Power & Politics 'This is not our war': Ottawa staying out of Iran fight
10 snips
Mar 17, 2026 Guest
Emily Nicola
Guest
Nathan Cullen
Guest
Lisa Raitt
Guest
Supriya D.
Guest
Katie Simpson
Guest
David McGuinty
David McGuinty, Federal Defence Minister, explains Canada will not join the Iran offensive. Katie Simpson, Doha reporter, files on strikes and regional security. Lisa Raitt, former Conservative minister, and Nathan Cullen, former NDP MP, debate political and NATO implications. Emily Nicola and Supriya D. offer political commentary. Éric Grenier discusses surprising Liberal polling gains and what it means for upcoming byelections.
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Canada Says This Is Not Our War
- Canada refused to join U.S./Israeli offensive actions in Iran because it was not consulted and views the conflict as "not our war".
- David McGuinty emphasized Canada is focused on de-escalation, evacuating Canadians, and protecting deployed personnel rather than offensive operations.
Evacuate First Then Monitor Continuously
- Prioritize civilian and military safety by evacuating and monitoring in real time.
- McGuinty said Canada is moving Canadians out of the region and monitoring Canadian Armed Forces members hour by hour to govern responses accordingly.
Supporting NATO While Choosing Different Roles
- Canada remains committed to NATO while distinguishing different roles among allies.
- McGuinty pointed to Canada’s 2% spending commitment and ongoing NATO duties like commanding a 14-nation brigade in Latvia as evidence of continued alliance support.