The House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development met to study the political transition in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. Appearing were Gregory Galligan, Canada's Ambassador to Lebanon and Syria; Stefanie McCollum, Director General for the Middle East at Global Affairs Canada; and academics Elliot Tepper, Laurence Deschamps-Laporte, and Khattar Abou Diab.
Ambassador Galligan described Syria as at a fragile turning point, with a transitional government making progress on a constitutional framework, transitional justice, and counterterrorism, but facing deep sectarian tensions and a humanitarian crisis where 90% of Syrians live in poverty. He defended Canada's decision to lift broad sanctions and delist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, arguing it was needed to enable economic recovery and that new targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses would maintain pressure. He acknowledged the government does not yet adequately represent minorities or women, and said Canada is advocating for accountability for massacres, while noting that reopening an embassy in Damascus is not currently under consideration.
Stefanie McCollum added that the delisting of HTS reflected the group's disbandment and the changed reality on the ground since December 2024, and that Canada's legislation must reflect that. She confirmed that no new special envoy for Syria is being considered, and that Minister Anand held an introductory call with her Syrian counterpart in December 2025. She emphasized that Canada evaluates the transitional government based on both its public commitments and the measures it establishes for a safe and stable transition.
Elliot Tepper argued that the fall of Assad presents Canada with an extraordinary geopolitical opportunity to help shape the region's future, given that the Iranian axis has been broken and Syria is seeking reintegration. He urged Canada to leverage its goodwill from accepting refugees and supporting the White Helmets to engage in nation-building, including constitution building and security sector reform. He stressed the importance of setting benchmarks and holding Syria to its own stated aspirations, rather than imposing external standards, and expressed bafflement that Russian military bases have not been removed.
Laurence Deschamps-Laporte cautioned that while the transition offers hope, grave concerns remain about a government rooted in violent Islamist groups, citing new restrictions on alcohol as a sign of potential limits on civil liberties. She argued that diplomatic engagement does not legitimize the regime and that Canada, which is well regarded by both the government and the Syrian people, should support civil society, justice, and women's participation without large funding. She recommended Canada contribute to evidence-gathering for transitional justice, support Syrian women leaders with ties to Canada, and maintain international attention on the country.
Khattar Abou Diab painted a bleak picture of the transition, arguing that minorities—Alawites, Druze, Kurds, and Christians—do not feel safe and that the government, dominated by HTS, has not established the rule of law. He said there is no legitimate structure for accountability, that justice is corrupt and not independent, and that the old system has been inherited with new tools, including continued property seizures. He warned of foreign interference from Turkey and Israel, and said Syria cannot be governed by sharia law given its pluralism, calling for a federal system and sequential democratization.
In response to member questions, Abou Diab said the new government relies on Turkey and Qatar as allies, that Russia maintains influence through printing Syrian money and preserving its bases, and that Syria is trying to remain neutral in the regional conflict but could be drawn into intervention in Lebanon. Tepper noted that the agreement to integrate Kurdish forces into the Syrian army is not going well, with disagreements over secularism and the role of women as stumbling blocks. Deschamps-Laporte warned that cuts to international assistance would worsen recruitment by violent groups and undermine transitions.
The committee briefly agreed to extend the meeting past the bells, and members thanked the witnesses for the high level of discussion.
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