OTTAWA – Defence Minister David McGuinty said he was following the advice of operational experts in the Canadian Armed Forces when his government failed to inform the public and Parliament of an Iranian missile attack on a Kuwait airbase, where CAF members are stationed.
The minister brushed off Conservative criticism of the government’s secrecy when asked about it on Tuesday.
“With all due respect to my colleagues in the Conservative party, we will take our lead from the operational experts in the Canadian Armed Forces,” said McGuinty during an unrelated press conference in Brampton, Ont.
“Who have a policy of being very careful about the security of our (CAF) on the ground,” he added.
McGuinty’s comments were in response to a reporter’s question on why his government did not disclose that an Iranian missile attack on the Canadian section of the Ali Al-salem Air Base in Kuwait, nicknamed “Camp Canada,” occurred on March 1.
Canadians and parliamentarians first learned of the strike in a story published by the Quebec newspaper La Presse last Thursday, 11 days after the strike.
When asked about the report that day, Prime Minister Mark Carney responded that he was not “the only spokesperson for the government,” adding that all Canadian Forces were safe.
The Conservatives and the other opposition parties have questioned the government on its lack of transparency. Conservative defence critic James Bezan has said it was a failure of government communications.
“I think it’s up to the Conservative party to explain why they might want to pursue information or reveal information that would compromise that security,” said McGuinty.
“And dare I go one step further, I think if Mr. Poilievre had the requisite security clearance, he might get a briefing that would indicate otherwise, and he might actually change his perspective,” the defence minister added.
In response to the minister’s comments, Bezan said the Liberal government could have assessed the situation much sooner and informed Canadians without compromising security of Canadian troops in the region.
“Our allies are doing it and the Liberals should as well, as was the practice under the previous Conservative government,” said Bezan, in a statement. “The Carney Liberals are clearly making excuses now because they know they were wrong.”
Bezan called for an end to a culture of secrecy.
“Canadians don’t need special security clearances for the Liberal government to treat them with respect,” he said.
Brett Boudreau, former public affairs officer for the Canadian Armed Forces, said this is a result of systemic problems with government communications writ large and a government mindset that all information is secret, unless proven otherwise.
“I have spent 30 years in uniform, including in some hot spaces,” said Boudreau, who now serves as a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and is a principal consultant at Veritas Strategic Communications Inc. “I well appreciate the clear and compelling need for operational security, but you can’t use that as a cudgel to avoid answering questions because they’re awkward or embarrassing.”
“There’s neither responsibility nor accountability,” he said.
McGuinty has left the door open for Canada to provide military assistance to Gulf states as the war in the Middle East enters its 18th day.
He said if that decision is made, an announcement will follow.
However, McGuinty has stressed the Canadian Forces will not play any offensive role in the conflict. When asked about how many military personnel are in the region, McGuinty once again cited “security reasons” as to why he can’t provide more details.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the Canadian government is against the “weaponization” of shipping lanes, referring to Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz in contravention of international law. The near shutdown of the strait has pushed the price of oil to around $100 a barrel.
“There should be no weaponization of international shipping lanes and prevention from countries around the world having the resources that they need,” she told reporters on the sidelines of her visit to Ankara, Turkey.
Anand said the blocking of the strait violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“This is a very important point that I’m working with countries from the Gulf region and around the world on, and I will be seeking support from them on this very key point of international law,” Anand said.
The foreign minister did not provide any details on what Canada’s potential role might be in securing the key shipping lane but said no formal request has been made to NATO.
In a post on truth social on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. no longer needs NATO countries’ assistance.
Trump also expressed his disappointment with the transatlantic defensive alliance.
“When they don’t help us, it’s certainly something we should think about,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We spent trillions of dollars on NATO, think of it, trillions over the years.”
Trump was asked about a timeline of when the strait could be reopened.
“It won’t be, I don’t believe too long,” he said. “We’re knocking the hell out of the coast and the water.”
Anand said she has not spoken to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio since the attack on the Islamic Republic began on Feb. 28. However, she plans to see him next week for a G7 foreign affairs ministers’ meeting in Paris.
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