Opposition parties want IRGC named as terrorist group after attack on Israel

Days after Iran launched an aerial attack on Israel, Canada's main opposition parties say it's time for the Government of Canada to officially name Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group.

On Monday morning, Conservative MP Garnett Genuis posted on social media that the party would move a motion to immediately list the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Hours later, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said the party believes «the IRGC is a terrorist organization and should be thus named.»

Singh did not say whether his party would vote in favour of the Conservatives' motion. The Bloc Québécois said Monday that it would vote in favour of the motion.

Once a group is placed on Canada's terrorist list — which was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks — police can charge anyone who financially or materially supports the group and banks can freeze its assets.

The Liberal government has for years resisted calls to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group and has argued that such a blunt-force approach could affect low-level people who were compelled to serve in the paramilitary force.

On Saturday, Iran attacked Israel with what the Israeli government said was roughly 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Israel said very few of the weapons made it past the nation's air defence systems.

Iran vowed revenge after an early April airstrike in Syria killed two Iranian generals inside an Iranian consular building. Iran accused Israel of being behind the attack; Israel has not claimed responsibility.

After the Iranian attack, Israel's Ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed called on Ottawa to list the IRGC as a terrorist group under Canadian law. He said no further evidence is needed to