Canadian Defence Minister reaffirms commitment to removing Iranian officials following alleged deportation of second official

Following reports that a second alleged senior Iranian official will be deported from Canada, Defence Minister Bill Blair said the federal government is “absolutely committed” to removing individuals who are connected to the Iranian regime or sponsor terrorism around the world.

“When individuals have been involved in activity that would make them ineligible to be in this country, we’ll do everything we can to keep them out. And when they do get into this country, we’ll do everything we can to remove them,” Mr. Blair told reporters on Dec. 13.

The Canadian government has launched a case against Iranmanesh Majid, who faces possible deportation under sanctions introduced in 2022 banning senior members of the Iranian regime from Canada.

The case was scheduled to begin on Jan. 17, 2024, and the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) will conduct hearings to decide whether there are sufficient grounds to deport Mr. Majid over his ties to the Iranian regime.

Canada’s ban on senior members of the Iranian regime, implemented on Nov. 14, 2022, applies to those who have “perpetrated crimes against the people of Iran and other nations.” The ban covers heads of state, cabinet members, ambassadors, senior diplomats, military officials, and judges from Iran.

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“In addition to being banned from entering Canada, current and former senior officials present here may be investigated and removed from the country,” reads a press release from CBSA.

Back in September, the Canadian government imposed additional sanctions on Iran to mark the one-year anniversary of the arrest of a woman for improperly wearing her hijab. The sanctions banned six senior regime officials from entering Canada or having holdings in the country.

‘Cooperation’ Required to Remove Individuals

Mr. Blair said individuals who have been involved with the Iranian regime or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), or who sponsor terrorism around the world, should be removed from Canada if the RCMP or CBSA become aware of information indicating their involvement.

“We need the cooperation of the community. We need information in order to deal effectively with these individuals,” Mr. Blair added.

During a press conference in Ottawa last week, Mr. Blair said that while the federal government is concerned about the Iranian regime’s activities, it should be careful not to suggest that Iranians are not welcome in the country. “But there are some individuals whose history demonstrates that they are not appropriate for entry into Canada, and we’ll do everything necessary to protect Canada’s national interests.”

The federal Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre have repeatedly called for the Liberal government to ban the IRGC from Canada, which Mr. Poilievre has called the “most sophisticated, well-financed terror group on planet Earth.” But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not committed to listing it as a terrorist entity.

While the Liberals supported a Tory motion in the House of Commons in 2018 to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity, they have not done so since. Back in 2022, then-justice minister David Lametti said he was concerned that using the Criminal Code against Iran would be too much of a “blunt instrument” since military service is mandatory and Iran and labelling the IRGC a terrorist organization may “punish innocent people or those against the regime.”

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