Canada This Week May 13-17
United Nations - New York City
Constituency Week: Proceedings in the House of Commons are on pause for Constituency Week. After a jam-packed start to the spring session, which included the budget, the first report on foreign interference, and rising tensions between Canada and India, expect this week to be a little quieter on the political front.
Joly Jets to the Middle East: This week, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly will be setting off to Lebanon, Cyprus, Turkey, and Greece. She will be meeting with the leaders of these countries to discuss the ongoing and escalating situations in the Middle East and the Caucasus regions. Politico reports that Joly’s agenda is structured as follows:
Cyprus: Joly will meet with Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, to discuss increasing humanitarian aid in Gaza. The land borders into Gaza still remain an unreliable passage to move aid into the besieged areas, and a number of foreign actors are now considering the possibility of providing aid via the sea through the construction of temporary ports.
Lebanon: Joly will meet with senior officials in Lebanon to “underscore Canada’s support for Lebanon and the Lebanese people in their current challenges.” The parties will also discuss the Lebanese-Israeli border, which remains a point of tension in the region. During her time in Lebanon, Joly will not be meeting with her counterpart Abdalla Bou Habib; however, the two were in contact over the weekend via phone call regarding the above-mentioned topics.
Turkey: Joly will meet with senior Turkish officials to discuss “increased cooperation” between the two countries and pathways to achieving regional stability in the South Caucasus. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in a border conflict since 2021; the ongoing conflict continues to add tension and instability to the region, which continues to grapple with escalating armed conflict on a number of fronts. Turkey, a NATO member, is bordered in the East and South by countries in direct or proxy conflict in the region (Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria).
Greece: Joly will meet with Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis to “deepen the long-standing relationship between the two countries and to build on the success of the recent visit to Canada of the Prime Minister of Greece.”
Status of Gaza: Last week, on May 10, the United Nations General Assembly voted on a draft resolution in response to a vetoed Security Council vote, to recognize Palestinian statehood. The General Assembly vote saw 143 countries vote in favor, 9 against, and 25 abstentions for the resolution, which “determines that the State of Palestine is qualified” for United Nations membership. The resolution recommended that the U.N. Security Council “reconsider favorably” Palestinian full membership in the United Nations. Canada was among one of the 25 abstentions; it is important to note that the countries that Foreign Minister Joly is traveling to this week each voted yes to the resolution.
The resolution, although passed, does not grant Palestine U.N. membership, as Security Council approval is first required.
Procedurally, the U.N. Security Council must recommend a potential member's application to the General Assembly for a vote. This recommendation has not been brought forward due to a United States veto. The veto stems from a Security Council resolution on April 18th, 2024, which would have allowed the General Assembly to formally vote on Palestinian U.N. membership. The vote passed with 12 in favor, one against, and two abstentions. The United States continues to reiterate its “ironclad” support for Israel, and although they state they are in favor of a two-state solution, they continue to block all attempts by the U.N. to officially recognize Palestine.
Canada’s abstention last week indicates a significant shift in positioning regarding Palestinian statehood at the U.N. Historically, Canada voted “No” on past resolutions; the move to abstain is symbolic and in line with other G7 allies, including the U.K. and Germany, which also moved to abstain.
Politico reports that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “suggested that Canada is ready to recognize statehood before peace negotiations conclude…” To further clarify Canada’s position, Ambassador Bob Rae told CBC that “Canada’s position is a two-state solution, but it is not yet in a position to recognize Palestine as a member of the United Nations for the simple reason that the [Palestinian] Authority does not control all of the country.”
Wildfire Season Back in the Headlines: While much of the country was enjoying a spectacular Northern Lights show over the weekend, many Alberta residents were unable to see the sky due to wildfire smoke. Already, the air quality index across the province has dropped to be some of the worst on the planet. Politico reports that as of late Sunday, thousands of Fort McMurray residents were under evacuation alert. Fires from B.C. prompted air quality alerts in Edmonton, and as the smoke continues to move eastward, alerts have been issued as far east as Northern Ontario. The Weather Network expects that smoke could reach as far as the GTA by late this week.
