Prime Minister Mark Carney told lawmakers Tuesday that Canada will not take part in the ongoing military conflict involving Iran, declaring the country has no intention of joining the offensive led by the United States and Israel.
Speaking during question period in the House of Commons of Canada, Carney stated clearly that Canada is not involved in the war and “will never participate in it.”
The prime minister altered his schedule to attend Tuesday’s session after facing criticism from opposition parties for missing a parliamentary debate the previous day focused on the escalating conflict.
Despite the tension surrounding the issue, Carney faced relatively few questions about the war during the session, as Conservative MPs largely focused their criticism on domestic issues such as inflation, affordability and public safety.
However, Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, raised concerns about the government’s approach and pressed the prime minister to outline his broader vision for the Middle East.
Blanchet criticized Carney for what he described as excessive international travel, saying the prime minister had been “travelling the globe like Marco Polo,” and urged him to clarify Canada’s diplomatic position on the conflict.
Responding in French, Carney said Canada supports efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and from exporting terrorism, but reiterated that the country would not join the current military campaign.
Blanchet also asked whether Carney had coordinated with European leaders on a unified response. The prime minister replied that he had spoken with several leaders from the Group of Seven, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and said discussions are ongoing about promoting de-escalation in the region.
Carney also confirmed he had spoken Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron. According to the Prime Minister’s Office of Canada, the two leaders discussed the need to ensure secure access through the Strait of Hormuz as well as rising global energy prices linked to the conflict.
The prime minister also held talks Monday with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar.
Carney faced heckling from some Conservative MPs over his absence during Monday’s debate, including comments from British Columbia Conservative MP Frank Caputo who shouted “Thanks for coming out!” during the session.
Meanwhile, Liberal MP John-Paul Danko fired back at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre during a heated exchange over recent synagogue shootings in Canada, telling him to obtain security clearance and accusing him of adopting rhetoric linked to the American political movement commonly known as MAGA.
The criticism of Carney intensified after opposition MPs pointed out that he had skipped Monday’s parliamentary debate on the Iran conflict despite the government initiating the discussion.
According to his official schedule, Carney attended a community iftar event Monday evening, marking the daily fast-breaking meal during Ramadan.
Several opposition figures said the absence raised concerns about accountability.
Quebec Conservative MP Gérard Deltell questioned why the prime minister had not addressed Parliament sooner, asking where he was during a debate focused on a major international crisis.
Carney has also faced criticism over what opponents describe as shifting messaging about the war. He initially expressed support for the airstrikes aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons but later said the attacks likely violated international law and that his earlier support came “with regret.”
He also drew scrutiny after stating he could not completely rule out Canadian participation in the conflict if allies requested assistance, though he described the scenario as hypothetical.
Don Davies, interim leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, said the prime minister’s absence from Monday’s debate was unacceptable and called for clearer communication from the government about Canada’s stance.
