous regime, or is it calling for a ceasefire that leaves that regime untouched?
Even members of his own cabinet cannot keep the story straight. The Liberal foreign affairs minister said last week that Canada prefers “a diplomatic resolution”, an end to the U.S. strikes, and believes in a peaceful resolution. At the same time, the Liberal defence minister tried to say both contradictory things at once. He said the Liberal government supports the U.S. strikes but also supports a ceasefire. That is not clarity or leadership. It is trying to be on both sides of the same conflict at the same time by speaking out of both sides of his Liberal mouth.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Prime Minister has been avoiding the media and refusing to answer questions about the safety and security of Canadians overseas and here at home, about Canada's role in the international response or about whether Canada could be drawn into a military conflict. By the way, Conservatives are calling for a debate and vote before Canada gets involved militarily.
The silence is deeply troubling. As head of government, the Prime Minister has a special responsibility for national security and the conduct of Canada's international relations for Canada's national interests. Canadians deserve transparency, consistency and clear leadership.
The regime in Iran has shown time and time again that it cannot be trusted. It lies, represses its own people, sponsors terror across the region and repeatedly demonstrates that it is incapable of negotiating in good faith and engaging in diplomacy. This is why Canadians, especially many in my riding of Richmond Hill South and many other communities across this country, understand what is at stake. They understand the brutality of the regime and the courage of the Iranian people who are fighting for freedom and making the ultimate sacrifice. They understand that moral clarity matters, but instead of moral clarity, the Liberal government offers mixed messages. Instead of firm leadership, it offers hesitation. Instead of answering questions, the Liberal Prime Minister simply disappears.
Only Conservatives are prepared to speak clearly. We stand with the people of Iran who seek freedom from tyranny and a peaceful transition to a free and democratic Iran. We support decisive action to prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, and we will always stand for the protection of Canadians here at home, especially against the threats posed by foreign terror networks and their proxies.
Canadians deserve a government that is clear in its principles, firm in its decisions and accountable for its actions. Right now, they are getting none of these things from the Liberal Prime Minister. He must stop hiding. He must come before Canadians and answer the very simple question that still remains: What exactly is Canada's position?
