Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs announced the dissolution of the special task force related to the downing of Flight PS752.
Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs has announced that it has dissolved the special task force related to the downing of Flight PS752. This task force had been established in recent years to coordinate government actions in supporting the victims’ families and handling domestic follow-ups.
Kourosh Doustshenas, spokesperson for the association, told The Globe and Mail that this decision was made prior to the recent tensions involving Iran. He stated, “This move is disappointing, but not unexpected.”
The task force was formed in February 2020, one month after the tragedy in which Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down passenger flight PS752. Its purpose was to coordinate communication between the Canadian government and the victims’ families.
According to the published report, Canadian government officials have stated that dissolving the task force will not affect the progress of ongoing legal cases in The Hague. Other matters—including issues related to family immigration—will continue to be handled by various parts of the government. However, there will no longer be a dedicated, centralized team coordinating these efforts.
It is worth noting that, according to plans announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the agency intends to reduce spending by $2.4 billion over the next three years. However, in response to a question from The Globe and Mail about whether this dissolution is part of the annual cost-cutting measures, no answer was provided.
Families of the victims and some activists in this area have expressed concern about the decision, believing that the absence of a coordinated structure may make the pursuit of justice and support for families more difficult.
Kourosh Doustshenas also thanked federal cabinet ministers for their strong presence at the sixth anniversary ceremony, while emphasizing that the victims’ families are still awaiting a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
