The House of Commons unanimously supported a Bloc Québécois motion condemning an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate former Liberal justice minister Irwin Cotler. The RCMP had warned Cotler of an imminent threat of assassination within 48 hours, but later said the threat had been significantly lowered. Cotler, who has been under RCMP protection since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, is a vocal critic of the Iranian regime. Defence Minister Bill Blair and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne pledged to provide Cotler with all the protection that the government of Canada can offer. The RCMP declined to comment on the case, stating that protective measures are based on threat and risk assessments.
Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe stated that Cotler had drawn the ire of the Iranian regime by calling for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be listed as a terrorist entity. The Canadian government took this action in June after mounting political pressure. Brunelle-Duceppe also condemned the increasing trend of foreign powers attempting political assassinations on Canadian soil. In response to the alleged plot, B’nai Brith Canada called it an assault on Canada’s democratic values and sovereignty and emphasized the need for Canada to confront extremism, mitigate foreign interference, and protect its citizens from those who seek to undermine democracy.
Defence Minister Bill Blair emphasized that Canada’s national security and law enforcement agencies are responsible for protecting all Canadians, including parliamentarians and former parliamentarians. While providing protection to Cotler, these agencies requested that no specific details about their efforts be disclosed to the public. Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne assured that the government would provide Cotler with all the protection available. The RCMP, on the other hand, refrained from commenting on the case and stated that they do not confirm whether individuals are under protection or provide specific details about protective measures.
The Globe and Mail first reported the alleged plot to assassinate Cotler, leading to widespread condemnation from MPs in the House of Commons. Cotler, known for his human rights work and political contributions, has been under RCMP protection since the attack on Israel in October 2023. The Canadian government’s decision to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity further escalated tensions with the Iranian regime. With calls for Canada to confront extremism and protect democracy, the alleged plot serves as a wake-up call for the country to address foreign interference and safeguard its democratic values.
