This is a special bulletin created to hopefully provide some information to all Canadians who have friends and family caught up in Lebanon and Gaza at these difficult times. My staff and I have been working diligently for the last few days to extract as much information as possible and help many of you. We have decided to generate this email to summarize what might be considered as useful guidelines. Please feel free to forward it around to anyone who you think may benefit from its content.

There is an apparent bottleneck at Beirut’s port for entry and exit of rescue ships which is causing a delay in evacuating Canadians.

I have spoken to Foreign Affairs and proposed that they evacuate Candians via ground transportation to Syria. I was told that this alternative has not been considered yet.

I hope to find the wisdom to offer other creative methods in addition to using ships to evacuate Canadians.

Our hearts and thoughts are with the civilians who are stranded in Lebanon. These are extremely difficult and stressful times. My staff and I will continue to monitor the situation and share with all of you up to date information.

It is very frustrating to watch the tragedy unfold and see so many innocent people affected and not be able to offer more definitive answers, but we will continue to do everything that we possibly can.