Liberal MPs to hold call Friday as caucus raises concerns about Carney’s shifting Iran position

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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.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand will brief Liberal MPs about the war in the Middle East on Friday, sources tell CBC News. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

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.” 

• Cross Country Checkup is asking: What grade are you giving Mark Carney on the widening war in the Middle East? How should Canada respond? Leave your comment here and we may read it or call you back for Sunday’s show.

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.

MPs privately raise concerns

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.”

CBC News is not naming these two MPs, who said they do not want to break caucus confidentiality rules.

Both said they believe several more caucus colleagues expressed their own reservations to cabinet about Carney’s initial statement.

By Tuesday, when the prime minister took questions from journalists during the Australian leg of his international trip, Carney said his support for the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran was “not a blank cheque.”

Reading from prepared remarks, he said that “Canada reaffirms that international law binds all belligerents.” 

While Carney continued to criticize Iran for bombing civilian infrastructure, he also urged “all parties, including the United States and Israel, to abide by international engagement rules.”

Then, on Wednesday, during another media availability, Carney said Canada could not categorically rule out participating in military action, should the need to protect its allies arise. 

“We will always stand by and defend our allies when called upon,” he said. 

The mixed messaging has prompted criticism from the Opposition Conservative Party as well.

Conservative MP Michael Chong says Carney’s Iran comments are ‘utterly incoherent.’ (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

In a statement posted to the social media platform X, foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said Carney’s position on Iran is “utterly incoherent.”

The Conservatives are calling for a parliamentary debate before any possible Canadian military deployment.

The NDP is considering a call for an emergency debate on Iran as early as Monday, when the House of Commons resumes sitting.

Greaves told CBC News he believes the shift from Carney is at least partly due to what he and others raised with cabinet.

“I was pleased to see the shift that we saw,” he said.

“It’s a difficult context and a difficult issue. And one that I’m confident that the prime minister will navigate us through.”

Carney is wrapping up his foreign trip with a stop in Japan before returning to Canada.