Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement calling on the Trudeau Government to align with our closest ally, the United States, and designate Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a terrorist organization:

“Over the past few months, Houthi terrorists in Yemen have disregarded international law by attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They have launched attacks on civilians and the naval vessels of our closest allies and, in doing so, have recklessly endangered innocent lives. These attacks have disrupted international trade and maritime rights, driving up the cost of goods for people around the world. This cannot continue.

“Like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the Trudeau Government has refused to designate a terrorist organization despite killing dozens of Canadians in the shooting down of PS752, the Houthi terrorists are acting with the support and sanction of the criminal regime in Tehran which seeks to spread violence and terror throughout the region and around the world.

“Canada must ensure the Houthi terrorists are held accountable for their actions. Currently, they are able to legally operate, organize, recruit and fundraise in Canada, helping them to continue their reign of terror in Yemen while attacking civilian and allied vessels in international waters. While Canada has made symbolic contributions to allied efforts to defend merchant vessels off the coast of Yemen, any activity in Canada must also be stopped by legally designating the group as a terrorist organization. The Trudeau Government has failed for years to call the IRGC what they are: terrorists. This failure must not be repeated.

“Common sense Conservatives will continue to demand the Trudeau Government takes the threat of global terrorism seriously by designating both the Houthis and the IRGC as terrorist organizations.”