Middle East conflict

The Middle East conflict hits close to home for many Canadians, according to a Political Science Professor.

He says many have family who are directly affected, and that’s important.

“As of 2021, there were 1.7 million people of Middle Eastern descent living in this country, which is about four per cent of the country’s population,” Dr. James Devine, Mount Allison University Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, told our newsroom.

“That’s not counting even the country’s Jewish community, which may not be counted as being of Middle Eastern descent because they’re not necessarily born or have parents who were born there, but they have social and cultural connections to the country as well.”

He said a large portion of Canada’s population is affected by conflict due to family connections.

“That can range from all sorts of things where people are being injured or just even the psychological trauma of seeing an area where you identify with being destroyed,” Dr. Devine added.

Dr. Devine adds that there are about 200,000 Iranian Canadians, who are also directly impacted.

Recent tensions continue to rise in the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.