Mourners react during the funeral of Israeli soldier Benjamin Loeb, a dual Israeli-French citizen, in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Loeb was killed on Saturday as the militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel. (Francisco Seco/The Associated Press)
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says the federal government will be airlifting Canadians out of Israel as the country’s war with Hamas rages on.
Hamas militants launched attacks into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip over the weekend, killing hundreds and abducting dozens. Militants have continued to launch rockets from Gaza. In response, Israel has declared war on Hamas and has carried out a series of airstrikes in Gaza. An estimated 1,900 people have died on both sides.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, Joly said military aircraft will begin evacuation flights from Tel Aviv “in the coming days.” Flights will be available for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families.
The government is looking into other options to assist those who cannot reach the Tel Aviv airport, Joly said. More details are expected to be announced tomorrow.
The federal government is weighing plans to get Canadians out of the country by sea and land, sources told Radio-Canada earlier Tuesday. News of a possible airlift was first reported by The Toronto Star.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said Tuesday that more than 3,200 Canadians in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza and the West Bank have registered with the department.
The department also said it’s aware of reports that one Canadian has died and three others have gone missing in the attacks. On Tuesday, Vancouver MP Taleeb Noormohamed said a man in his riding had been killed. GAC said it was aware of reports of a second death as well.
Canadian politicians from across the political spectrum gathered at solidarity rallies in support of Israel on Monday.
In Ottawa, both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attended a rally in support of Israel.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre listen to speeches at a rally in support of Israel at the Soloway Jewish Community Centre in Ottawa on Monday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
“Canada unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms condemns these terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas. We stand with Israel and reaffirm our support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law,” Trudeau said Monday night.
Trudeau said he was horrified by the Hamas attack on an outdoor concert and by reports of kidnappings and gun assaults targeting civilians. Hamas says it still has roughly 130 Israeli hostages.
“These acts are sickening and completely unimaginable. We demand the liberation of the hostages and urge that they are treated in conformity with international law,” Trudeau said in a mix of English and French.
In Canadian cities, as in many other countries, rallies were held over the weekend expressing support for an independent Palestinian state. Some rally attendees disavowed Hamas, while others refused to condemn its actions.
Trudeau speaks at Israel solidarity event
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers remarks at an Ottawa-area event designed to show solidarity with Israelis amid an ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Trudeau mentioned those rallies in his speech Monday.
“Let me be very clear. Hamas terrorists are not a resistance. They aren’t freedom fighters, they are terrorists. And no one in Canada should be supporting them, much less celebrating them,” he said.
Poilievre also spoke at the event Monday, expressing support for Israel and condemning Hamas.
“The incredible carnage that this terrorist death cult has unleashed in the last 72 hours would be bad enough, were it not for the apparent pleasure and sadistic pride with which it was carried out,” Poilievre said.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre addresses pro-Israel rally
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a rally in Ottawa expressing solidarity with Israelis as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues after a weekend of violence.
“Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people, it does not speak for Muslims and it surely does not speak for Canadians. And that is why I unreservedly condemn any and all who took part in the disgusting celebrations that we have seen on our streets.”
Poilievre also focused some of his speech Monday on the possible involvement of Iran, specifically the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). Iran has long been one of Hamas’s most important allies.
The Conservative leader questioned how Hamas had been able to arm and organize itself to the point where it could execute the large-scale attacks over the weekend.
Canada focused on efforts to de-escalate Israel-Hamas conflict, minister says
‘We support Israel’s right to defend itself according to international law. Hostages must be released and, of course, civilians must be protected,’ said Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly. ‘My priority is to protect Canadians and also to work diplomatically to try to find a solution to de-escalate.’
“It’s clear to me that the regime of Iran has been the greatest actor of evil and terrorism on the world stage, and we must work day and night to defeat that regime,” Poilievre said. Iran denies it played any role in helping to orchestrate the attacks.
Poilievre called on the federal government to designate the IRGC a criminal entity. The government has imposed travel restrictions on the top echelon of the IRGC, but former justice minister David Lametti called a designation under the Criminal Code a “blunt instrument.”
In Toronto, several other federal politicians joined a pro-Israel rally, including Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. She noted the wide range of politicians in attendance, including MPs, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
“But tonight, we are here as Canadians,” Freeland said.
“It’s so important for us to recognize how serious, how terrible, the events that we’re here to recognize are, and for us to speak as Canadians, with one voice to the world.”
Consular access
Poilievre also said that Canadians stranded in the conflict zone must receive high-quality consular services.
Over the weekend, there was some controversy over whether Canadians in the region had access to the Canadian embassy in Tel Aviv. People reported being diverted to hotlines or told that the embassy was closed or working on holiday hours, according to The Canadian Press.
Speaking to CBC’s Power & Politics, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said the embassy had been in operation over the Thanksgiving long weekend.
On Monday, a group of powerful Western nations, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, France and Italy, released a statement expressing “steadfast and united support” for Israel and “unequivocal condemnation of Hamas.” The statement was organized under the banner of the “Quint” informal international grouping.
A Canadian official speaking on the condition of anonymity said Canada was not asked to join the statement, but downplayed the importance of its inclusion, noting Canadian statements were in lockstep with its international allies.
In a statement, the White House National Security Council said U.S. President Joe Biden “organized a call with European leaders in the Quint Format, which we use regularly for consultations, and we also continue to co-ordinate closely with our Canadian allies.”
Demands for government intervention in Air Canada labour talks could negatively affect airline competition in Canada, the CEO of travel company Transat AT Inc. said.
“The extension of such an extraordinary intervention to Air Canada would be an undeniable competitive advantage to the detriment of other Canadian airlines,” Annick Guérard told analysts on an earnings conference call on Thursday.
“The time and urgency is now. It is time to restore healthy competition in Canada,” she added.
Air Canada has asked the federal government to be ready to intervene and request arbitration as early as this weekend to avoid disruptions.
Comments on the potential Air Canada pilot strike or lock out came as Transat reported third-quarter financial results.
Guérard recalled Transat’s labour negotiations with its flight attendants earlier this year, which the company said it handled without asking for government intervention.
The airline’s 2,100 flight attendants voted 99 per cent in favour of a strike mandate and twice rejected tentative deals before approving a new collective agreement in late February.
As the collective agreement for Air Transat pilots ends in June next year, Guérard anticipates similar pressure to increase overall wages as seen in Air Canada’s negotiations, but reckons it will come out “as a win, win, win deal.”
“The pilots are preparing on their side, we are preparing on our side and we’re confident that we’re going to come up with a reasonable deal,” she told analysts when asked about the upcoming negotiations.
The parent company of Air Transat reported it lost $39.9 million or $1.03 per diluted share in its quarter ended July 31. The result compared with a profit of $57.3 million or $1.49 per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue totalled $736.2 million, down from $746.3 million in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Transat says it lost $1.10 per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of $1.10 per share a year earlier.
It attributed reduced revenues to lower airline unit revenues, competition, industry-wide overcapacity and economic uncertainty.
Air Transat is also among the airlines facing challenges related to the recall of Pratt & Whitney turbofan jet engines for inspection and repair.
The recall has so far grounded six aircraft, Guérard said on the call.
“We have agreed to financial compensation for grounded aircraft during the 2023-2024 period,” she said. “Alongside this financial compensation, Pratt & Whitney will provide us with two additional spare engines, which we intend to monetize through a sell and lease back transaction.”
Looking ahead, the CEO said she expects consumer demand to remain somewhat uncertain amid high interest rates.
“We are currently seeing ongoing pricing pressure extending into the winter season,” she added. Air Transat is not planning on adding additional aircraft next year but anticipates stability.
“(2025) for us will be much more stable than 2024 in terms of fleet movements and operation, and this will definitely have a positive effect on cost and customer satisfaction as well,” the CEO told analysts.
“We are more and more moving away from all the disruption that we had to go through early in 2024,” she added.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
