Stung by criticism, Trudeau government changes course on Iran

This week saw a turnaround in the Trudeau government's approach to Iran as an unprecedented revolt against clerical rule that began three weeks ago showed no sign of slowing down.

The change began in Dartmouth, N.S., on Tuesday, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government would be taking stronger actions against members of the Iranian regime, "including ensuring that we go after them for any assets or homes that they have in Canada."

Back in Ottawa, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra attended a rally marking a thousand days since the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down Flight PS752, killing 55 Canadians and another 30 permanent residents.

Then on Friday, the government announced an entry ban on thousands of ranking members of the IRGC, although it fell short of the full terrorist listing activists were seeking.

The new approach was trumpeted on the government's social media channels, but Conservatives have continued to push hard on Iran and tweet their exchanges with the government.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's full-throated embrace of Iran's uprising has won him praise in the Iranian community. Poilievre personally attended and spoke at both Tuesday's Ottawa rally and at a weekend march in Richmond Hill, Ont., attended by an estimated 50,000 people.

Trudeau, on the other hand, was criticized on Iranian social media for not appearing at any events related to Iran while finding time to go bungee-jumping in the Gatineau hills.

The Toronto Star criticized the Trudeau government, calling it "feeble" and "out of touch" on Iran.

"In the last few days, I think [the federal Liberals] realized the facts on the ground have changed, and also I think they've seen reactions from Iranian Canadians," said Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer who organized the march in Toronto. "The process of working with government is you keep pushing and eventually they give in to your demands."

Shahrooz told CBC he's aware the change of direction may have been motivated by Poilievre's inroads with Iranian voters.

"I think that's actually a very good thing, and that's how democracy should work," he said. "If one party is not being responsive to your demands, another party swoops in and speaks to your needs. And the argument I've tried to make to my own community, and I hope every other community follows suit, is, 'Don't let politicians take your vote for granted.'

"If a politician ignores your demands, consider what the other party is offering. And I think the message got across loud and clear to the Liberal Party this week."

But Shahrooz also said he found Friday's announcement of new sanctions on the IRGC misleading. 

"I started feeling pretty happy when I first heard the word 'terrorism' being thrown around," he said. "But upon further reflection, once I parsed the words a little more, I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed.