While Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been criticized by some for siding with Israel in the current Middle East fighting, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay says Canada has not abandoned its traditional role as a mediator and neutral voice in foreign affairs.

He made his comments as two naval vessels, the frigate Halifax and the supply ship Preserver, were put on the highest state of readiness, CTV News has learned.

The ships could sail to the region from Halifax as early as tomorrow, and it's unclear whether they will assist in the evacuation or serve as a potential peacekeeping force.

Speaking on Question Period Sunday, MacKay said Israel's offensive in Lebanon is a principled response to a particular set of circumstances.

"A ceasefire and a return to the status quo is a victory for Hezbollah," said MacKay, answering questions about why Canada has not joined other countries in calling for a cessation to hostilities.

"Let's not forget that this was an unprovoked attack by a terrorist organization. Missiles were being fired into Israel. This is an attempt to defend a sovereign nation...This wasn't an impulsive move by Israel."

As the fighting began to intensify Harper called Israel's actions a measured response to Hezbollah aggression and said the onus was on Hezbollah to end the fighting.

Khaled Mouammar, head of the Canadian Arab Federation, said this represents the Harper government's sharp shift in Canada's foreign policy.

"The prime minister, since he came into power, has taken a biased, one-sided approach to the Middle East," said Mouammar.

Liberal interim leader Bill Graham also complained last week that Harper had abandoned Canada's traditional role as an intermediary in foreign conflicts.

And on Saturday, protestors in Montreal and Toronto called on Harper to take a strong stance against the invasion. In Toronto, 2,000 people demanded an immediate end to the fighting. Some aimed criticism for the conflict squarely at Israel, while others carried banners with the words 'War Monger' under an image of Harper.

But Norman Spector, former Canadian Ambassador to Israel, said the government is keeping with Canada's traditional neutral stance toward the area.

"It's very consistent with Canadian foreign policy," said Spector. "Since 1947, we have supported two states in that region."

MacKay also said Canada has not abandoned its neutral voice.

"We've changed nothing in the way Canada approaches these circumstances on a responsive basis. The current crisis calls for a response that is rational, that is based on information that is available that may not have been available before," MacKay told Question Period.

"The PM has staked out ground that is consistent with other G8 nations and other nations in the process that will follow."

He also rejected the claim that Canada is simply parroting the U.S.'s traditional pro-Israel position.

"The Prime Minister has taken a very independent sovereign decision to participate in world events in a way that we feel is cognizant of all the circumstances including the history, the ongoing struggles throughout the region."

Canadians in southern Lebanon to be evacuated

The Canadian government said late Sunday it has chartered a ship to evacuate up to 1,000 Canadians from the port city of Tyre, including their dependants.

The ship is expected to arrive between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time on Monday, and Canadians are told to arrive at the port one hour earlier.

Canadians are only allowed one piece of carry-on luggage and pets will not be allowed. They are also told to bring adequate medication for a minimum of 72 hours, and all passports and important documents.

There was confusion throughout Sunday about whether the evacuees would be rescued from Tyre, one of the most dangerous places in the conflict.

Canada's ambassador to Lebanon said a ship would arrive at the port on Monday. The Foreign Affairs Department later called the statement "premature," and then finally confirmed the plan.