Canada not ruling out terrorist designation for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: Joly
The federal government has not ruled out adding Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its formal list of terrorist entities.
When pressed repeatedly on why the IRGC has not been classified as a terrorist entity, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly wouldn’t say, but told CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday that the federal government has to “have the right tools to address this issue.”
“I think that we have to work on the best tools to do it. I think that we have to, meanwhile, continue to assure the protection of our diplomats or military … in the region,” Joly said.
While Canada considers Hamas a terrorist entity, it has not extended the same designation to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. The U.S. State Department recently highlighted Iran’s funding and arming of Hamas while levying sanctions.
“It is also very important that Hamas lay down its weapons,” Joly also said. “That's also part of our approach when it comes to Hamas. When it comes to Iran, we know that Iran is a state sponsor of terror, because there are clear links between their different proxies, including of course, we know, Hamas.”
“That being said, we have one of the most stringent and tough approaches in the world when it comes to Iran,” she added, pointing to specific members and a branch of the IRGC being on the terrorist organization list, plus sanctions against other Iranian officials and entities.
And while the IRGC as a whole is not on Canada’s list of terrorist organizations, its “clandestine” branch, the Corps’ Quds Force, is.
“But I'm committed to working particularly with the Iranian community and particularly also with the PS752 families, which I've been in touch with a lot on this issue, because I know that the community is fearful of the IRGC,” Joly also said.
The IRGC shot down Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 in January 2020, and the families of the victims have called on the Canadian government to add the IRGC to its list of terrorist entities ever since.
There have been renewed calls to do so since the Oct. 7 attacks, including from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Several members of the United States Congress also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week urging the Canadian government to designate the IRGC a terrorist entity.
The United States did so in 2019 under the Trump administration and in May 2022, current U.S. President Joe Biden decided to maintain the designation.
In 2018, Joly voted in favour of an opposition motion in the House of Commons to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization under the Criminal Code, but the federal government has yet to do so.
Now, Joly says she’s been working with “key Iranian community leaders” in Canada on the issue, and that “we’ll do more in the coming year.”
When asked whether her comment about ensuring the “protection of our diplomats, (and) our military,” means she is concerned about retaliation from Iran if Canada designates the IRGC a terrorist entity, Joly said she “can’t comment on that.”
“But what I can tell you when it comes to diplomacy, reciprocity is always an issue,” she added. “That being said, what I can tell you is we have to have the right tools to address this issue, and I'm committed to working with Public Security and Justice on developing the right tools.”
Joly also said Canada has “done a lot” when it comes to the IRGC, “but we can do more, and we’ll do more.”
“So I’ll have more to say in the coming weeks,” she said.
When Kapelos asked again whether that means the terrorist entity designation is possible, Joly said the federal government will be “working with the community on this.”
“And I think that we have to be creative to develop new approaches and new tools that would permit government to do what is needed,” she said.
Joly in her interview also discussed whether she believes Israel has breached international humanitarian law in its response to the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, and whether she believes a two-state solution is possible in the region.
Watch the full interview on CTV’s Question Period Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
With files from CTVNews.ca’s Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello
IN DEPTH
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump complains about his teleprompters at a scorching Las Vegas rally
Former U.S. president Donald Trump rallied voters in the scorching heat of Las Vegas, at points telling his supporters to ask for help if needed and appearing irritable with the teleprompters that he said were not working.
CN, Amtrak cancel summer passenger train service between Montreal and New York
No passenger trains are set to run between Montreal and New York City until September amid maintenance work on the track.
$4.8M listing in B.C. includes a house, a ferry and Canada’s only floating pub
A property on B.C.’s Protection Island has hit the market for $4.8 million – but the asking price includes much more than the four-bedroom, five-bathroom waterfront home.
Capital gains proposal to be presented to Parliament on Monday, Freeland says
The Liberal government plans to take the first legislative step Monday toward increasing the inclusion rate on capital gains.
Investigation underway after fire destroys historic west Toronto church, Group of Seven murals
An investigation his now underway after a historic church in Toronto's Little Portugal area was completely destroyed by a four-alarm fire on Sunday.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has an opinion on political correctness in comedy: 'It's just good to be vigilant'
Julia Louis-Dreyfus responded to her 'Seinfeld' co-star Jerry Seinfeld's comments on cancel culture and political correctness.
Police say 2 women tried to lure boy into van in southeast Edmonton: EPS
Edmonton police say two women attempted to pick up a 12-year-old boy on Thursday in southeast Edmonton, in what they are calling an attempted abduction.
Woman charged after entering Chatham home, asking about resident's children
A 27-year-old woman has been charged with mischief after she allegedly entered a Chatham home, looking for a child.
France President Macron calls snap election after defeat in EU vote
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he was dissolving the National Assembly and calling a snap legislative election after his party suffered a heavy defeat in elections for the European Parliament.
Local Spotlight
Blue Jay Davis Schneider deserves your all-star vote - just ask his sisters
Blue Jay Davis Schneider has some help with his all-star vote campaign: His two sisters.
Great-grandma celebrates 108th birthday in Vancouver
In most families, ringing in a 100th birthday is a massive milestone. Minni Pelman’s family certainly thinks so – as they celebrate her 108th birthday in the park outside her building.
'It's a unique addition': Winnipeg man adds original Eaton's sign to growing collection
Showing off the latest purchase in his Eaton's collection, Corey Quintaine joked he is rebuilding the former flagship store that used to sit at 320 Portage Avenue one Facebook Marketplace purchase at a time.
An 11-year-old Ottawa girl wants to change the rules around backyard chickens
After learning about food security at school, 11-year-old Violette Ferguson wants fresh eggs and to change the rules around chickens in the city.
Ont. powerlifter battles back after catching mild cold that turned into rare and deadly disease
An Ontario powerlifter caught a mild cold last year. Six days later, he was fighting for his life in the ICU.
'The fresh air': Supercentenarian shares secret on 107th birthday
Marking a milestone, Lakeshore resident Olga White celebrated her 107th birthday in style Wednesday.
'What a deal': Zamboni among items available at municipal surplus sale in New Brunswick
The municipality of Tantramar, N.B., is holding a sale to get rid of surplus items it acquired after the Town of Sackville amalgamated with smaller communities last year.
Free money? Mysterious person leaving $50 bills around Metro Vancouver
For several weeks, a mysterious social media user has apparently been leaving $50 bills hidden across Metro Vancouver.
Regina Rifles statue officially unveiled in France
A statue dedicated to the Royal Regina Rifles Regiment has been officially unveiled in France just ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.