Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (CPAC)
Calling it a national tragedy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will compensate the families of the 57 Canadian victims and 29 permanent residents killed in the Ukrainian Airlines crash.
Trudeau has announced $25,000 for each family to help with immediate needs such as travel and funeral arrangements.
“This is a unique and unprecedented situation because of the international sanctions placed on Iran and the difficulties that imposes on these families.”
Trudeau made it clear that he expects Iran to compensate the families.
Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is meeting with Iranian officials in Oman to discuss justice and accountability surrounding the plane crash which claimed 176 lives.
Trudeau says the minister is also renewing Canada’s call for de-escalation in the region.
France has offered to analyze the plane’s black boxes since it has one of the only labs in the world which can do that work.
Iran mistakenly shot down the passenger jet shortly after takeoff from Tehran last week killing all 176 on board.
The strike happened just hours after Iran fired missiles at U.S. and coalition bases in Iraq which was in retaliation of an American drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.
