Canada’s recent condemnation of Iran’s violent crackdown on protestors rings hollow, a stark contrast to the Liberal government’s past actions – or, more accurately, inaction. While officials express concern over the escalating bloodshed, a disturbing pattern emerges when examining their historical response to the regime’s brutality.
The current outcry, joined by Australia and the European Union, demands an end to the “excessive and lethal force” employed by Iranian security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Prime Minister’s statements decry the violence and champion freedom of expression, yet these words feel belated, overshadowed by years of hesitancy.
It took relentless pressure from the opposition, spanning six years, to finally compel the Liberals to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization – the very entity now responsible for the escalating violence against Iranian citizens. This delay is particularly jarring considering the IRGC’s documented history of aggression.
The downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 in 2020, a tragedy that claimed the lives of 176 people, including 55 Canadians, failed to trigger that designation. Even with the federal government acknowledging the IRGC’s role in safeguarding the regime, controlling its arsenal, and supporting designated terrorist groups, the response remained muted.
A previous Conservative government, under Stephen Harper, had already designated a branch of the IRGC – the Qods Force – as a terrorist organization in 2012. This decisive action was coupled with a complete severing of diplomatic ties, closing the Canadian embassy in Tehran and expelling Iranian diplomats.
The shift in approach upon the arrival of the current administration in 2015 was unsettling. Talk of restoring diplomatic relations and reopening the embassy signaled a naiveté that would have profound consequences. This desire for engagement seemingly overshadowed concerns about the regime’s human rights record and terrorist activities.
Despite multiple motions passed in the House of Commons urging the IRGC’s designation, it wasn’t until June 2024 – after years of political pressure and a second unanimous motion – that the government finally acted. This prolonged delay allowed the IRGC six additional years to operate and fundraise within Canada, and to intimidate Iranian-Canadians seeking refuge from its oppression.
Even the NDP, a key partner in sustaining the government, publicly criticized the Liberals for their sluggish response. The justification offered – concerns about impacting Iranians conscripted into the IRGC seeking asylum – felt flimsy, failing to address the opportunity for due process within Canada’s immigration system.
The culmination of this hesitant approach is particularly alarming given the findings of a recent foreign interference inquiry. The report identified Iran as one of five nations posing a serious threat to Canada’s national security, alongside China, Russia, India, and Pakistan. This underscores the gravity of the situation and the cost of prolonged inaction.
