YOUR SPACE:
Your thoughts on Canada's efforts to help Canadians leave Lebanon
CBC News Viewpoint | July, 2006
Canadian passengers fleeing Lebanon on the first boatload to Cyprus arrived Thursday, with many complaining it was a harrowing journey because there was no food or water, and officials offered them little help on board.
The Blue Dawn, which left Beirut late Wednesday, is one of seven ships arranged by Ottawa to help Canadians in Lebanon flee violence from an Israeli offensive that entered its ninth day on Thursday.
Four more ships left the Lebanese capital on Thursday and are headed to Turkey. Two more ships are expected to arrive in Beirut to transport Canadians sometime Thursday.
Canadians are desperate to escape the Israeli military strikes that began after Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants crossed the border into Israel on July 12 and attacked an army outpost, capturing two Israeli.
As many as 50,000 Canadians are believed to be in Lebanon. The bulk of them are thought to have dual citizenship, and are permanent residents of Lebanon and unlikely to leave. About 5,000 are visiting relatives for the summer holidays, something they do every year.
Your letters:
I am appalled by the people who are more worried about their tax dollars than helping our fellow Canadians out. Just because these people may hold dual citizenships doesn't mean that they are second class citizens.
For these people who think we are wasting our money on our own people, I could make a similar argument about health care. I personally haven't used our health care system in years. I could argue that all the elderly and disabled people should have to pay for it themselves; but yet, it is not only our right as citizens to have free health care, but it is also our country's duty to help its citizens.
— Imran Waheed | Edmonton
As a Canadian living in the U.S. and one who travels frequently through out much of the world, I can sympathize with people wanting out of the danger in Lebanon.
But how long have some of these people been there? If they are Canadians of convenience and permanently reside in Lebanon
they should be the last to leave - or pay their own passage on a ship. Tourists to Lebanon should be evacuated, but permanent residents of maybe 2 years or more...pay your own way.
50,000 people are going to take weeks to evacuate and the conditions are not going to be good - but they will make it out and will be safe - in the end. And the government appears to be doing the best job it can considering Canada's proximity and limited military strength.
—John Pomeroy | Albany, N.Y.
It's hard for me to believe that some of these nasty, selfish comments are coming from Canadians. My view of our citizens as compassionate humanitarians is forever changed.
I wonder if any of those who have written their views have actually been to Lebanon or know anything about the situation except what they see on the news.
Do none of them have family living in other countries? Could tragedy not strike anywhere in the world these days?
The reports that I have seen show Lebanese Canadians who are distraught, concerned for loved ones, perhaps dehydrated and hungry, who have voiced frustration over the disorganization of the evacuation process but quickly follow up with "we know they are doing the best that they can".
—Michael Roberts | Vancouver, B.C.
Bombs falling, little food or water, lack of sleep, unbearable heat, fear and uncertainty are really good motivators for complaining and for frustration. However war is an ugly affair. There is very little room for comfortable conditions.
Under the circumstances I believe any one of us here safe at home would be complaining also. I understand the government is doing what it can to help people, But I'm sure it has to be a logistical nightmare.
It's disappointing what I have read in a few letters posted in this webbiest, a multitude of a different brand of complaints are being voiced. All I hear are selfish reasons not to help "dual citizens" halfway across the world. They are classified as "second class", they are not less deserving because they have chosen to live somewhere else.
I want to believe in my heart that these words do not represent the majority of people of this great nation we call Canada.
I have dual citizenship. I work and pay taxes just like the rest of us that are blessed to have a job. I'm not even of Lebanese descent, but I'm glad that "my tax money" can be used to help people in need not matter their heritage. People deserve assistance whether their name is Hamasni or Smith.
Kitchener, Ontario
— Mario | Second Class Canadian
While I can see Canada spending sums of money to evacuate Canadian citizens from the Israeli bombing of civilians in Lebanon, I believe it should be to the nearest safe country.
The travel to Canada should be paid for by the people who were visiting Lebanon. They must have return tickets to Canada and if not then they have probably been long term residents of Lebanon who have Canadian citizenship.
As a Canadian taxpayer I am not happy about the cost to bring 25,000 people to Canada.
—James Nicoloff | Toronto
While I am sure trying to get out of the Middle East right now is difficult, I can't say that I feel any sympathy for these folks. In fact, I find it troubling that these people seem to think that the Canadian Government has a duty to not only evacuate them, but pay for it too.
Unless you are working for the government in those areas, you assume the risks to vacationing/travelling to hot spots around the world, especially when the government warns you not to travel to these places.
Rather than complaining about the evacuation procedure, you should feel lucky the government sees fit to help you at all in the first place. Remember, taxpayer dollars are paying for you to get out of there.
—Eric Wilson | Toronto
I was able to connect with my parents this morning who fled the Bekaa Valley into Syria just hours earlier. They advised of very grim conditions beginning to develop in Syria with people desperate to find accomodations and sky rocketing prices for basic essentials such as food.
We have been advised by foreign affairs that Canada is not going to assist in evacuating Canadian nationals that manage to get into Syria. This is absurd given that this is the only viable means out of Lebanon for thousands of Canadians caught in areas outside of Beirut and who cannot under any circumstances make it into Beirut to board the ships provided by the government.
There is an impending humanitarian crisis brewing in Syria as thousands of more people cross over from Lebanon to flee the wrath Israel has unleashed on the millions of innocent Lebanese citizens and foreign nationals.
It is time the Canadian government step up its evacuation and help our citizens stuck in Syria who may have to wait up to 2 weeks to get a flight home.
—Hoda Jawad | Edmonton, Alta.
I am in total shock at the spoiled attitudes of the Canadians in Lebanon. This is a time of war, not a line up for a concert. The Canadian Embassy staff are doing their very best, considering the numbers they have to deal with.
People keep complaining that they have not been able to speak with any Embassy staff--how many people do they think are working at the Embassy? Surely not enough people to personally speak with all 30,000 people waiting in line!
Already the Embassy has recruited many volunteers to try and help, but there is only so much they can do. It is not like they saw this coming 3 months ago and were able to hire enough staff to handle every one's personal demands!
This is a war, not a pre-planned event. They have no right to complain that things are not "organized". Things are simply as organized as can be in a time of war. They are lucky to be Canadians, and lucky to have help at all. In times of war, there are many people who do not get to rely on their home countries to help at all...so they should count their blessings.
—Kelly Mcconnell | Toronto
I am appalled at the borderline racist remarks at some of the letters published here on this page. The generalization that people who hold dual-citizenships are somehow inferior smacks of a close-minded world view and of a hypocrisy that is merely convenient and without rationality.
Would we deny citizenship to those who have lived here for decades, who have grown up here from child to adult, who have known most of their natural existence as a Canadian, but merely chose to live somewhere else later in life?
—Michael Lau | Edmonton
What is wrong with these people! They or most of them have been living in Lebanon for many many years, and I am sure that they had no intentions to coming back to Canada, if war hadn't broken out.
I would think that the Canadians who contribute to taxes etc. and have homes here should be the priority. Also what is Lebanon doing to assist, but wanting all the other countries to assist them. Let them get rid of Hezbollah, first and then maybe the world will respond.
If we have 40,000 so called Canadians, coming back to Canada, that will cost Canada over a $100 million dollars. Guess who is going to pay for these people, we are. They chose to live there, and now that it is invaded and entrapped in war, they want to come back to Canada.
—Suzanne Jardine | Stoney Creek, Ont.
It is extremely arrogant of these people who refer to the Lebanese Canadians as second class citizens. It is the free choice of all Canadian citizens to travel to and live where they see fit.
All Canadian citizens are equal. Where do these people get the nerve to take it upon themselves to be the judge, good grief.
Get real. If it was your family in Europe or a catastrophe in Indonesia,China, India, etc, would you be judging? This is ridiculous.
—Rick Dearva | U.S.A.
Yeah, they are Lebanese first, more than twenty-five thousand of them with highly divided loyalties, the majority of them living in Lebanon on a semi-permanent basis, and keeping their Canadian passports for some emergencies only.
I know, it is legal, but I find their present cries somewhat dishonest. Some continue to refer to Lebanon as “their country” and even praise Hezbollah as its protector.
—Mirko Macalik | Halifax
I would like to make a couple of comments regarding the crisis in Lebanon and the evacuation of Canadian citizens:
1. Why were people visiting parts of Lebanon that were controlled by a radical, violent terrorist organization? What were these "tourists" thinking?
2. How many of these dual Canadians actually live in Lebanon and use the Canadian Passport and citizenship as vehicles of convenience.
3. Do we really owe the same service to a dual citizen that has returned to Lebanon to live full time and let his passport lapse? They are not paying Canadian taxes or contributing to Canada in anyway. There are not 50,000 Canadian tourists visiting Lebanon this summer.
4. Being dual citizens, does not the Lebanese government have a responsibility to protect and help pay for the evacuation of their citizens?
5. I noticed that the NDP foreign affairs critic referred to these people as Canadian Lebanese. I wonder if the people trying to get out refer to themselves as Canadian Lebanese or Lebanese Canadians. It makes you wonder when you hear people of Lebanese descent refer to "their country" and its not Canada.
—Joe Murray
Who are these people? First, they complain that the government doesn't have a complete flotilla standing by on 24 hours notice to evacuate them from any place in the world. Then, when the flotilla does show up, they complain that it wasn`t first class.
Someone ought to tell them to stop the whining and the CBC ought to stop giving credence to this nonsense.
—Matt Harrington | Montreal
CBC and other Canadian Media misleads the public on almost every issue involving the serious implications of dual citizenship. It is about time you stopped talking about "Canadians" being evacuated from Lebanon and questioned the fact that the majority are Lebanese citizens and Canadian citizens.
What for example is the cost of evacuating "Lebanese" so-called Canadians from Lebanon? How many millions (billions)of dollars do the citizens of Canada have to pay for these half citizens to hire cruise ships, employ the military, pay for meals, hotels, air travel etc?
These people knew they were going to a dangerous place? Why should real Canadians pay for divided loyalties?
—Richard D. Field | Toronto
I am disgusted by the complaining and un-gratefulness of those who have been interviewed while waiting for ships to rescue them. From what I have seen many hold dual citizenship with the Canadian one being the passport of convenience the escape valve if you will.
The aspects of Canada that are so appealing: Freedom, stability, humanitarianism, social safety net, are not free and have come at a terrific cost to our military infrastructure. We do not have a Mediterranean fleet on standby for every conflict that boils up in the Middle East.
It is interesting that our neighbour to the south with just such a fleet and ten times our population has only managed to pluck some 350 of its citizens out of harms way so far.
For those of you who complain the Canadian response has been inadequate give your head a shake. It is also interesting that in a age of global terrorism so many Lebanese Canadians would travel back to the place their parents or even they themselves fled only to be caught up in yet another predictable war.
The Hezballah did not sign a peace deal, its kind of like vacationing in Kandahar don't you think?
—J. Watchell | Rocky Mtn. House, Alta.
I can't believe what I am reading of from these people who are more worried about their taxes than helping Canadians stranded to get out of Lebanon.
I am more mad about our Canadian government spending on useless military toys for War instead of spending on health or education.
—Luc Lucvik | Ottawa
As a Canadian Naval Officer serving in the U.K., I am concerned about my fellow Canadian citizens caught in the war zone which Lebanon has become, and would like nothing more than to see all those who want out, to get out, and as quickly as possible. I think it is ridiculous, however, to criticize the Canadian government for the time it is taking to make that happen.
Comparisons are being made in the press and in the letters in this venue to efforts being made by other countries, such as Italy, France, the UK and the US, and how they have already gotten some of their citizens out, whereas Canada didn't get their first citizens out until Wednesday. To put this into perspective, one might want to take a look at a number of factors which come into play.
To start with, the geography... Italy, for instance is only across the Med from Beirut, so obviously they are going to be able to respond more quickly than Canada. Other European countries have similar advantages, though to a lesser extent.
The U.S. shares Canada's geographic disadvantage in this situation, but has the advantage of a huge navy, with numerous ships almost continuously stationed in that troubled part of the world. How can one possibly expect that Canada, with only 17 operational major war vessels, should be able to accomplish the same?
Even the US, with their massive resources, stated on Wednesday that they expect to have only 6000 people evacuated from the region by the weekend. Even at their most conservative estimates, Canadian officials expect to do better than that within the same time frame.
Finally, this crisis erupted very quickly, without a long period of build-up which would allow contingency plans to be put in place, naval ships to be pre-positioned and/or civilian ships to be contracted. The disablement of the Beirut airport eliminated the possibility of a rapid evacuation using chartered aircraft. Those who have been evacuated by air, have been evacuated by long-range helicopters operating off naval vessels. Canada has no naval vessels in the vicinity, and our navy helicopters do not have the capacity to carry large numbers of passengers anyway.
The fact of the matter is that Canada has a huge number of citizens in the region, many more than any other country, by all accounts. The question which should be asked is whether it would be better to rush in and evacuate a few quickly, or to conduct a well-organized and logistically sustainable effort to evacuate all who desire to leave? I think the answer is obvious, and it seems that is exactly what our government is doing.
—Jim Cornish | Portsmouth, U.K.
Some questions for the PM: Why, after 8 days, are there no RCN warships, on station, in Cyprus to assist the evac and provide protection for our ships so that they can all dock at once?
The RCN has 16 frigates and destroyers, where are they all right now? Are any on the way? Where is the RCAF and Cdn Army? Isn't providing support for Cdns in crisis a priority for the CAF?
—Duncan Munro | Langley, B.C.
It is disheartening to read comments with little sympathy for Canadians in need of help in Lebanon - worrying about the costs, or if they are "real" Canadians or not.
The truth is, these things don't matter much, as I would rather trade some of those "real" Canadians who have little tolerance, compassion or character for immigrants from other countries who have the good qualities of what I would consider an ideal Canadian.
The Canadian government IS obligated to protect its citizens, regardless of circumstances or dual passports. In addition to this, it should demonstrate the qualities of "ideal Canadianship" by expressing concern for the welfare and safety of all civilians who are in harm's way.
—L. Baker | Edmonton
PM Harper is staking all the heat for the `slow` response to the evacuation. However, in light of the situation, the amount of people, I feel that everything that could have been done thus far has been done.
Harper is doing everything he can including removing as much as possible from his personal plane to help with the evacuation. The one thing we must admit about Harper is that he gets things done.
With the resources made available to us and the fact this is the largest evacuation Canada has ever attempted, I do not think that any other result could have been expected.
—Max Riopelle | Kingston, Ont.
In general, my feelings and thoughts are confused and ambivalent. On the one hand, these people need assistance; on the Font other.... what in hell are 40-50,000 Canadians doing in Lebanon when things are so unstable.
These are not all tourists or visitors. From media reports, I understand that some of these "Canadians" live there. Why are they "Canadians"?
It strikes me that these people chose to enter an unstable area, so they should be responsible for their own extrication. The initial "attacks" did come from Lebanon and not Israel.
David J. Constable | Nanoose Bay, B.C.
I think the PM is doing the right thing by taking some of Canadians home on his plane. The criticism placed on the government for acting to slow is unjustified considering the number stranded there when all roads and air travel is not feasible because of the bombing.
Remember,that these Canadians have a chance to get out, the people of Lebanon and Israel that live there cannot escape to a safe country like Canada.
I think people should stop complaining,and be thankful the government is footing the bill to get them out when other countries are requiring their citizens to repay back evacuation costs!
Darcy Smith | Prince Albert, Sask.
In my opinion Canadians of all walks of life have the full right to have their own agendas and make their own decisions for themselves, legally use their citizenship as they see fit, including where they choose to reside and eventually call home.
A citizenship in its core is a technicality implying state affiliation, bestowing rights and obligations by that state’s law, but does not oblige even a sliver more than that on a citizen.
Although other implications are welcomed and nice to have, they are by no means a necessity to being an equal-rights citizen. In a global village citizenship is decreasingly based on land of residence and increasingly become a more airy affiliation.
To those implying returning immigrants chose Canada out of considerations of convenience I remind that Canada too chooses to accept its non-refuge, economic, immigrants out of reasons of its own convenience and self interest.
Indeed, relationships go both ways. By all means, the Canadian government can chose to have a more stringent immigration policy and demand more of its immigrants before becoming full fledged citizens but one can suspect that would mean less people opting in to a system already in short supply.
Canada has an obligation to pull its citizens out of a dangerous place, and Canadians are reasonable to expect as much, regardless of where they call home. This basic obligation should eclipse all other considerations as who foots the bill of the rescue mission.
Shai Mor | Ottawa
I have a simple question, why is it my responsibility to pick up the tab for 30,000 Canadians living or visiting Lebanon? It is very difficult for me to understand why people that choose to be in a country like Lebanon instead of Canada and hold multiple passports and pull out the Canadian one when convenient, deserve to be given a free ticket out of a war torn country.
Wake up Canada, our taxes go up for these simple reasons.
David | Ottawa
Cudos to Harper but what I'd like to know who's paying for this mass exodus. Yeah thats right you guessed it you and I the Canadian taxpayer.
Why are there so many vacationing Lebanese people? I'll tell you why they came to Canada during the civil war presumably as refugees became citizens then after the halt in hostilities returned home.
What happened to those Canadian citizens? They forgot they became Canadians until the hostility broke out again and they remembered they had the trump card and turned to Canada to bail them out. It sickens me to listen to people that say Canada is not doing enough to rescue these individuals.... well tough.
You went there you put up with the consequences, and by the way I hope these individuals are carefully screened before being allowed into Canada regardless of their passports.
R.A.Lambert | Milton, Ont.
I am overwhelmed by the great work being done by the Canadian government to aid those seeking refuge from war torn Lebanon. I am also disheartened by the hostility expressed by those waiting for the assistance which is on its way, from my and their government.
I think we can all appreciate that being in that situation would cause anyone of us to seek sanctuary and heighten our sense of urgency to receive it. Notwithstanding this, the people there did voluntarily go to the environment and should feel humbled and appreciative for the support which is on is way.
It's easy to criticize any government anytime, however the job that they have to do is beyond most of our comprehension, and there is work happening...it's not just talk.
T. Phillips | Toronto
To those that suggest that some or all of these 50,000 people don't deserve our help because they aren't true Canadians – you make me ashamed to be Canadian.
When a building is on fire you don't stop to ask what nationality people trapped inside are. You don't ask if they have paid their taxes or lived in Canada for the last 11 months. You get them out. Period.
Palestine is on fire and people, children are dying. Right now. Is that suffering any less because they don't have the proper papers?
Mike Marshall | Ottawa
My parents, my uncles, my aunt, my cousins one pregnant), their four children, all Canadians, are right now trapped in the Bekaa Valley. They are being bombed as we speak. They are watching it, hearing it. They have no way out.
They have received no instructions from the embassy: it is as if they have been forgotten. They are frightened for their lives, and Canada has abandoned them. I believe there are at least 750 Canadians in the Bekaa Valley itself.
They've watched the Israelis bomb the roads, both major and minor routes, around them, they've watched them bomb a chicken factory, a small village, an orphanage. The situation is dire, and these Canadians are in extreme danger.
Where is my country? Where is my government? Why is Israel going to war against Canada? Because effectively, that is what they are doing.
Are Canada's Canadians less valuable than two Israeli soldiers? Why isn't Harper brokering-- demanding -- a cease fire?
I appeal to you all, Canadians, Canadian media, Canadian government, please, please, please, get them out!!
—Audrey Abdallah | Calgary
I am offended by the Canadians stuck in Lebanon who are being critical of the federal government for not coming up with a quicker evacuation plan. I think the government has done a fantastic job given the difficult circumstances.
I do sympathize with the Canadians that are stuck there but lets be realistic. We don't have the military capability to helicopter in and rescue people. What do they expect...Air Canada planes to land at the Beirut airport and fly them home?
I commend the government for covering the cost of flying these citizens to Canada from Turkey and Cyprus. One can only hope that they don't complain about the service and meal they receive on the flight home.
— Andrew Glass | Vancouver, B.C.
It was with absolute disgust that I heard on the news that Harper is to fly to Cyprus to meet Canadians fleeing from Lebanon. At this time we don't need a photo op.
Every seat that is available on a plane to bring these people home is needed for those fleeing this mess. For babies and elderly the wait can be deadly. Seats that Harper, his wife and his staff including a photographer would use could be used more effectively to help out our citizens.
—Margaret Chiles | Whitby, Ont.
My commendations to Prime Minister Harper
for his decision to go to Cyprus and take a hands on approach.
I sincerely hope that the Canadians now detained in war torn Lebanon will return home to their loved ones and families safely. I can only imagine the terror, heartache and pain they are feeling.
—P. Murphy | Charlottetown
I'm getting tired of interviews with complaining Canadians looking for our Beirut embassy staff to do more and better. What about Canadians who have volunteered to help with the massive evacuation?
No drinking water while waiting for the evacuation boat? Didn't anyone volunteer to go get some?
Can't get through to the embassy on the phone? Didn't anyone volunteer to help man the phones?
Are 50,000 fellow citizens in Lebanon just waiting for the government to do everything? Or have some stepped up to help with job at hand?
—Robin Wigdor | Toronto
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. The idea that Harper can take his 120-seat plane and make anything more than a photo-op out of the chaos that his failure of leadership has contributed to is laughable.
There are 30,000 Canadians that have been waiting for far too long in the heat, and Harper's going to take a plane and "rescue" the 115 most pathetic-looking of the bunch and let his official photographer, who gets a seat that could have gone to someone who has been waiting for days to evacuate a war zone, snap a few shots of our Prime Minister looking concerned for the welfare of Canadians.
This is absolutely disgusting, and we must not let it have the desired effect: our forgetting that Harper's mismanagement of this crisis has directly led to the suffering of tens of thousands of Canadians.
—Mather Zulac | Toronto
I listened with disgust this morning about how Canadians are being treated with regards to the evacuation from Lebanon.
I heard a women who tells about getting voice mail and press this and press that and then cannot leave a message because the mail box is full. Canadians should be manning those phones 24/7 and the Canadians in Lebanon should be able to talk to a live person.
I cannot imagine how terrified these Canadians feel and then not to be able to talk to a person live who could direct them on the evacuation procedures. We are not a third world country and therefore should be much better organized that what I have heard.
—Pat Korfman | Belleville, Ont.
Thank you Mr. Harper for the excellent job you are doing on this issue. At least you are prepared to answer the problem head on rather than sit on the fence as your official opposition is good at doing.
Our government should be congratulated for the job they are doing in getting Canadians out of Lebanon as quickly as they have done. Our CBC seems to think that Canada should be able to react to this crisis on the same basis as next door neighbors to Lebanon.
Thanks for the effort of our government, people that have gone to Lebanon by their own choice are being saved by a caring and responsible government. The current opposition would still be trying to decide whether to send our planes, helicopters or ships to help with the evacuation -- however they would have to have them built fist before they would be able to undertake the evacuation.
—Wayne Phillip | Prince Albert, Sask.
Under the circumstances I believe our Government reacted as quickly and effectively as possible given the circumstances. If you consider the logistics of moving a group of people as large as two-thirds of our Canadian Armed Forces without the necessary equipment and infrastructure, the Tories have done an exceptional job.
First, the embassies are not set up or staffed to handle such type of unexpected emergencies and you can be sure they are working around the clock to help those stranded, and doing this while their own families and children are being subjected to the daily bombings.
Our Government had to get people into Lebanon to coordinate the evacuation. There are no less than 21 countries trying to do the same thing. There are only so many cruise ships and ferry's in the area that can be chartered, there are only so many berths in the Lebanon ports, there are only so many helicopters, and on and on and on.
My heart goes out to those that are stranded and in danger, but help is on the way. As fast as we can.
—Bruce Mackereth | Barrie, Ont.
My wife and kids are in the Bekaa Valley, they were contacted by the embassy today to make it to Beirut if they want out. Impossible to make it from where they are and the embassy said there's nothing they can do.
What kind of plan is Harper and McKay talking about? I'm sure they would've had a better plan if we were talking about Israeli Canadians because according to them, Israel is the victim.
—Sami | Windsor, Ont.
I have my sister, her husband and 2 children stranded in Lebanon. They are accompanied by cousins who also have 3 children. They went to Beirut this summer for a family wedding.
They are currently in the Port of Beirut, waiting, since 8am in the morning and it is now 2pm in the afternoon. We have been awake since 4am in the morning, here in Montreal, waiting to see the outcome of this supposedly "secure and well planned evacuation".
The children are tired, crying, hungry, and exhausted. We would like to understand why we are being told that this evacuation plan is being well organized, when the reality is that there is total chaos concerning the situation of Canadians in Lebanon.
—Patil Harboyan | Laval, Que.
My mother in South Lebanon finally received a call to tell her that the only
place the evacuation will take place from is Dbayeh, Beirut. The embassy
said they can't do anything to secure her safe trip to Beirut.
Will she and
my sister and many many Canadians be left behind? Are they being pushed to
take the risks of traveling north to get to Beirut knowing that the chances
that they will be hit from the air is VERY high? How can she make the choice
between dying waiting and dying in her attempt to escape?
—Maha | Toronto
I can not believe the words of some people. I am a Canadian citizen, who was scheduled to travel to Lebanon last Friday. I do not hold dual citizenship. My parents immigrated from Lebanon and I was born and raised in Canada. To think that being a Canadian citizen on vacation, and fellow Canadians have no sympathy for someone in an emergency is simply mind boggling.
To think of the total disregard towards the lives of Canadian citizens is insane. The contribution of the Lebanese people in Halifax is amazing. Families left Lebanon to come to Canada to seek a better life for their families.
Up until 1990, my family had not returned to Lebanon for 30 years. There are more people in this world than you know that hold dual citizenship. They do not hold if for "freebies" and "convenience". They do it because they are proud to be both Canadian and Lebanese.
—David Kabalen | Halifax
To Mr. Henshaw (below)- I agree with you completely in that Canada has the obligation to protect its citizens, even its dual citizens who may be either spending some holiday time or living for part of the year in another country - in this case Lebanon.
The problem I see with this whole situation is that we are a small player in international relations, have an inadequate logistical capacity to carry out massive evacuations, and we were not prepared to this kind of a crisis.
No one really plans for a big war, just like no one planned for the Titanic, for 9/11 or for the great ice storm of 98' for that matter...it's really the scale and speed of events that's the issue here.
—Jan Triska | Ottawa
Most of these Canadian citizens are what would legally be referred to as former residents, they no longer live, work or pay taxes in Canada. Many have probably not been back to Canada for many years.
Of the 50,000 or so Canadians citizens in Lebanon, roughly 5,000 actually live in Canada and are on vacation there. To me the government is obligated to evacuate those 5,000, the rest should not be Canada's problem.
Why should the people working and paying taxes here have to foot the bill for people who have left this country and no longer contribute here?
—John Greco | Toronto
I am a Canadian currently on vacation in Lebanon, situated in the Bekaa valley. I am here with my father who has been a hard working Canadian citizen for well over 30 years. And yes, he fully planned to retire here in January as it is his home.
To relate his life, or mine, to the amount of tax dollars being spent on ours and my fellow Canadians safe return is preposterous.
Canada is an amazing nation that has hosted many Lebanese Canadians looking to escape the brutality of the previous war. It's only natural that when the war ended, family members sought to return to be near loved ones that they have left behind.
The time spent in Canada by many Lebanese Canadians have been productive for both the economy and the cultural landscape. Praise should be given, not criticism.
— Karim Hamasni | Hamilton Ontario
As a former peacekeeper I find it galling to say the least, that these so called Canadian citizens continue to refer to the place they left behind as their country.
Did they not take an oath, when they came here. Also to send you children back to a war zone to visit the homeland, is foolhardy and negligent.
It seems that more and more it is the new Canadian that demands everything from the government.
—Tom Tessier | Charlottetown
It's up to the tax-paying people in Canada to hold a Referendum and decide wether or not we will pay our government to go and take immigrant Canadians out of a troubled place.
Correct me if I'm wrong but if you want the benefits and pleasures of being Canadian then stay in Canada! If you wish to take the chance to be harassed by some militant force go to the middle east, but don't expect to be saved at the slightest sign of danger.
Canada looks after it's people in Canada, it's not up to Canada to look after you once you leave the country.
—Chris Young | Toronto
After reading through the comments above, I'm appalled at the responses. Where the heck is our sense of helping people out who are in danger - no matter the religion/nationality?
No one could expect the absolute collapse of Israel/Lebanon "relationship" in less than one week. I just wish that all people who are there get home to their loved ones safely. Good luck.
—J Cleary | Pickering, Ont.
Interesting that our fellow Canadians in the Western parts of this country have such radically bigoted and right wing views on citizenship. Take your cowboy hats off and take an informed view of what is happening, i.e. the legal (and humanitarian) obligations of a country to it's citizens.
Painting all Canadians in Lebanon with the same brush is dangerous and just further reaffirms the East's view that our Western redneck brethren are really out of touch.
—Jason Hillier | Toronto
I'm surprised by the tone of some of the responses. That these 50,000 Canadians in Lebanon are not Canadian, that these people should have picked a better vacation spot.
You're comments are not Canadian, my family is Lebanese-Canadian, I was born in Canada and live and work in Toronto, my family lives and works in Lebanon. I as well as they pay Canadian taxes (there is a tax for non-resident Cdns), and love this country as you do.
In fact, they are currently vacationing in Canada, spending their money earned in Lebanon energizing the Canadian economy. It's a small world, people do not have to choose one country to stay in for their whole lives, I fly to Lebanon 4 times a year and trust me it's neither a 3rd World Country nor a war zone...until now that is.
The beaches, nightlife, social scene, art galleries and activities are the same as any Mediterranean country. I went to High School in Lebanon, the American Community School in Beirut where my teachers included Canadians.
So please don't spread your ignorance and racism, 50,000 Canadians do live, work, and travel to Lebanon and they are as Canadian as anyone here- are Canadians in the U.S. less Canadian, how about Canadians in the UK? Wake up, unite as a nation and pray that these people get home safely.
—Hani Badran | Toronto
The double standard of the Canadian government with regard to its' citizens is apparent. If Jewish Canadians vacationing in Israel had been killed, the self righteous denunciation of the murderers would be deafening. Because the dead are Muslim, the government responds with silence, which is tantamount to approval. Is this what Canada has become?!!
—D Bertin | Winnipeg
I do not see the point of criticizing those who are in the midst of danger due to a possible conflict.
Some in this space believe that the Canadians who are presently in Lebanon are Canadian citizens by convenience and the government has been wasting resources over nothing.
Others talk of the government, present or past, criticizing for its slow response or praising it due to the fact it did respond. What about our citizenry currently facing danger in Lebanon?
If I was abroad myself in the middle of a conflict right now, I would thank the heavens and our government for actually giving a damn about us. Even though I was born and raised here does not mean I am here 11 months out of 12 each year.
— Phillip Hong
It is interesting to see a distinct division in the attitudes of the contributors. Based on the comments, with a few exceptions, the Canadian idealogical geography can be painted with two distinct colours: financially concerned, anti-Liberal and immigration intolerant views in the west and anit-Conservative, spendthrift, pro-immigration in the east.
Should money be the most important factor? Is it a contest to determine who is really a "Canadian"? Is this an appropriate issue to sling political mud? Maybe we should consider the idea that how we treat the poorest Canadian, regardless of where they live or their ethnic background sets an example to other people and nations on how to treat their fellow human being.
It is in times of crisis when our true nature are revealed. Are we heartless misers or compassionate, reasonable people?
—A Lee | Toronto
It seems like many of the contributors to this page have a problem with the concept of dual citizenship, at least when it applies to naturalized Canadians. The question no one has asked is why do some people choose to return to live in their countries of origin.
Perhaps it's because: they are not given the chance to use their skills here, the opportunities here aren't as good as some native-born Canadians like to think they are, or they were mislead by Canadian Embassy staff in their native countries about their opportunities for a better life in Canada.
I was born in Canada and don't have dual citizenship, but I wish I did so I had a choice for me and my family.
—Todd Kitzler | Victoria
Who are these people clamoring to leave Lebanon? Native Canadians or naturalized Canadian ex patriate Lebanese? Anyone whoever they are that ventures anywhere into the Middle East where danger lurks everywhere should not expect their governments to always bail them out at taxpayers expense.
—Eugene Moreau | Candiac, Que.
Mr. Harper behaves with total disregard for the safety of the 50,000 Canadians stranded in Lebanon by not demanding an immediate and unconditional cease fire from Israel. This is especially shocking considering the death of eight citizens of the Ali El-Akhras family.
To blame their death on Hezbollah, after the the quasi-total destruction of Lebanon infrastructure by Israel bombing, is ludicrous and defies common sense.
Is Mr Harper more concerned at offending the Jewish lobby and supporting US foreign policy than insuring the safe return of our fellow Canadians?
—Marie Garand | Corner Brook, N.L.
I strongly believe that the Prime Minister should get busy getting all Canadians out of harms way. Peter MacKay should do the same. They should not be assigning blame.
Canadian of Lebanese or Israeli origins are still Canadians. They are citizens that elected you Mr. Harper and you Mr. MacKay so get them back home safely.
—Sam Zahabi | Montreal
France, Italy and the U.S. have been evacuating their citizens since Monday while MacKay is still begging Israel and the powerless Lebanese government to leave our ships alone.
This shows just how internationally inexperienced and unprepared Harper and MacKay truly are.
—Danny Elias | Fredericton
The CBC's been quick to criticize the speed of the government's response, but I think what has shocked most Canadians is the shear number of Canadians living in Lebanon.
The questions we should be asking are, why have we so many of our nationals living there, and why aren't they living here? It sounds to me as though we have allowed ourselves to become a country of convenience to many people who have taken advantage of our lax immigration rules.
If that's the case you should be directing your questions and criticism towards the former government and its policies on this issue, which have now put this country in a potentially difficult and dangerous position as we plan to extract vast numbers of people from a war zone.
—Chris Rumbold | B.C.
I think it is totally unrealistic to expect Canada to be able to quickly react and evacuate 50,000 people from Lebanon. Also, the criticism of our government's response is unwarranted, given that nobody had predicted that the events in Lebanon would deteriorate so quickly.
Anyone travelling to Lebanon must accept responsibility for the risks they take when travelling to such an unstable part of the world.
— J. Hill | B.C.
I think that Canada is acting as quickly as it can under the current circumstance.
It was the Liberal Government that has hobbled our Armed Forces to the end where our troops have to hitch rides with the Americans in to Afghanistan, or charter aircraft from the Russians that was to move 2,300 troops and equipment.
Imagine the logistics involved in moving 50,000 people in a hurry 9,000 kms away from Canada. I think that anyone that thinks that a faster response was possible given Canada's lack of military equipment is dreaming.
—Thomas Larsen | Edmonton
Probably the vast majority of these 'Canadians' are the Lebanese contingent of the huge, multi-national legion of immigrants, who come to Canada, get landed, get a passport, and head back home.
They don't want to live in Canada, but they sure want the benefits of being a Canadian, especially when where they came from, then went back to, gets sticky for them.
Ah, then they become real Canadians, knowing full well that Canadian taxpayers (the ones who live and work in Canada) will foot the bill to extract them from whatever third-world hell-hole it is they fled from in the first place and so blithely returned to.
It is time Canada demanded more from its immigrants, such as a requirement that a new citizen live in Canada for at least 11 months of the year for at least the first 10 years of citizenship.
—B. Abbott | Port Coquitlam, B.C.
50,000 Canadians in Lebanon? I think you have made a mistake. How can that be possible? Are you sure these are Canadians ? Or are they relatives of Canadians and want to be Canadian citizens.
Why are all these "Canadians" in Lebanon? I really hope that you research this and provide a fuller explanation of this. It sounds ridiculous to state that we have the entire size of a small Canadian city in a third world country like Lebanon, hell of a vacation choice.
There is much more to this then meets the eye, as a rush to bring these people home, I wonder if the odd terrorist might tag along and fall through the cracks. We hardly need a repeat of what happened iFloridaia in the early 80's and the Cuban crime wave as Castro emptied his jails and sent them tFloridaia along with legitimate refugees.
—Mitchell Smith | Edmonton
I precisely recall the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement at the early stages of the war that they will look into evacuating the citizens if the situation worsens. This is hard to accept the fact that Canada did not respond to the rescue as soon as the war broke.
Why do we have to be the last nation that has to act to save its citizens? When Canadians went to vote for their new government they had more hopes and trust in the people they elected that they will come to their rescue. I will hate to say it, but our government has definitely failed to protect us and protect our rights as citizens.
I pray everyday for the survival of our citizens and for their quick and swift rescue.
—S. Alkhateeb | Edmonton
I don't know how Liberal MPs can stand in front of cameras and criticize the efforts of the Conservative government to rescue Canadians from Lebanon. It was the Liberal government who took the peace dividend after the Cold War by removing money from the Defence budget.
If they had spent a reasonable amount on necessary strategic lift aircraft, we could be flying our people out in addition to renting ships to sail them out. Exodus in reverse.
If the Liberals want to blame someone - look in the mirror! I would rather they cooperate with the Government and try to solve a problem they helped create.
—Andrew Garwood | Comox, B.C.
What Prime Minister Harper's efforts are doing proves that our government has not abandoned our Canadian citizens. Years of military neglect has led us to the point that, as a country, we have to resort to hiring commercial ships to try and get our people out of Lebanon.
Fifty thousand. Nice logistics. I am so relieved that our government has spend billions on heavy air transport, shipping and heavy helicopters. It now makes me feel that in some world crisis, should I be left in a war torn country, I may now have the means to get home.
We should thought, as a nation, think of purchasing at least one aircraft carrier.
—Ron Munns | Kenora, Ont.
I think that it is very great deed that the Canadian govt is doing in assisting the Canadians leaving Lebanon. They are obviously their of their own free will and with their own money. So once they are safely in Canada, they should have to pay for their return, as they had planned on doing when they planned the trip.
It is not fair for the average Canadian taxpayer to subsidize wealthier Canadians on vacations or workinexpatriatete jobs.
I trust that the Cdn govt has already thought of a plan to recover the costs.
—Ken Kotow | Calgary
I think that it is absurd that the Canadian Government is promising to get its citizens out sometime next week. Other countries have already evacuated there people long ago.
We pay the same taxes, follow the same laws yet somehow it does not matter.
—Fatima Felladen | Edmonton
I am amazed at the gall these people have...they return to Lebanon, the country they left for safe haven in Canada. But, against any logic, they returned to the source of their misery, got caught in another conflict and then yell like hell for help.
Our response to their pleas should be measured and appropriate. In the cold hard light of day, I suspect they came to Canada strictly to load up on our freebies and to enjoy the dubious benefits of dual citizenship.
Why don't they appeal to the Lebanese government? Or chose a safer place to vacation? One day these folks will have to choose either their old country, or this one. I await their decision.
—Jim Bare | Coquitlam, B.C.
Canada has an obligation to protect its citizens as best as possible both at home and abroad. In the wake of the killing of seven Canadian citizens by Israel in Lebanon, however, the Harper government has failed in this obligation.
While providing absolute physical security abroad is obviously impossible, it is absolutely within our national capabilities to respond to the indiscriminate killing of our citizens with a minimum of unequivocal public condemnation and appropriate diplomatic consequences.
Why has the government not demanded a full and proper accounting from Israel on how and why our citizens were killed in what appears to be an act of indiscriminate bombing by the Israeli Air Force?
—Coridon Henshaw | Ottawa
I have very little sympathy for those people who are Canadian citizens by passport. They moved here to get Canadian passport and moved back thereafter.
When they are in trouble, they are Canadian citizens but when the time comes to pay taxes and watch CBC, they are someone else. Wake up Canada to know who your Canadians in heart and mind are.
—TH Yap | Don Mill, Ont.
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