Based on coverage from Global News, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, Winnipeg Free Press, and Devdiscourse.
Canada is ramping up evacuation help for Canadians trying to leave the Gulf region and nearby countries as the war involving Iran escalates. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Friday Ottawa has reserved hundreds of seats on commercial flights, and has lined up one charter flight so far.
More than 108,000 Canadians in the region have registered with Global Affairs Canada, Anand said. About 3,500 of those people have contacted the department to ask for help getting out.
Canada evacuation flights from Dubai and Beirut
The biggest single move is a charter flight from Dubai to Istanbul scheduled for Saturday, March 7, with room for 180 Canadians. Anand said the charter is being arranged on a cost-recovery basis, meaning passengers are expected to pay.
Ottawa has also been block-booking seats on commercial flights out of the region:
- Two Air Arabia flights from Dubai to Istanbul over the weekend, with Ottawa expecting to place about 45 to 50 Canadians on each flight. - An Emirates flight from Dubai to Toronto on Saturday, with 51 seats set aside for Canadians and their immediate family. Anand said those seats are now sold out. - A Middle East Airlines flight that left Lebanon on Thursday with 50 seats booked for Canadians. - Another 200 seats across four additional Beirut to Istanbul flights in the coming days.
Anand added that since the war began last week, Canada’s mission in Beirut had secured 325 seats for Canadians looking to depart the region.
Seats reserved for Canadians on commercial airlines
Anand framed the block-booking approach as a way to move quickly using existing airline capacity, rather than waiting for large-scale military-style airlifts. She also said that if Canadians do not use the seats Canada has reserved, Ottawa will offer them to “Europeans and like-minded missions for their staff or citizens.”
She also stressed Canada has “no intention” of taking part in U.S.-led military operations.
Qatar to Saudi Arabia buses and land travel risks
For people trying to move overland, Ottawa is also arranging bus transport. Anand said Canada has confirmed four buses leaving Qatar for Saudi Arabia beginning Saturday, with 180 seats available in total. She said Canada is co-ordinating closely with Australia on that effort.
At the same time, she warned Canadians about the risks of trying to travel by ground on their own. “Any ground transportation carries risk,” Anand said, while acknowledging some people are making independent plans.
Consular help at borders and travel documents
Beyond transportation, Anand said consular officials are working on practical barriers that can strand people even after they reach a safer border. That includes providing emergency travel documents for Canadians whose passports have expired, and trying to speed up visas for family members who need paperwork to travel.
Canada has also posted consular officials at borders in countries neighbouring Iran, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Armenia, to help Canadians who have crossed out with documents and onward travel.
Anand also said officials are looking at the possibility of using boats from Lebanon, but cautioned that travelling by sea is “especially dangerous at this time.” One report also cites U.S. military action in the area, saying the United States has been torpedoing the Iranian fleet in the region.
Political pressure and next steps in Ottawa
Anand said she is updating Liberal caucus members on Friday, amid concerns from some MPs about the government’s stance on the conflict and how often they’re being briefed. She said Canada’s position will be discussed next week when the House of Commons returns.
For Canadians affected, the immediate next steps are straightforward: register with Global Affairs Canada to receive direct updates on available seats and routes, and respond quickly when options appear since capacity is limited and flights can sell out fast.
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