Canada eventually will support an “accountability system” to investigate Israel‘s military conduct during its war against Hamas, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Monday.
Joly also called for an end to the violence in Gaza but stopped short of demanding a ceasefire. She said Canada was still looking at different versions of an expected ceasefire resolution that the United Nations General Assembly is expected to vote on Tuesday.
Following the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, the Canadian government has routinely said it supports Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.
On Monday, Power & Politics host David Cochrane asked Joly how Canada views Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in light of aid groups saying Israel is in violation of international law and the mounting death toll inside Gaza.
“I think at the core of our foreign policy since the Second World War there has been Israel’s right to exist, which is fundamental, and at the same time, protection of civilians. And clearly there are tensions between these two priorities right now,” said Joly.
“Eventually, of course, we will support any form of accountability systems … at the international level that will look into this issue.”
“I think that how Israel is conducting itself in Gaza is important. Why? Because we need to make sure that Palestinian civilians are more protected. At this point we are at 18,000 Palestinian civilians and military [combatants] that have been killed — 70 per cent of these people were women and children. So it is very very concerning what is going on right now,” Joly added.
CBC News reached out to Israel’s mission to Canada about Joly’s remarks. The embassy declined to comment.
The Gaza health authority — which is controlled by Hamas, a listed terrorist entity in Canada — reported Monday that more than 18,200 Gazans have been killed since Oct. 7. The authority does not break down the death toll between civilian and military combatants.
In November, UN High Commissioner of Human Rights Volker Türk said both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes. He pointed to the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7 and what he called the “collective punishment” imposed by Israel on Palestinian civilians.
Israel denies it is violating international law and argues its military does not deliberately target civilians. Israel says it’s Hamas that puts civilians in harm’s way by operating out of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals or schools.
The UN General Assembly is likely to vote Tuesday on a non-binding draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
This follows the U.S. decision on Friday to veto a resolution at the UN Security Council that called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza.
“We are are still looking at the different versions of the resolution. We are negotiating. There are different amendments that are being discussed. So I will have more to say tomorrow on this very issue,” Joly said when asked how Canada would vote on that resolution.
“We need to make sure that the violence must stop. The cycle of violence is not helping Israel’s long-term security and we need to make sure that the way that Israel is conducting itself is in line with international law.”
In October, Canada abstained from voting on a UN General Assembly resolution that called for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” after failing to have the resolution amended to include an explicit condemnation of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
—
Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
Sentencing hearing continues for University of Waterloo gender studies class stabber
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio making a difference off the pitch as well as on it
Inequality has broad impacts on the health of Montreal children, report finds
Liberal majority victory shifts political landscape in New Brunswick
Thomson Reuters acquires AI accounting assistant developer Materia
Ontario aiming to become energy superpower, Energy Minister Stephen Lecce says
Sonia Furstenau staying on as B.C. Greens leader in wake of indecisive election
Thousands of international students miss fall semester amid uncertainty, visa delays
