Calls for Ceasefire Abound Across Canada
A record-setting 286,719 Canadians signed an online petition calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to demand an immediate ceasefire in Palestine -- the most by far of any parliamentary e-petition since they began in 2015.
The petition was initiated by Montreal resident Maëva Gaudrault and sponsored by Quebec NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice. It opened for signatures on October 24 and closed on November 23. The petition was presented to the House of Commons on December 1. The Liberal government has 45 calendar days to respond after an e-petition is tabled, in this case, by January 8. As of December 15 Parliament is on a break and will resume sitting on January 29, 2024.
The petition reads as follows:
Whereas:
- Canada demand an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict;
- Canada ask that Israel lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip and authorize the creation of a humanitarian corridor and an emergency humanitarian intervention;
- Canada ask that Israel meet its commitments under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law;
- Canada meet its international commitment to promote and defend human rights;
- Canada take any other measure necessary to protect civilians, both Israelis and Palestinians, and help foster a climate conducive to building a lasting peace.
We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons in Parliament assembled to require the Prime Minister to take the necessary measures to address the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Call for Urgent Action to Create Humanitarian Corridors
Signatories to a recent open letter to governments at all levels in Canada states, "We build on the calls of over 30 Members of Parliament, as well as those of our colleagues within the Canadian Council for Refugees, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Amnesty International, and the National Council of Canadian Muslims, amongst others, in demanding an immediate ceasefire and urgent humanitarian assistance for the civilian population. In addition, we call for the creation of humanitarian corridors to safely relocate to other countries those in Gaza who are without a reasonable option for relocation in that territory or in neighbouring countries."
The letter concludes by calling on "Prime Minister Trudeau and his Government to adopt and implement the steps identified in this letter, and for all Municipal, Provincial, and appointed officials to demand we do our part as Canadians to save the lives of refugees currently trapped in Gaza."
Municipalities Pass Motions Calling for Ceasefire
Some 100 cities across the country have passed resolutions calling for the federal government to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Below are some examples.
The City of Burnaby, British Columbia is said to be the first city in Canada to have passed such a motion. On November 7, city council for Burnaby, part of the Greater Vancouver Area, unanimously passed a motion that calls on the federal government to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, an increased flow of humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages. The motion also asks Mayor, council, and the City of Burnaby to condemn all acts of anti-Semitism, anti-Palestinian racism and Islamaphobia in the community. It adds that these acts "have risen since the escalation of violence this past month." Besides calling on the federal government to take this stand, the motion also authorizes that a letter be sent to Burnaby MPs Jagmeet Singh (also the NDP Leader) and Terry Beech.
Councillor Daniel Tetrault, who brought forward the motion, said that he hopes that other cities will also take a stand. "We want other people and other organizations, elected officials, and people in general to feel that it's safe to speak out and call for a ceasefire, in order to stop the killing of innocent civilians," he told CityNews. He expressed disbelief that the federal government has yet to call for a ceasefire. "We will hope at the bare minimum, we call for a ceasefire," Tetrault said. "That shouldn't be controversial... given all the civilian casualties." He went on to say that "As someone who comes from a Jewish background, I want to make clear this isn't an issue of Jews versus Muslims, this is an issue of basic human rights."
By November 14, a letter making the same demands of the Canadian government had been signed by 50 city councillors, mayors, and directors from municipalities across the province. Speaking to the letter and the demand for a permanent ceasefire, Burnaby Councillor Tetrault stated, "A pause is not sufficient in addressing the real humanitarian crisis right now, and it's also not long-term. It doesn't stop the bombing, and it doesn't stop the targeting of civilians."
In Quebec on November 21, the municipal council of the City of Sherbrooke unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and adding its voice to the growing chorus for a just and better world. This was in response to Sherbrooke residents calling for Sherbrooke to become a city of peace in support of the Palestinian people.
Mohamed Soulami, on behalf of the group of citizens of Sherbrooke who demand a better world and peace, presented a letter to the municipal council on November 7 for the council to take a position. He also addressed the council on November 21, saying, "Despite the denunciations made by world organizations such as the UN, the WHO [World Health Organization] and the call to take measures to avoid a catastrophe for humanity, we note that several organizations ignore these alerts. Ethnic cleansing and war crimes against the population of Gaza in Palestine have continued for 30 days now. Quebec and Canada unfortunately view the issue with the notion of double standards. However, it is expected that our elected officials will be fair and in favour of the UN recommendations to demand that this massacre be stopped immediately."
In the resolution adopted, the city also calls on other municipalities and the provincial and federal governments to be allies and adopt similar resolutions.
"You just have to be human to support Palestine," expressed one citizen. Others also wanted to denounce those who remain silent and called on Sherbrooke to be a "courageous city." Like many other cities across the country, Sherbrooke has been holding regular demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people since October 7.
In Ontario, even those social democratic forces which are known for kow-towing to the Zionist lobby have been compelled by their constituents to respond to the humanitarian crisis created by the slaughter being perpetrated. In this regard, on November 10, Toronto Mayor Oliva Chow called for a ceasefire, referring to the images of Israel's mass killings and destruction in Gaza as "unbearable."
Mayor of Hamilton Andrea Horwath on November 21 also spoke out and called the situation in Gaza a "humanitarian nightmare beyond imagination" and also called for a ceasefire. She said that the residents of Hamilton deserve to have their calls for peace heard.
On November 22, the City of Mississauga unanimously joined the call for a ceasefire, one of the latest cities in Canada to formally do so. The motion was moved by Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn Parrish, who also called for the release of Israeli hostages. "Millions of protesters throughout the world, including thousands here in Mississauga, are asking for a ceasefire to end the carnage and move toward a solution to the conflict," her statement read. She added that "peace can only come through the immediate and unconditional return of all hostages and a ceasefire." As a federal MP, Parrish led a multi-party delegation of nine Canadian parliamentarians to Palestine, which included stops in the West Bank and Gaza, and Israel in May 2002.
Presentation of
resolution at Mississauga city council meeting, November 22, 2023
In Calgary, Mayor Jyoti Gondek declined to participate in the annual menorah lighting at city hall on December 7, as she had done last year, after it was expressly politicized as a pro-Israel event, rather than an event for the city's Jewish community.
"It has come to my attention late in the day that tomorrow's community menorah lighting event -- something I have looked forward to attending over the years -- has been repositioned as an event to support Israel," she said in a statement. She added that when she asked to speak at the event weeks ago, it was to bring traditional Hannukah greetings to Calgary's Jewish community. "This last minute change goes against the original intention, and has left me feeling let down by leadership," reads the statement. She said that as mayor, her goal is to celebrate common bonds in the city, and engage in an interfaith manner. "The changed nature of tomorrow's event creates a divide and forces people to choose a side."
Despite widespread demands for a ceasefire, the Trudeau Liberal government continues to call for "humanitarian pauses" rather than an immediate ceasefire, meaning that it wants Israel to only temporarily pause its assault on Gaza to let some aid through after which Israel can resume its attacks.
Unions and Labour Councils Take a Stand
Canadian Union of Public Employees
At the national convention of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), held in Quebec City October 23 to 27, members passed an emergency resolution in support of Palestine by a two-thirds majority. The resolution states that CUPE will, "Demand the Canadian government call for an immediate ceasefire in Israel/Palestine, an end of its sale of arms to Israel, an end to diplomatic immunity for the state of Israel, and an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza and the restoration of aid and the basic necessities of life." As well, CUPE will "Conduct member education about the history of Israel's occupation and colonization of Palestine, Canada's complicity, and what trade unions can do to support a just peace." That Canada's largest union passed such a member-driven resolution is extremely important.
As well, the
Canadian Staff Union (CSU), which represents staff
employed at CUPE, passed an especially strong four-point resolution in
solidarity with Palestinian civilians and trade unions.
"We're watching an unprecedented genocide before our eyes, one that's only getting worse with every passing day," said Amy Kishek, a CSU member who helped advance the emergency resolution as part of Labour for Palestine CSU Caucus. "In this moment, we decided to respond to the call from Palestinian trade unions. They've told us loud and clear that trade unions must play a role in educating members about occupation and the escalating genocidal violence and displacement unfolding now, as well as the complicity of countries like the one we live in."
According to CSU's press release, "The action items for the resolution calls for the CSU to: Respond to calls from Palestinian trade unions to end the violence and pressure Canada to stop all military trade/support for Israel; Protect CSU members from being disciplined or silenced for speaking out; Conduct member education; [and] Strike a committee to investigate, and report on, CUPE Employees' Pension Plan investments in companies on the boycott [divestment and sanctions] list."
Kimalee Phillip, a staff member at CUPE and CSU member emphasized that the union is taking measures to "ensure that staff who speak out in support of Palestine, but who also are critical of the state of Israel as an apartheid state and its occupation, that we don't face retribution for those positions." CSU has centred the issue of divestment by committing to examine any potential pension investments its fund may have in Israel. "We have one of the best pension plans as staff within CUPE and we want to make sure that our funds are not being invested in ways that support the apartheid regime. So we're calling on our union to strike a committee and work with our pension trustees to investigate and report to the membership. We want to make sure our pension fund isn't invested in companies that are benefiting from the occupation," Phillip said.
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions issued the following statement on November 9.
The Canadian
Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) supports Doctors
without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
call for an immediate
ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. As the level of violence and bombing
continues to escalate, critically needed humanitarian supplies and
staff must be allowed
in and able to work safely. Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, and the
health care system faces total collapse. It is a clear obligation under
international humanitarian laws that medical facilities, medical staff
and patients are protected.
An immediate ceasefire would allow for medical and humanitarian supplies to get into the region and help those in critical need.
The CFNU calls on the Trudeau government to strengthen its influence and to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The Canadian government must support the United Nations, World Health Organizations, MSF and the International Council of Nurses, along with many other international aid organizations' pleas for help and intervention.
Canada's nurses also support the International Council of Nurses #NURSESFORPEACE campaign. We are immensely proud of the courage and strength of those providing much-needed medical care despite the grave dangers. Visit icn.ch to learn more and support the campaign.
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
On November 10, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) issued the following statement.
Over 10, 000 people -- including thousands of children -- have been killed since violence began in Israel and Palestine on October 7, and the death toll continues to rise as the war enters its second month. CUPW condemns the targeting, kidnapping and killing of innocent civilians and calls on the Canadian Government to demand an immediate ceasefire.
Palestinians in Gaza are being denied clean water, food, electricity, and other necessities of life. Nowhere is safe in Gaza as over a million Palestinians have been forced from their homes. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continue, and a ground invasion has begun. Israeli state officials have made clear statements that they intend to clear Gaza of its inhabitants. What is happening today in Gaza, according to international bodies and experts, constitutes a genocide.
Collective punishment of the people of Gaza is a clear violation of Article 53 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Israeli apartheid and its military occupation of Palestine has led to countless abuses, from daily indignities and harassment at checkpoints, housing demolitions, forced removals for illegal settlement expansion, and murder with impunity.
CUPW has a longstanding resolution and constitutional policy to support the struggle of Palestinian workers and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign until Israel recognizes the right of Palestinian people to self-determination and complies with international law -- including respecting the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes in accordance with UN Resolution 194.
The path forward for a just and lasting peace is for Israel to end the occupation and adhere to international law. The first step is an immediate ceasefire to stop the killing of innocent civilians and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Hamilton and District Labour Council
On October 19, the
Hamilton and District Labour Council (HDLC)
issued a call for an immediate ceasefire that reaffirmed the labour
council's "position for an end to the occupation of Palestinian
territories."
The HDLC's statement continues: "Further, we call on the Canadian government to stop arming the Israeli government and instead supply humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people to help offset the crisis that continues in Gaza. We condemn federal, provincial and municipal politicians who are using the crisis in the Middle East to smear and slander those who speak out in defence of Palestinian human rights as being 'pro-terrorist' in a way that undermines freedom of expression and democratic rights." Following this, the Service Employees International Union's (SEIU) Canadian Local 2 adopted the HDLC's position.
Windsor and District Labour Council
At its Membership Meeting on November 14, the Windsor and District Labour Council (WDLC) adopted the following resolution:
That the WDLC demand that the Canadian government call for:
(a) An immediate ceasefire of all hostilities in Israel-Palestine;
(b) An end to the blockade of Gaza;
(c) The restoration of humanitarian aid and access to the basic necessities of life;
(d) The release of hostages; and
That the WDLC supports the call for peace, dialogue, and a lasting solution to this conflict that has taken too many lives and caused immeasurable suffering; and
That the WDLC firmly believes a just and lasting peace is possible in Israel-Palestine, where people of all backgrounds and faiths can live peaceably side by side, in safety and security, and with justice for all.
(With files from CityNews, CTV, Now Magazine, CBC.)
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 33 - December 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/MS53332.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca