Canada This Week May 21-24
The International Criminal Court. (photo: CBC)
Canada this Week May 21-24, 2024 Here is what’s happening in Canadian politics this week:
Walking a Tight Rope:
Tensions in the Middle East and the International Criminal Court On Monday, while most Canadians were enjoying the end of their long weekend, International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan started the process to obtain an arrest warrant for the leaders of both parties involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Prosecutor Khan announced Monday that he is filing an application to the ICC to issue arrest warrants for leaders of Hamas: Yahya Sinwar (Head of the Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas]), Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Almasri (Commander-in-Chief of the military wing of Hamas), and Ismail Haniyeh (Head of Hamas Political Bureau) on the grounds of war crimes committed against humanity in Israel on October 7th, 2023. The crimes cited by the prosecutor include extermination, murder, taking of hostages, rape, and torture.
In addition to the application for warrants for Hamas leaders, prosecutor Khan also filed applications for the issuance of arrest warrants for top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The prosecutor cited the following crimes as justification for the issuance of arrest warrants: starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, willfully causing suffering or serious injury to body or health, cruel treatment as a war crime, willful killing or murder as a war crime, extermination, and persecution as a crime against humanity.
The United States was quick to respond and denounce the move made by the ICC prosecutor in issuing the application for warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's response to the International Criminal Court (ICC) potentially issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been part of a broader U.S. effort to prevent such a warrant. The U.S. has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to forestall the ICC's actions, with Netanyahu reportedly making continuous calls to the White House to gain support. Blinken and other senior U.S. officials have argued that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over Israel, as it is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. This stance is consistent with the U.S. position on the ICC's investigations into Israeli actions in Gaza. In a 2021 statement, Blinken emphasized that the court "has no jurisdiction over this matter" because Israel is not a member of the ICC.
In a statement on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a strong stance stating that the accusations provided by the ICC prosecutor were “absurd and false” indicating that the IDF is the “most moral army in the world.” Netanyahu asked: “With what audacity do you compare the Hamas that murdered, burned, butchered, raped, and kidnapped our brothers and sisters, and the IDF soldiers who are fighting a just war that is unparalleled, with a morality that is unmatched?” He further went on to call the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan one of the great antisemites in modern times.
Canada, which does recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC through the ratification of the Rome Accord in July 2000, has now been forced to walk a tightrope between continuing support for the ICC as an independent body and maintaining support for Israel’s right to self-defense. On Tuesday, both Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly provided similar statements which, in principle, expressed support for the ICC as an independent body but denounced the equivalencies drawn by the ICC prosecutor between the leaders of Hamas, a recognized terrorist group in Canada, and the duly elected democratic leaders of Israel. Expect this issue to stick in the headlines over the coming weeks.
Speaker under fire
Members filed back into the House of Commons on Tuesday following constituency week. Opposition members continued a push from earlier in the month to get Speaker of the House Greg Fergus to resign. The Conservatives have been pushing for the speaker to go since he removed their leader Pierre Poilievre from the House of Commons for using unparliamentary language when he called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “wacko” and an “extremist.” Both the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois have stated their concerns over the ability of Fergus to be a “neutral arbiter of House of Commons proceedings.” This follows the promotion by Fergus for a number of Liberal fundraising events which he will be involved in and take aim at the Conservative Party, particularly their leader Pierre Poilievre. The Liberals have indicated that they will not support any motions to remove the speaker and have the support of the NDP. So, it looks as if for now Speaker Fergus is safe.
April Inflation Numbers
Statistics Canada reported Tuesday that inflation ticked downward in April to 2.7%. The report showed that lower food prices were a main driver of the decrease, rising only at a pace of 1.4% in April. As expected, Canadians paid 6.1% more for gas in April due to a number of factors that drove prices up including the switch from winter to summer gas and the carbon tax increase which took place on April 1st. Overall, the decrease in inflation is a good sign as the Bank of Canada eyes interest rate cuts in the coming months. Analysts now expect that these rate cuts may come as soon as June.
The Salmon Farming Showdown:
A Coastal Clash on British Columbia's Shores On Tuesday, Politico reported an increasingly tense point of conflict growing over salmon fishing in British Columbia. The complex political impasse regarding fish farming has divided members of the Liberal cabinet, here is what’s happening:
Key Players and Conflicts: Political Divide: The salmon farming debate has split the Liberal caucus and Cabinet. Former Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray opposed fish farming, while her successor, Quebec's Diane Lebouthillier, shows more support for the industry. The B.C. Liberal caucus favors closing open-net farms, but Atlantic Canadian MPs, like New Brunswick's Wayne Long, advocate for them. Indigenous Perspectives: First Nations are divided. Some, like the Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation, support salmon farming for its economic benefits and job creation. Others, represented by the First Nation Wild Salmon Alliance, fear the impact on wild salmon and align with environmentalists and commercial fishermen. Industry vs. Environmentalists: Multinationals and environmentalists accuse each other of using misleading data. Fish farm operators claim improved stewardship, while environmentalists argue that farms spread sea lice and disease, harming wild salmon stocks. Economic and Environmental Stakes: Industry Impact: The Canadian Aquaculture Industrial Alliance ranks Canada fourth in global salmon farming, with the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association noting the industry supports 7,000 jobs and contributes C$1.5 billion annually to the provincial economy. Environmental Concerns: Environmentalists push for an end to open-net farming, advocating for closed containment systems that do not interact with wild stocks. The Liberal government pledged in 2019 to transition to these systems by 2025, but a final plan is still pending. Upcoming Decisions: Regulatory Uncertainty: Fisheries and Oceans Canada is under fire, labeled a "captured regulator" by opponents of fish farming. The federal government is expected to make a short-term decision on the future of fish farms this spring, with a long-term industry plan forthcoming. Lobbying Efforts: The debate is marked by extensive lobbying, with firms like Bluesky Strategy and Maple Leaf Strategies representing various interests. Influential figures like Tony Allard, chair of the Wild First advocacy group, play significant roles in shaping the narrative and funding anti-farm campaigns. Public Opinion and Political Implications: Polling Insights: Polls offer mixed views. Wild First's commissioned poll suggests a 3:1 public preference for closed pen farming. Conversely, Abacus Data's poll indicates salmon farming is not a significant voting issue in Liberal-held ridings, with Conservatives likely to win regardless of policy decisions. Government Response: Lebouthillier's office promises ongoing discussions with all stakeholders, navigating a complex landscape of lobbying, caucus debates, and Cabinet deliberations. As the federal government approaches crucial decisions on salmon farming, the conflict remains a hotbed of political, economic, and environmental contention. With deadlines looming and diverse interests at play, the future of B.C.'s salmon farming industry hangs in the balance, ensuring continued debate and division on this coastal battleground.
