Goodale's report on Flight PS752 tragedy says Iran should not be 'investigating itself'

The prime minister's special adviser on the destruction ofFlight PS752, Ralph Goodale,issued a report today sayingthat Iranshould not be leftin charge of the investigation since it was the actions of the Iranian military that caused the deadly crash in the first place.

"The party responsible for the situation is investigating itself, largely in secret," former federal cabinet minister RalphGoodalewrotein the report, released this afternoon. "That does not inspire confidence or trust."

"In the circumstances of this case, as known thus far, there are indications of incompetence, recklessness and wanton disregard for innocent human life."

Goodale said that whileinternational proceduresassign the responsibility for investigating such air disasters to thecountry where the crash took place,those rulescreatea "conflict of interest" inmilitary-related incidents and lack"safeguards"to "ensure independence, impartiality or legitimacy."

"This undermines the investigation's credibility and enables a sense of impunity in avoiding essential questions," Goodale wrote.

WATCH |Goodale says Iran should not be investigating Flight 752 crash:

Iran should not be investigating Flight 752 crash: Goodale report

4 years ago

Duration 2:01

A new Canadian report says Iran should not be investigating the events around Flight PS752, shot down by its own military in January, killing 138 people with ties to Canada. Special advisor Ralph Goodales report criticizes the country for its lack of transparency from the start.

Goodale's 74-page report comes ahead of the one-year anniversary of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shooting down the Ukraine International Airlines plane on Jan. 8 shortly after takeoff in Tehran with surface-to-air missiles. The attack killedall 176 people onboard,including138 people with ties to Canada.

Justin Trudeau appointed Goodale in March to oversee Canada's response, with a focus on the plight of grieving families. The federalgovernment was accused of doing little for familiesin the wake of theAir India disasterin 1985 and theEthiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash oflast year.

As a "country, we must acknowledge shortcomings in our responses to previous tragedies andensure vital lessons are taken to heart," wrote Goodale.

Case was 'complex and difficult'

Goodale said investigating the crashwas "complex and difficult" in part because Canada does not have diplomatic relations with Iran and has identified it in Canadian law as a "state supporter of terrorism."He said Iran has "not yet been forthcoming" in answering questions posed by Canada includinga key one aboutthe fact that Iran'sairspace was leftopen thenight its military forcesfired missiles at U.S. locations in Iraq.

"Many of the key details of this horrific event remain unknown to Canada, to the other Coordination Group nations and to the families," said Goodale.

"Iran bears responsibility for that because at least thus far it has not conducted its investigations (safety, criminal or otherwise) in a truly independent, objective and transparent manner, and answers to critical questions have not been forthcoming."

For days after the crash, Iranian officials denied any wrongdoing until evidence gathered around the world showed otherwise. Only then, when "confronted with irrefutable evidence, they belatedly admitted Iran's responsibility for this deadly travesty" and committed to an investigation, saysGoodale's report.

'Not human error': Champagne

Foreign Affairs Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne also raised concerns about the quality of information being offeredby the regime in Tehran.

"I will question everything they say because I take nothing at face value," Champagne told CBC News Network's Power & Politicstoday. "I have questionsbecause there's too many examples that we've seen where ... they have not been forthcoming."

Champagnetold host Vassy Kapeloshe does not believe the destruction of Flight PS752 can be blamed on human error but he refused to say what he believes caused the disaster.

"Well, we'll let the process unfold," he said. "What I say is that we saw missiles being fired at the airline, and that, for me, raised all sorts of questions."

Iran has blamed human error and other deficiencies

Iran has provided updates about its investigation and has"suggested that a lengthy chain of human errors and other deficiencies resulted in the mistaken firing of the Iranian missiles" at the aircraft, the report said.

Canada has rejected Iran's interiminvestigation report, which claims thatthe missiles were not properly reoriented after being moved and that a communication breakdown caused two IRGC members guarding the missile to misidentify the commercial plane as a threat and open fire twice without getting approval from senior ranking officers.

"Given the extraordinary nature of this description of events, it is understandable that the victims' families find Iran's explanations to be difficult to accept at least so far," wrote Goodale.

Goodale also criticized Iran for thehalf-year it tookto read out the plane's black box flight data recorders somethingwhich is supposed to happen "without delay" after an incident, according to international conventions.

"In the end, it took more than six months, fuelling anxiety and harming credibility," he wrote.

Iran also turned down Canada's request to become an accredited representative in the investigation, which would have given Canada more first-hand knowledge. Instead, Goodale wrote,Canada's status was "limited to that of an observer."

Six people in Iran have been charged in connection with the destructionof Flight PS752. Goodale's report points out thatIran has not released any further details,including "who these people are, what they are alleged to have done, their degree or level of responsibility, the evidence being used against them, the substance of their defence, and the exact judicial process by which their guilt or innocence is being or will be determined."

Canada's response

The report devotes a chapter to describinghow federalofficials respondedbehind the scenes after hearing reports of the crash.

Canada has its own forensic examination and assessment team trying to piece together evidence it's gathering from family members. The independent Transportation Safety Board of Canada will review Iran's final investigation report when it's completed and "point out any deficiencies as necessary," said the report. The International Coordination Response group, made up of countries that lost citizens in the crash,will continue pushing for answersand reparations from Iran,Goodale wrote.

WATCH |Champagne doesn't believe Iran's claimFlight PS752 was shot down as a result of human error.:

Champagne says he doesn't believe Iran when it says Flight 752 was shot down as a result of human error

4 years ago

Duration 2:00

Minister of Foreign Affairs Franois-Philippe Champagne wouldn't say whether he believes Flight PS752 was shot down deliberately.

Last week, Transport Minister Marc Garneauurged countries around the world to endorse Canada's "Safer Skies Commitment Statement." It's an effort to get countries to reducethe risk of aircraft flying over conflict zones. The U.S., Germany, Ukraine, Japan, U.K.and theRepublic of Korea are among the countries that have signed so far.

CBC News has reported family members inCanada who have criticizedIran's government after losing their loved ones in the downingof Flight PS752 have reported they're being targeted withthreats and intimidation and they blame Tehran.

In his report, Goodale urges Canadian police and national security agencies to investigate every case of threats and harassment against Canadians and says they should be "prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

His report also contains a list of recommendations on how Canada should respond to mass casualty eventslike Flight PS752 in the future. Theyinclude putting families' needs at the forefront, combating misinformation andfear by quickly organizing a response, gathering relevant facts early, providingmentalhealth and posttraumatic stress counselling services, and delivering facilitation letters to families in lieu of death certificates.

Goodale also cites the idea of creating a national centre of expertise to help law enforcement and the government coordinate and prepare for mass casualty events.