As tensions escalate over the suspected nuclear weapons program in Iran, Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced the Harper regime’s willingness to participate in US imperialist aggression. Speaking to Sun News Network, MacKay stated that the Canadian government is making preparations for military action in Iran if diplomacy fails. MacKay reiterated the claim that the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a brutal dictator that frequently violates human rights and is aggressively seeking the manufacture of nuclear weaponry. All of this despite several US intelligence reports stating that there was no evidence of Iran attempting to do so.

“We are pursuing every diplomatic means, but the fact remains we have to be prepared for what may come and that’s something the national defence department takes very seriously.

We, like all countries, are taking this risk very seriously. We are working with our partner nations.”

This shows a marked change in Canada’s traditional foreign policy. The Harper regime has made it clear that they intend to take a hostile stance against Iran in accordance with US and Israeli policy. MacKay noted on the program that Canada has been one of the most aggressive nations when it comes to sanctions against Iran. There was however an exception for a little while when a Canadian oil company was still doing business with the Iranian state oil company after the sanctions were put in place. Aside from this slight aberration, the Harper regime has followed Israeli and US policy closely.

With this development the Harper regime is beginning to wipe out Canada’s reputation as a peacekeeping nation. It is under the Conservative Party that Canadian imperialism is really taking off. The first visages of it first appeared when under the Liberal party, Canada submitted to US pressure to participate in the invasion of Afghanistan shortly after the events of 9/11. Now its true form is being shown proudly to the world as Harper and his cronies attempt to drag the working class into backing, and paying for, another war of conquest for the profit of the ruling elite. The masses of Canada need to sharply oppose this war and put more pressure on the government to investigate the likely election fraud by the Conservative Party.