Federal government officials say Canada is preparing for a possible evacuation of citizens from Lebanon should the Israel-Hamas war escalate and spread to that part of the region.
Alexandre Lévêque, an assistant deputy minister with Global Affairs Canada (GAC), told reporters on Tuesday that diplomatic efforts are being directed toward preventing the conflict from escalating.
“This is all in the hope things can be prevented from spilling over in the rest of the region. But of course, in order to face the unexpected, preparations are ongoing,” he said.
The Canadian Armed Forces have set up a “task force” in Cyprus to assist with an evacuation should GAC request one, Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie said.
“Like-minded allies are co-locating to consider, to coordinate and to plan for contingency operations in the event of continued or increased conflict in the region,” he said.
But the government is insisting that Canadians in Lebanon should consider leaving while other means are available.
Joly confirms 6th Canadian dead in Israel-Hamas war
Featured VideoForeign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she met with Tiferet Lapidot’s family to give her condolences, and that she’s been in touch with her counterparts in the region and with G7 nations to reiterate the importance of creating a humanitarian corridor to Gaza.
“If you are in Lebanon, it is now time to leave while commercial flights are still available,” Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Tuesday morning.
The government issued a travel advisory last week recommending that Canadians avoid all non-essential travel to Lebanon. It is also warning Canadians to avoid all travel to the southern region of the country.
“Right now, we are watching the situation with concern,” said Julie Sunday, a GAC assistant deputy minister.
“We are concerned there could be a deterioration, and if there is a deterioration there could be limited commercial options to leave.”
The government has arranged military airlifts for roughly 1,300 Canadians from Israel to Athens. Canadians in the West Bank have also been able to travel to Jordan by bus, a route arranged by Ottawa.
But Sunday said an evacuation of Lebanon would be challenging, in part due to the number of Canadians there.
Sunday said more than 14,000 Canadians in Lebanon have registered with the government. She said that figure is likely a “fraction” of the number of Canadians actually in the country.
Israel has evacuated towns near its northern border with Lebanon, where the military has exchanged fire repeatedly with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.
Israeli soldiers patrol along a road near the border between Israel and Lebanon, in Israel, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (AP)
The Israeli military said it killed four militants wearing explosive vests who were attempting to cross into the country from Lebanon on Tuesday morning. Video from a reconnaissance drone the army shared showed the militants near the border wall before they were targeted, causing an explosion.
Israel has warned Lebanon it will strongly retaliate against attacks from across the border. Israel fought a vicious month-long war with Hezbollah in 2006 that ended in a stalemate.
Officials confirm death of 6th Canadian
Officials also confirmed the death of another Canadian on Tuesday. It brings the total number of Canadians killed in Hamas’ attack two weeks ago to six.
Tiferet Lapidot, 23, was also at the music festival near the Re’im kibbutz when the attack began.
Joly expressed her condolences to Lapidot’s family and said she had met with her father and uncle during her recent visit to Tel Aviv.
“They told me how much she was a brilliant, beautiful young woman,” she said. “My heart and my thoughts are with her loved ones.”
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
