Canada’s defence chief Gen. Jennie Carignan stated allies are in talks about probably serving to Persian Gulf states defend themselves towards bombing from Iran.
Chatting with reporters at a defence and safety convention in Ottawa Thursday, Carignan stated a gathering is ready for early Friday morning to debate such a proposal amongst allied militaries and the Canadian Armed Forces would current a suggestion to the federal government.
“The Gulf states should additionally point out what they want,” Carignan stated in French. “We’re in communication with them to get an thought of the wants as a result of it’s clear that in the event that they don’t want us… we received’t take a look at choices to help them.”
She didn’t specify what kind of help this would possibly contain however stated Canada just isn’t participating within the U.S. bombing of Iran.
“We aren’t speaking about collaborating (in) Epic Fury, per se,” she stated. “This isn’t a mission that we’re contemplating. Nevertheless, our Gulf companions could require defence and help, so, inside that context, these could be the sorts of navy choices that we might contemplate.”
The Canadian Press requested remark from the Prime Minister’s Workplace, however was referred to Nationwide Defence.
Carignan’s feedback come as the Conservatives name for a parliamentary debate earlier than any form of Canadian navy deployment within the ongoing battle.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney stated in Australia Thursday — Wednesday in Canada — that Canada can’t “categorically” rule out navy participation within the escalating battle within the Center East.
He added that Canada’s potential future involvement is a “basic hypothetical” and that Ottawa will stand by its allies.
The Conservatives are calling for a parliamentary debate earlier than any form of Canadian navy deployment to the continuing battle in Iran.
“It must be as much as Parliament itself to say yea or nay on whether or not or not we’re ever going to be deploying our troops right into a battle,” Conservative defence critic James Bezan informed reporters on Thursday in Ottawa. “Let’s have the dialog the place it must be, in public so there’s transparency, within the Home of Commons.”
The prime minister initially expressed unequivocal help for the U.S. commencing airstrikes on Iran final weekend — then stated later he did so with “remorse” as a result of the bombing marketing campaign appears inconsistent with worldwide legislation.
Bezan argued these shifts make no sense — and neither does Ottawa’s insistence on a diplomatic resolution to finish the airstrikes it had endorsed.
The MP overseeing defence procurement, Stephen Fuhr, stated he had not been a part of discussions on any potential navy involvement in Iran.
“The area’s very unstable and there’s a battle happening there, so Canada will decide on what that appears like for Canada,” he informed reporters.
Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin, commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command, informed reporters at a defence and safety convention in Ottawa Thursday that there are about 200 Armed Forces members deployed to the Center East on six operations.
Boivin disclosed the quantity after Defence Minister David McGuinty and his division refused to supply a determine earlier within the week.
A few of these troops have been moved to a different nation within the area, Boivin stated, and a few have been introduced again to Canada because the battle broke out.
Canadian Joint Operations Command is the unit that will be known as upon to assist the federal authorities within the occasion of an evacuation or assisted departure of residents within the space.
Boivin stated there are not any Canadian Navy vessels or Air Power planes within the area to assist with such a mission presently. He stated the navy is within the strategy of sending six liaison officers to the Center East in case it’s requested to assist.
International Affairs Canada stated in a press release Thursday night that, as of March 5, greater than 107,000 Canadian residents and everlasting residents had been registered within the Center East.
It stated the variety of folks in its voluntary Registration of Canadian Overseas system just isn’t reflective of the precise variety of Canadians in a sure nation nor does it replicate whether or not or not they really want to depart.
The assertion stated International Affairs Canada is engaged on “a variety of choices” to help the potential departure of Canadians from a number of international locations within the Center East, by each land and air, “the place situations permit and when it’s protected to take action.”
The division stated it’s working to safe constitution flights or seats on business flights for Canadians within the area, to be made obtainable within the coming days.
“This will probably be depending on the safety scenario, together with viability of the airspace,” the assertion learn.
— With information from Sarah Ritchie and Catherine Morrison
© 2026 The Canadian Press
