e-553 (Iran)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• The former Government of Canada, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, ceased all diplomatic relations with Iran, closed its embassy in Tehran, and expelled all Iranian diplomats from Ottawa in 2012;
• Consular services provided through the Iranian embassy – including power of attorney, passport renewal, and the acquiring of birth and death certificates – have not been available in Ottawa since 2012 for thousands of Iranian Canadians requiring such services;
• Lack of access to a Canadian embassy in Tehran disrupted the visa processes of many Iran-based relatives of Iranian Canadians who must travel to third countries such as Turkey to obtain their visa in order to visit their family here in Canada;
• The lack of a diplomatic presence in Iran has left Canadian citizens traveling to Iran vulnerable and without access to consular services in times of need;
• Canada’s European allies including the U.K. have re-engaged with Iran following the international agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action;
• The continuation of the status quo vis-a-vis Canada-Iran relations goes against Canada’s legacy of advancing peace through diplomacy and constructive engagement;
• The Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs have announced on several occasions that the current Government of Canada is committed to re-establishing diplomatic relations with Iran.