March 17, 2003: Canada announces it will not join the US invasion of Iraq, while secretly promising military support

"If military action proceeds without a new resolution of the Security Council, Canada will not participate." – Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to Parliament, March 17, 2003

 “The message from the Canadians was pretty clear. We are not putting boots on the ground in Iraq. We will say good things about the United States and not-so-good things about Saddam Hussein. [However] we will keep our ships in the Persian Gulf helping in the war on terror – and any way else we can help.” – Paul Cellucci, former US ambassador to Canada, 2011

On this day in 2003, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced to the House of Commons that Canada would not be participating in the US-led invasion of Iraq. However, on the same day, top Canadian diplomats secretly met with their American and British counterparts promising Canada’s military support in the “war on terrorism.” According to a classified US diplomatic memo of the secret meeting obtained from WikiLeaks, US officials were told that Canadian naval and air forces positioned in the region could be “discreetly” put to use during the invasion.

The classified US note explained that despite public statements, Canadian military assets, including ships in the Strait of Hormuz, will be “available to provide escort services” and will be “discreetly useful to the military effort.” Shortly after the US-led invasion began, and in deep contradiction with Chretien’s public sentiments, US Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci told the Economic Club of Toronto that “ironically, the Canadian naval vessel, aircraft and personnel in the Persian Gulf […] will provide more support indirectly to this war in Iraq than most of the 46 countries that are fully supporting our efforts there.”

Chrétien’s public declaration that Canada would not join the war sparked criticism from the Bush administration and from opposition leader Stephen Harper, who wrote in the Wall Street Journal that it was a “serious mistake.” In contrast, many Canadians celebrated his decision, which some thought proved Canada’s independence from US foreign policy. In reality, evidence of Canada’s involvement and support for the invasion behind the scenes provides a different story.

Read more:

Canada offered to aid Iraq invasion: WikiLeaks - CBC

Debunking the myth of Canada’s non-involvement in the Iraq war – Canadian Dimension

Canada’s Iraq War Secret - CBC

Montreal, January 30, 2023 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging the Canadian government to strongly condemn Israel’s plans for collective punishment against Palestinians, following a week of heightened violence sparked by Israeli aggression. Israel’s far-right government is preparing to punitively target the family members of a Palestinian attacker who killed 7 Israelis in an East Jerusalem settlement, which took place one day after a deadly Israeli military raid on the Jenin refugee camp which killed at least 10 Palestinians. CJPME warns that Israel’s plan for collective punishment is prohibited under international law, and that such oppressive measures will only inflame further violence.

Canada’s pro-Israel voting record at the UN contradicts its own values and interests and harms its international reputation, according to documents released via Access to Information legislation. The released documents cover the period leading up to Canada’s 2019 decision to resume its support for Palestinian self-determination at the UN. In this report, CJPME looks at how Canadian officials really view Canada's UN voting record, and urges Canada to support all resolutions which aim to uphold Palestinian human rights.

Issued September 7, 2022

Montreal, September 7, 2022 — Canada’s career foreign affairs officials admit that Canada’s staunchly pro-Israel voting record at the United Nations contradicts its own values and interests and harms its international reputation, according to documents released under the Access to Information Act and obtained by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). The released documents cover the period leading up to Canada’s 2019 decision to resume its support for Palestinian self-determination at the UN, and reveal how Canadian officials critically view Canada’s voting record. CJPME urges the Canadian government to use the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly as an opportunity to reorient its approach, and to start supporting resolutions which aim to uphold Palestinian human rights.

Montreal, June 28, 2022- Below is a letter from CJPME to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to follow up on his commitment to providing Canadian medical treatment to 100 Palestinian children from Gaza, as promised to Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish in 2014. Click here to download PDF version of the letter. 

Montreal, September 16, 2020  — Amid growing controversy over a possible ICC investigation into Israel, newly published results from a survey conducted by EKOS Research Associates show that Canadians do not want Israel to be treated differently than other countries when it comes to consequences for alleged war crimes or human rights violations. The survey found that Canadians support an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation of any country accused of war crimes, including Israel, and they do not want Canada to overlook Israel’s human rights violations. The survey further found that Canadians do not support recognizing Jerusalem as exclusively Israel’s capital.

Montreal, June 17, 2020  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) believes that Canada’s defeat in its campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) proves that Canada’s failure to demonstrate leadership on human rights and international cooperation has isolated it from world opinion. Canada lost in the first ballot to both Norway (population 5.3 million) and Ireland (population 4.9 million). CJPME suggests that Canadian foreign policy must be critically re-examined if Canada wants to improve its international reputation and be a viable UNSC candidate in the future.

Montreal, June 11, 2020  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) believes that Canada’s bid for a UN Security Council (UNSC) seat has been badly shaken by an influential Canadian grassroots campaign. CJPME obtained a letter from Canada’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, addressed to all UN Member and Observer States and signed June 10, 2020, which seeks to defend Canada’s record on Israel and Palestine. Canada’s letter is a direct response to the campaign “Canada does not deserve a seat on the UN Security Council,” which is supported by hundreds of organizations and prominent individuals calling UN member states to vote against Canada’s candidacy for the UNSC seat. 

Montreal, June 8, 2020  — In light of the upcoming UN vote for new Security Council (UNSC) members, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Canadian government to commit to a dramatic reorientation of its foreign policy priorities. Canada is in a run-off election for a UNSC seat against Ireland and Norway, two countries whose international records demonstrate an impressive commitment to human rights and international development. The vote for the temporary, two-year seat on the UNSC is scheduled for June 17.

CJPME Factsheet No. 214, published December, 2019: This factsheet provides an overview of the 2019 Algerian Popular Protests, describing why Algerians are hitting the streets in weekly anti-government protests while outlining both the Algerian and Canadian governments' reaction to the movement.