Government of Canada demands ceasefire, issues arms trade embargo
Palestinian freedom comes one step closer to fruition
Ottawa, Canada — The New Democratic Party’s (NDP’s) Opposition Day Motion has passed in a surprising sweep in parliament. Canadian-Palestinian advocacy groups like Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and other members of The Canadian Palestinian Organizations Coalition are celebrating this win, attributing it to active email, call and petitioning movements across the country, and are calling now for more forward motion towards peace, justice and freedom in the Levant.
Since the October 7th attack that killed 1200 people in Israel, over 30,000 Palestinians have been reported dead, with the number rising every day. 132 Israeli hostages and almost 7,000 Palestinian political prisoners lay in the balance while bodies are still being uncovered and counted in the rubble in Gaza. Now as we have entered the holy month of Ramadan, Palestinians have faced multiple flour massacres, where those following directions to receive aid packages are ambushed by military forces.
Citing these atrocities and more, including the provisional measures mandated by the International Court of Justice in January and the fact that Canadian citizens have been killed and some remain trapped in Gaza, the NDP put forward this opposition motion last month.
The motion included calls for and immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages, a suspension of military goods and technology to Israel, the reinstatement of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, and advocacy for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories and official recognition of the State of Palestine.
Celebrating the step forward, organizations like CJPME and others quickly launched petition, phone bank and email campaigns to encourage regular Canadians to tell their MPs to support the motion. Over 50,000 emails were sent to MPs across the country, in addition to countless phone calls, pushing elected representatives to stand alongside their constituents and position the Canadian government in alignment with the movement for peace and justice.
Members of Parliament (MPs) Jagmeet Singh, Heather McPherson, Rachel Blaney and Peter Julian put forward the motion on February 27, 2024 that was debated today. After some strong dissent, particularly from some Liberal Party MPs, and multiple calls for decorum from the Speaker of the House, the motion passed with amendments that cut out clauses referring to the work of the ICJ and ICC as well as official recognition of the State of Palestine.
“We are pleased with this step towards justice from the Canadian government,” said one spokesperson from Palestinian advocacy groups, “but there is still a lot more work to do, here in Canada, the US, and of course, on the ground in Palestine and what is currently the State of Israel.”
The Israeli ambassador to Canada refused to comment on this development, except to announce their contemplation of leaving the country, citing concerns for their safety.
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