It comes in the wake of Israeli media reports about a ‘tense conversation’ between foreign ministers
OTTAWA — The government says it is “actively engaged” and “strategically planning” in response to questions about whether it is planning an evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon in the event of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Canada has been actively engaged and strategically planning from the outset; we remain vigilant about the escalating tensions in the region,” said Jean-Pierre J. Godbout, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, in an email.
Godbout was responding to questions from the National Post in the wake of Israeli media reports about a “tense conversation” between Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and her Israeli counterpart Israel Katz about the escalating tensions in the region.
The government also warned that Canadians in Lebanon shouldn’t solely rely on Canada to assist them in leaving the country if the situation deteriorates further and that they should consider leaving “by commercial means” if possible.
“The government of Canada’s ability to provide consular services during an active conflict may be limited,” said Godbout. “There is no guarantee the Canadian government will evacuate Canadians in a crisis situation.”
Joly told Katz that Ottawa had already sent “military forces” to the region in preparation for a potential evacuation, according to the Israeli media reports.
Israeli media also reported that Katz asked Joly to put pressure on Iran to “rein in” Hezbollah, saying the “window of opportunity is closing.”
About 60,000 Israelis remain displaced from northern Israel because rockets continue to rain in from Lebanon and for fear that Hezbollah would be inspired to carry out a similar attack to Hamas’s October 7 assault.
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