Michael Taube: A Memorable Week in Canadian Politics
Commentary
Political leaders have since used FDR’s words to depict everything from full-scale wars to political controversies. The train wreck that occurred in the Canadian Parliament this past week could easily fit in the latter category.
The motion mostly floated under the radar. Canada had nominally supported the concept of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine in the past. With the Israel-Hamas war having raged on for almost six months, and heightened tensions involving Canada’s Jewish, Arab, and Muslim communities, the issue of Palestinian statehood was a non-starter. It was another example of the NDP, which has been repeatedly accused of having a bias (or worse) against Israel and Jews, stirring up the pot in a desperate attempt for attention. Most political observers viewed it as bluster that would quickly disintegrate.
Yet, this seemingly meaningless motion took on a life of its own.
Debate was supposed to begin on Mar. 1. The passing of former prime minister Brian Mulroney on Feb. 29, along with two consecutive break weeks for MPs, delayed things. Fortunately, there was enough time for the NDP and Liberals to sit down, make the necessary adjustments—and, with luck, allow cooler heads to prevail.
What did the Liberals do? They panicked.
There was no means of achieving caucus unity. A whipped vote could have created a larger split that would be nearly impossible to stitch back together. The distance between the Liberals and NDP was almost seismic.
The motion was ultimately amended just under the wire. Canada would “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with Canada’s arms export regime. Hamas would have to “lay down its arms.” Palestinian statehood was dropped in favour of working “towards the establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution.” It passed by a vote of 204–117. The Conservatives and three Liberal MPs—Housefather, Marco Mendicino, and Ben Carr—opposed the motion. The NDP obtusely declared it a “historic” moment.
The motion is non-binding. The Liberal government, and all governments that follow, can disregard it. Nevertheless, it’s now a matter of the public record that this offensive and largely anti-Israel motion was approved in Canada. Historians will be able to access it through Hansard from now to eternity.
That’s why it’s a week in Canadian politics that will live in infamy.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.