Lebanon Evacuation To Cost Taxpayers $85 Million

The department of Foreign Affairs chartered ships and aircraft to rescue about 15,000 Canadians from the battle-torn area between July 19 and the middle of August.

Hundreds of Lebanese citizens were killed in the violence, sparked by the kidnap of two Israeli soldiers by the militant group. Nearly one million people in the country were displaced, fleeing their homes to safer territory as bullets flew and bombs fell.

But since a ceasefire was imposed last month, there are reports that nearly half of those evacuees, or about 7,000 people, have since returned to Lebanon.

In general Ottawa requests that citizens pay for their evacuation from foreign countries but in this case it was decided that Canadian taxpayers would cover the cost.

Ontario Conservative MP Garth Turner said he wouldn’t blame Canadians for being irritated with having to pay. He suggests citizenship rules should be overhauled – especially when it comes to people living out of the country for an extended period of time and dual citizens.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation agrees.

“We would have preferred that the Canadian government try to recoup the cost of bringing back Canadian refugees,” said CTF spokesperson Neil Desai. “In most cases refugees who are moved out of war zones or disaster situations are asked to cover the cost.”

There were approximately 50,000 Canadians living in Lebanon when the conflict broke out.