Defence Minister Says Poilievre’s Calls for Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities ‘Irresponsible’

National Defence Minister Bill Blair speaks with reporters in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, on June 17, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Defence Minister Bill Blair says it is “reckless and irresponsible” for the Conservative leader to call for Israel to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, citing international humanitarian laws.

Canada is among the 174 nations that signed the 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The agreement prohibits attacks on nuclear facilities due to the potential dangers posed to innocent civilians and the environment, Blair told the House of Commons Defence Committee on Oct. 10.

Under the convention, dams, dykes, and nuclear electrical generating stations “shall not be made the object of attack, even where these objects are military objectives.”

“I think it’s reckless and irresponsible to call for attacks on nuclear facilities which are very specifically prohibited under international humanitarian laws,” Blair said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Israel should be able to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities in response to Iranian missile attacks on the country last week. The comments were made during an event commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.

Poilievre told reporters Oct. 9 that preventing the “genocidal, theocratic, unstable dictatorship” from developing nuclear weapons would be ”a gift by the Jewish state to humanity.” Iran says its nuclear program is for energy generation and peaceful purposes, while Israel says the Islamic regime in Iran is after nuclear weapons.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters that Poilievre’s proposal would trigger a broader war in the Middle East, which is not in the interests of Israel, Gaza, or Lebanon. Blair said in an X post that Poilievre’s proposal was “dangerously irresponsible” and prevented by the laws of armed conflict.

Tories Push Back

During the committee meeting, Conservative MP James Bezan said although the Geneva Convention protocols make mention of nuclear power generation facilities, Poilievre was addressing locations used for the development of nuclear weapons.

“Can you not agree that those sites are fair game for Israel to retaliate against the regime in Tehran?” he asked, to which Blair responded that it was “not a yes or no answer.”

When Conservative MP Dean Allison asked whether Iran should be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, Blair said he was “deeply concerned” about the country’s increasing military capabilities and support for terrorist organizations.

“So why wouldn’t Israel have the ability to attack those sites?” Allison asked.

Blair said while the international community has a “responsibility to do everything it can to prevent Iran from obtaining” nuclear weapons, it should “not be done in a way that puts countless lives and the environment” at risk.

During a press conference held later in the day, Poilievre suggested Blair had done a “flip-flop” on his answer in committee.

“The Liberals said they had no problem with that country getting nuclear weapons,” he said. “Today, Bill Blair flip-flopped in committee and said that there would be certain circumstances where a strike against a nuclear weapons manufacturing facility would be allowed.”

“So you have to ask Bill Blair where he stands, because he keeps changing his mind every single day.”