Canadian Armed Forces Planes Ready to Airlift When Conditions Permit: Minister

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly rises during question period in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2023. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

About 200 Canadian Armed Forces members and two Hercules aircraft are in the Sudan region, the defence minister says, ready to help evacuate people from the country when conditions permit.

Anita Anand told reporters on her way into the House of Commons that for this to happen, there will need to be space to land at the airport in Khartoum and a way to ensure Canadians are able to get there safely.

She says the aircraft arrived “recently,” though she would not specify when, and she did not say whether Canadian military personnel and equipment are actually in Sudan.

About 150 Canadians and permanent residents have been able to leave the country in the last two days with the help of allies, including Germany, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said earlier today.

Sudan has been in a state of crisis since violence broke out last week between the  East African country’s army and a paramilitary force.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week  that a Canadian C-17 military plane was in the region to do airlifts, but so far Canada has relied on other countries to find space on their planes or boats.

Joly said roughly 1,800 Canadian citizens or permanent residents have registered their presence in Sudan and 700 of them have asked for help to get out of the country.

She said Canada is also considering a request from Sudanese diaspora groups for relatives to be able to come to Canada on a temporary basis until the violence abates.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said Wednesday the government called in some staffers who were on strike with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, declaring them essential workers in order to help process immigration paperwork for people in Sudan.

Fraser noted Canada is already fast-tracking applications Sudanese citizens had filed for visitor visas before the violence started, and is waving some fees such as for Canadians with expired passports.

“We see what’s going on and are trying to adopt policies that reflect the gravity of the situation on the ground,” he told reporters.

“We’ve actually had some staff return from the public service strike who are deemed essential to help those whose lives may be at risk, which is essential.”

Joly noted that Canada is including dual nationals and permanent residents of Canada in its plans to help, as well as their spouses and dependants.

“In times of crisis, Canada’s always there to help, and that’s why we'll be there,” she said.

Anand would not say whether Canada will send special forces soldiers into Sudan, as other countries have done.

“We’re working very closely with our allies to ensure that we have a secure and targeted approach to get Canadians out,” Anand said in response to questions from reporters earlier on Wednesday.

She also did not say when Canada would start flying out people on its own planes.

“We have personnel and capabilities in the region, including two ships in the waters just off the coast,” Anand said, referring to the Red Sea.

“We'll continue to do whatever possible, together with our allies and with our own capabilities, to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.”