Business of Supply  Just a few months ago, we announced that we would extend our work in the Middle East by deploying up to 850 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to support the global coalition, the NATO mission in Iraq and capacity-building activities in Jordan and Lebanon because we know this is a regional issue. Canada will remain a reliable partner in multinational operations around the world. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to claim a cover-up, he should look no further than himself.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  All that money was spent on improving the arsenal of Hezbollah or other terrorist entities in the region, as well as the wars in Yemen and Iraq and so forth. Unfortunately, not a single penny.... I'm not exaggerating that. During these years after the JCPOA was signed, we had an earthquake in western Iran, in Kermanshah. People are still living in shacks in temporary shelters while beside them, convoys of arms are going to Iraqi militias.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I just want to add that the only policy that works is taking a firm policy, because up to now we have been using other policies, and they have been expanding their power in the region—not only within Iran, but also in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen; all people around and near Iran are suffering the brutality of this regime. I believe there is a solution; there is a way. I believe the Canadian government can do a lot by taking it—

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  So many people boycott the regime election that they had to bring them from other countries, like from Iraq or from Hezbollah, or their proxies from all around the region. They stand there on the line and say, “Yes, we have some people to vote for us.” That's all I can say for now.

Members Not Seeking Re-election to the 44th Parliament  I remember vividly the call to Attorney General John Ashcroft when cabinet made the decision not to join the war in Iraq. That was an interesting chat with my U.S. counterpart. It has been my privilege to serve under three prime ministers while in government: Prime Minister Chrétien, Prime Minister Martin and the current Prime Minister.

National Defence  The groups that our military train are subject to a rigorous vetting process intended to prevent CAF members from working with forces that have committed or might in the future commit violations of the law of armed conflict. The reports filed by CAF members in Iraq in 2018 are troubling, and we are treating the situation with the seriousness it deserves. This matter is now under investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

National Defence  As part of this extensive effort, CAF members have helped rebuild local military capacity in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. This is non-combat work. It is vitally important because it lays the foundation for a better future for the regions and all those who live there. The partner forces that we train with currently go through a stringent vetting process.

Transport committee  Mr. Chair, to be clear, the eight aircraft departed after Iran launched missiles into Iraq, and Iran's report suggests a scenario in which the radar had been offline for a certain period of time. We were not able to obtain any additional information to validate that, one way or the other.

Transport committee  Witness the outrageous decision to keep that airspace open despite their own very recent missile strikes on Iraq and their full expectation of retaliation. They showed wanton disregard for human life. Witness their failure to tell commercial airlines that hostilities were under way. Those airlines were actually under surveillance by IRGC missile operators with their fingers on the triggers.

National Defence  Why did these Liberals extend Operation Impact not once but twice after learning we were training war criminals in Iraq?

National Defence  Will the Minister of National Defence break this pattern of looking the other way when it comes to human rights violations, and will he now order an independent inquiry into the failure to report possible war crimes in both Iraq and Afghanistan?

National Defence  Madam Speaker, after the Prime Minister's embarrassing comments about whipping out our fighter jets, he shifted from air support to training Iraqi soldiers. Canadian soldiers sent to Iraq reported evidence their trainees had committed war crimes, but were ignored. The minister claims no knowledge of the evidence again. His parliamentary secretary told the House that the government was no longer training those particular Iraqis and a rigorous screening process had been put into place.

Foreign Affairs committee  Obviously we have great concerns about Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, and indeed, Iran's behaviour throughout the region—in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and in Gaza—is a serious concern for this conflict and for the broader regional peace and security. We are quite concerned about external support that Hamas, in particular, receives as it continues to fuel this conflict.

Business of Supply  It is a genocidal policy, and it must change. Mass graves are something we think about when we hear of Iraq, Yugoslavia or the so-called bloodlands of eastern Europe, but we have our mass graves here in Canada, the result of the war to destroy the indigenous people. It is not a historic grievance.

Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1  However, the government failed to close the borders adequately from the beginning, when it still allowed planes in from China, Iran and Iraq, and learned nothing from that. I was the shadow health minister. I read the pandemic plan. Border control is number one. The next thing we know, the variants came, but the government still allowed people in from the U.K and South Africa.