>>I was surprized to hear that Canada has the largest number of citizens in Lebanon. 55,000.
>>
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict#Foreign_nationals
>>
>>It is going to be expensive and time consuming to get people out through Cyprus. I think that the govt will be able to only make a small dent before the Israelis stop the bombing.
>>
>>Interestingly, Australia has asked Canada for help evacuating their citizens.
>
>I am surprised there are so many foreigners in general. Hasn't the region been, uh, "interesting" to live in for quite a while?

I think most of these are Lebanese Canadians as opposed to Canadians that have gone there for work. At first the number stunned me, but being a former French colony, some of the Lebanese might have been attracted (or Canada might have attracted them) to Quebec.