House of Commons Hansard #346 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was lebanon.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Opposition Motion—Request for a Royal Recommendation for Bill C-319 Members debate a Bloc Québécois motion urging the government to provide a royal recommendation for Bill C-319. The bill seeks to increase Old Age Security pensions for seniors aged 65-74 and raise the Guaranteed Income Supplement earnings exemption. The Bloc argues the government created discrimination by increasing pensions only for seniors aged 75 and up. Liberals defend their record supporting seniors, including the 75+ increase and programs like dental care. Conservatives support the bill's principle but criticise the government's inflationary policies. The NDP supports the motion while advocating for broader senior support like pharmacare. 16700 words, 2 hours.
Opposition Motion—Request for a Royal Recommendation for Bill C‑319 Members debate a Bloc Québécois motion calling for a royal recommendation for Bill C-319 to increase Old Age Security for all seniors aged 65 and over and raise the GIS earnings exemption. Bloc MPs argue for fairness, ending a distinction based on age, and addressing the cost of living, criticizing government spending priorities and jurisdictional interference. Liberals defend their record on seniors, citing dental care and targeted OAS increases based on age-related needs, while questioning the Bloc's tactics and voting record. Conservatives and NDP support increasing senior benefits. 26900 words, 3 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Oral Questions—Speaker's Ruling The Speaker rules on a point of order about alleged homophobic comments by a member during Question Period, inviting withdrawal despite the member's denial of intent, citing potential interpretation and disorder. 500 words.
Alleged Unparliamentary Language—Speaker's Ruling The Speaker rules on personal insults, requiring withdrawal. Members debate applying decorum rules consistently to leaders and if the sexual harassment policy applies to House debate. 1000 words.
Alleged Failure of Witness to Respond to Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics—Speaker's Ruling The Speaker rules a prima facie case of privilege exists concerning a witness who allegedly refused to answer questions and provide ordered documents to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. 500 words.
Request for Witness to Attend at the Bar of the House Members debate a motion to hold witness Stephen Anderson in contempt for not providing information to the Ethics Committee on a Liberal minister's business. Conservatives allege conflict of interest and lack of transparency, while Liberals defend the minister. Bloc and NDP support the motion, emphasizing parliamentary credibility and witness accountability. 8400 words, 1 hour.
Situation in Lebanon and Israel Members debate the escalating conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, Lebanon (Hezbollah), and Iran. They express concern for civilians and Canadians in the region. NDP calls for a ceasefire, arms embargo, and sanctions. Conservatives condemn Iran's attack and assert Israel's right to defend itself, criticizing government inaction and the rise in anti-Semitism. Bloc focuses on Canadian evacuation from Lebanon and diplomatic pressure. Liberals condemn Iran, support Israel's right to self-defence, detail diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid, and discuss impacts on Canadian communities. 41000 words, 5 hours.
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
Uqaqtittiji, I am taking offence to the way the member is accusing me of who I am being when I am not. I hope he could be asked to apologize for labelling me the way that he is.
Situation in Lebanon and IsraelEmergency Debate
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
That is a question for debate. We have to proceed. I understand that it can touch on some sentiments, but that would be a question of debate.
The hon. member for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley.
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Speaker, even as the tyrants of Tehran are raining down missiles on all of Israel, even while millions of Israelis, including children, from the north to the south in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, are seeking shelter from the bombings and even while Canadian citizens are seeking shelter from the bombings in Israel, the NDP blames Israel.
It would be nice, for once, for Israel not to be blamed for being shot at. It would be nice, for a change, for Israel not to be labelled a villain for protecting itself. It would be nice if the House stopped living in a perverse inverted reality where Israel is framed as bad. It would be nice if Liberal members would stop saying one thing to one community and something completely different to another.
It would be nice if the House recognized that as a liberal democracy, Israel is on the front lines of protecting western values and our way of life. We should do all we can to help in this pursuit or, at the very least, not make it more difficult for them.
On October 7, 2023, the evil death cult Hamas invaded Israel without provocation. It attacked multiple communities, as well as the Nova music festival. It targeted and murdered 1,200 innocent Israelis and took 250 more hostage, which is a war crime to be sure.
Since that time, Israel has been drawn into a conflict it did not seek and it did not want. Shortly after those attacks, the Iranian-backed terrorist group, Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, began raining down rockets on the people of northern Israel, over 11 months ago, forcing 60,000 Israelis to flee their homes.
These innocent Israelis were made refugees in their own land. I ask members to imagine if this happened in Canada. Imagine if tens of thousands of Canadians could not go back to their homes because of attacks like this by an invading force. How long would it take our government to respond? Would it be a day, a week, a month? Israel has waited patiently for almost a year.
Any sovereign nation has an obligation to protect its citizens, to protect its territory, to safeguard its security, and to defend itself and its citizens. Israel is no different. For this conflict to end, the aggressors, Hezbollah and Hamas, must immediately stop attacking Israel and lay down their weapons. Hezbollah is a terrorist group backed by the tyrants of Tehran.
The truth is, the Iranian regime, through its proxy, Hezbollah, is holding Lebanon hostage and deepening the suffering of its citizens. Canadian citizens have been warned for months to leave Lebanon immediately while commercial options exist. Conservatives reiterate that call and encourage Canadians to please get out now. As long as Hezbollah is raining terror down on Israel, as long as it is causing suffering among the people of Lebanon, it is not safe to be there. We call on the government to immediately provide a full and transparent update on the contingencies in place to evacuate Canadian citizens.
At home, since October 7, we have seen an unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism in Canada. B'nai Brith reports in its anti-Semitic incidents report that anti-Semitic incidents have increased by 109.1%. In 2022, there were 2,799 reported incidents, and in 2023, that number was 5,791, which is a staggering increase.
We see it in our streets. There are anti-Semitic mobs calling for death to Jews and death to Israel. Synagogues and schools have been shot at and vandalized. Jewish-owned businesses have been targeted, only because their owners are Jewish. Hospitals founded by Jewish communities have been targeted. The anti-Semitic Hamas death cult fan club has been going into Jewish neighbourhoods and demonstrating outside of seniors' homes. This madness must come to an end. It is just not the Canadian way.
What have the Liberals done to help? They have done nothing. In fact, they have made it far worse. When the conflict first began, they publicly scolded the IDF for ostensibly bombing a hospital in Gaza, when it did not do so.
The Liberals voted for and passed a motion in the House that punished our democratic ally Israel by blocking arms sales and rewarded Hamas by reinstating funding to UNRWA, even though its employees participated in the October 7 attacks. When that motion passed, they got up and gave themselves a standing ovation. They were proud of what they had done.
It should go without saying that Canadian tax dollars should not be funding terrorism. The Liberals voted for a one-sided, anti-Israel motion at the United Nations. Even after Iran launched a direct attack with hundreds of missiles and drones, they did not remove the arms ban. Just today, Iran attacked Israel once more, but will they remove the arms ban? No, of course they will not. They say that Israel has the right to defend itself, but then they deny Israel the means to defend itself. With friends like the Prime Minister, who needs enemies?
All of these actions taken together signal to the anti-Semitic mob that the government gives them the green light. UNRWA directly contributes to the radicalization of Gazans. It has been known for years that UNRWA school material promotes the hatred of Israel and Jews and the culture of violence that has poisoned the minds of young Gazans and made a lasting peace so much more difficult.
What was not expected is that employees of UNWRA, which is part of the United Nations, participated in the slaughter, killing and kidnappings on October 7. Canada gives tens of millions of hard-earned tax dollars to UNRWA each year. Knowing about the anti-Semitic school materials alone should have been enough to cut it off, yet we are still paying. Just last week, a senior Hamas official in Lebanon was killed. He was also the head of the UNRWA teachers' union. A high-ranking UNRWA official participated in the October 7 slaughter, yet we are still paying. UNRWA should not be receiving tax dollars from Canada.
Last November, I travelled to Israel with some of my colleagues. I had the opportunity to meet with family members of those who were murdered and those who were taken hostage on October 7. I had the opportunity to see Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities that was attacked. I saw the burnt up, shot up blackened homes, a sight indelibly and forever etched in my mind. I promised those families that I would bear witness to their plight. I am doing that here right now, so I say that ours is a promise to keep, to bear witness and to work until every hostage is home and every Jew, no matter where they live, work or go to school, once again feels safe.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Madam Speaker, that speech was incorrect and false on many fronts. I could go through some of it, but in the speech I gave earlier today and in the speech that my colleague from London—Fanshawe gave, we were very clear that we are able to hold within ourselves the ability to be very critical and horrified by the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah, while also recognizing that Israel is not adhering to international law. Israel has killed 40,000 people in Gaza and razed Gaza to the ground.
The member speaks about the rising anti-Semitism we have seen across the country, and I have expressed my horror at that. However, he is part of the Conservative Party that has not only targeted Israeli Canadians within the House, but has had three members meet with the far-right, fascist party from Germany. This is the same party that has had members of caucus stand in front of Nazi flags. We have seen time and time again that the Conservatives refuse to take ownership for the people within their caucus who bring up things like Hezbollah pagers to people within the House. It is disgraceful.
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Speaker, that is a bit rich coming from a member who claims that Israel has the right to defend itself, but at the same time thinks that every country in the world should ban arms sales to Israel. We cannot have it both ways. Israel is on the front lines of protecting and defending western values and democracy. As a country that also values those things, we should be doing everything we can to help and, in any event, not get in the way of Israel doing what it needs to do.
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley for his strong advocacy for Israel and his ongoing strength in speaking on behalf of the Jewish community in Canada.
Truth to power is key to making sure that we get to the bottom of this situation. The member clearly laid out that the ongoing attacks by organizations that we recognize as terrorist organizations, Hezbollah and Hamas, backed by the Iranian regime, is at the heart of the attacks on Israel, and Israel has the right to defend itself. He mentioned the issue of the government's self-imposed ban on any arms that support Israel. It is like asking a boxer to go into the ring and fight with one arm behind his back. We have to make sure that Israel, a democracy, a pluralistic society that respects human rights, has every tool in its ability to defend itself.
Does my colleague believe that with all the rhetoric coming from the NDP and the doublespeak coming from the Government of Canada, from both the Prime Minister and the Liberal foreign minister, at the heart of this is that they are anti-Zionists and that anti-Zionism is another term for being anti-Semitic?
Situation in Lebanon and IsraelEmergency Debate
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
I would warn the hon. member not to use those characterizations.
The hon. member for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley.
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Speaker, I cannot get into people's heads and understand what is motivating them. I can only presume this from what they say and what they do. However, as I said in my speech, we cannot say that Israel has the right to defend itself and then advocate for every country in the world, including Canada, not to give it the means to defend itself. That in itself is inherently hypocritical.
As I said, I think it would nice if for once Israel could not be blamed for being shot at.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that we rise this evening to discuss this topic, which is creating a lot of despair. I come from the Thetford Mines area, in the riding of Mégantic—L'Érable, where there are no large Jewish, Palestinian or Lebanese communities. However, there has never been so much talk about everything happening in the Middle East.
First of all, I must say that I very much appreciated the speech tonight by my colleague from Wellington—Halton Hills, our foreign affairs critic. I do not want to repeat his entire speech, but I invite Canadians and Quebeckers to take a few minutes to listen to it. He reminded us what it was like for Canadians who lived through the two great wars. Countries were forced to take up arms to defend themselves and, more importantly, their people against deadly attacks from authoritarian states.
As I said, I do not often get a chance to talk about the conflict. The conflict is not a simple one. Many of the constituents I meet ask me to explain what is really going on in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Iran, and what the roots of the conflict are. I do my best to answer their questions. It really is a lot more complex than it appears at first glance.
A year or so ago, I could have provided the beginnings of an explanation about the situation in the Middle East, but on October 7, 2023, that explanation broke down. The horrors of October 7 will be etched in the memories of Jewish communities around the world for a long time, as well as international rights advocates and all those who are directly or indirectly interested in the rich history of the Middle East. It will be etched in my memory for a long time.
On October 7, a liberal, democratic state came under attack. Israel was attacked by the terrorist group Hamas. Israel was invaded by 2,500 Hamas terrorists, who crossed a sovereign state border established in 1949 to kill more than 1,100 civilians. Over 1,100 people died. These poor people were not killed by accident or as collateral damage. They were systematically, deliberately targeted and murdered by the terrorist group Hamas. They were slaughtered. On October 7, entire families were executed, innocent babies and children were killed, together with mothers, fathers and young people. Imagine parents in Canada sending their children to a big festival attended by youth groups, where the only goal is to have fun and enjoy life. Now imagine the festival being targeted by a terrorist attack, and most of the participants being hunted down and killed by terrorists. Imagine the horror. In fact, it is impossible for us to imagine it.
On top of that, some victims were paraded around the streets of Gaza. Their mutilated bodies were displayed like trophies at a parade. Canadians were among those who were deliberately murdered or taken hostage by Hamas. Some hostages are still being held captive a year later, those who have not already been killed by the terrorists, that is.
That is the origin of the war we are talking about and witnessing right now in the Middle East. It was a brutal terrorist attack on the sovereign land of Israel, and these terrorists are responsible for the situation we are in today.
Unfortunately, other groups have decided to join Hamas. Ever since Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran have deliberately chosen to commit terrorist acts against the people of Israel. Since October 7, 2023, Hezbollah has launched some 8,000 rockets at Israel over the past 12 months, forcing the displacement of 60,000 people. These 8,000 missiles filled with explosives were fired for the purpose of killing civilians.
All states have a responsibility to defend their citizens and their territory, and the State of Israel is no different. Israel is at war. As my colleague from Wellington—Halton Hills said, and I quote: “This is a legal war under international humanitarian law. The war the State of Israel is conducting against Hamas, against Hezbollah and against the Islamic Republic of Iran under international humanitarian law is a justifiable war.”
I agree with my colleague that war is never pretty, but it is sometimes justified. This war against terrorist groups and a regime that sponsors terrorism is justifiable. Israel has the right to defend itself against the 8,000 rockets that Hezbollah has fired into its territory over the past year. Israel has the right to defend itself against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which launched hundreds of missiles into its territory just last night. Israel has the right to pursue this war against Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran to protect itself and, above all, its citizens.
Imagine for a moment what would happen if Canada were attacked by terrorist groups. There is no doubt that all of us here would agree to defend our families and our children, and to use whatever means necessary to do so. That is what Israel is doing right now.
However, we have to recognize that war is war. Millions of innocent civilians are suffering as a result of the war in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel. Obviously, we mourn the loss of innocent civilians, especially women and children. All combatants in this conflict must be careful to distinguish between fighting forces and civilians. Every possible precaution must be taken to minimize the harm caused to civilians.
To end this war, Hezbollah and Hamas must lay down their weapons to protect the innocent Lebanese and Palestinians who have been subjected to these brutal terrorist entities for decades. The citizens of Israel are not the only victims of these terrorist groups and regimes. Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians and Iranians have been and continue to be victimized by Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran regime.
Allow me once again to quote my colleague from Wellington—Halton Hills: “For too long, these regimes have suppressed democracy, human rights and freedoms, and the rule of law through brute force.... If there is any ray of hope in recent events, it is that they mark the end of the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, and the beginning of the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran's hold on much of the region.”
I share my colleague's opinion and I wish from the bottom of my heart for these peoples to find a lasting peace, free from these authoritarian terrorist groups and regimes.
In Canada, we value the freedom that our democracy affords us. It may not be perfect, but it safeguards our freedom and the rights of every citizen of this country.
Unfortunately, what is happening in the Middle East is a battle between our liberal democracies and authoritarian states and groups, such as the People's Republic of China, which is baring its teeth at Taiwan, the Russian Federation and its illegal attacks on Ukraine, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which supports terrorist groups against the State of Israel and which has just taken up arms against it. What do Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel have in common? They are democratic states, like us, that are being threatened and attacked by the authoritarian regimes I just mentioned.
Canada must defend democracy, human rights, freedoms and the rule of law as set out in international law. To end the war, the hostages must be released. Hamas must release the hostages. Hezbollah must stop its attacks on the people of Israel. However, more is needed. These terrorist organizations must be dismantled. They must cease to exist.
The Conservatives support the State of Israel. Israel has the right to defend itself and to use all of the legal means necessary under international humanitarian law to ensure its peace and security. Clearly, when there is a choice to be made between authoritarian and democratic states, Canada should have no trouble choosing what side we are on.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Madam Speaker, I am sorry that I am going to ask this question in English, because I do not have enough control of my French to be able to speak to the complexity of this issue.
The member spoke about the horror. He painted a picture of the horror that Israelis felt on October 7, and I think everyone in this House felt that horror. I am a mother. My children are the same age as those children would have been who had gone to that music festival. We were all horrified by that.
However, from my perspective, when he does not recognize that there are at least 40,000 Palestinians who have also been killed and have also lost their lives, what he is doing is dehumanizing Palestinians and dehumanizing others, and that is terrible.
They keep talking about not giving weapons to Israel. Does the member understand the way the arms trade treaty and Canadian law work? Canadian law says that we are not able to send weapons to any country that may be perpetrating a genocide. The International Court of Justice has said there is a plausible case that genocide is being perpetrated, so it is against the law for Canada to send weapons right now to Israel. It is against the Canadian law. He should know that.
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Madam Speaker, I will speak in English, because I think the member did not listen to my speech.
First, this is just false. The genocide was never recognized by the International Court of Justice. Second, when was the last time that member asked Hezbollah to stop firing rockets into Israel? When was the last time she condemned Hamas for taking all the hostages? When was the last time she did something to prove that she cares about both sides?
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
I do not want the member to mislead the House. In fact, it was today that I said those things and today that I actually asked for the hostages to be released. Today that I asked—
Situation in Lebanon and IsraelEmergency Debate
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
We are getting into debate.
The hon. parliamentary secretary has the floor.
Irek Kusmierczyk LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment
Madam Speaker, Quebec is home to one of the largest Lebanese communities in all of Canada, and I wanted to ask my colleague if he had a chance to speak with members of the Lebanese community in Quebec and ask them what their thoughts are on the bombing of their country and the major mass displacements of people having to flee their communities because of the bombing and incursions.
Did he have a chance to listen to their responses? Can he share with the House what he heard, speaking to Lebanese Canadians in Canada, in Quebec and in his community?
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Madam Speaker, I believe that, if we look at it, Hezbollah and Hamas are terrorist organizations funded, backed and armed by the terrorist regime in Tehran. We hear all the time here that we want to have a ceasefire, but I never hear from the Liberals or the NDP about the government in Lebanon. Why can it not stop Hezbollah? Why does the Palestinian authority not stop Hamas? They have not been able to, so that does not leave any other option to the Government of Israel but to go and defend themselves and protect themselves, which means that they actually have to go and hunt out the terrorists who are attacking their country and their citizens.
My question to my colleague is this. This government continues to take Canadian taxpayer dollars to fund UNRWA, which has been sheltering terrorist operators in Hamas in both Gaza and in Lebanon. Should the government continue to fund UNRWA, or should we actually stop taxpayer money from being used to support terrorist operations against Israel?
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
Madam Speaker, Canada must stop funding UNRWA, a terrorist group whose workers are known to have been involved in the October 7 massacre. That has been clearly demonstrated. There is real, concrete evidence. Not only do we need to stop funding UNRWA, but we also need to ensure that the 700 or so Iranian Revolutionary Guards are expelled from the country. I believe that Canada must do more to counter the terrorist groups that are trying to impose their vision and their way of doing things in an authoritarian manner on people who just want to live like Canadians, that is, to live in peace and enjoy their freedom.
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Mount Royal.
I rise in this House to talk about the situation in Lebanon.
As we know, Lebanon is the country of cedars, often referred to as the “Switzerland of the Middle East”. Lebanon is a founding member of the United Nations and was represented at the time by Charles Malik within that organization. It is a country of builders and an active member of the international Francophonie. This beautiful country invented the alphabet and built the first ship in history to better export its knowledge and share it with the rest of the world.
Canada, its parliamentarians and the international community cannot remain silent in the face of the bloody conflict in the Middle East. We must continue to take action. We must continue to promote a just and lasting peace. Above all, we must ensure that the most vulnerable, the innocent, do not continue to be preyed on in this terrible war.
A week ago, on the first day of this conflict in Lebanon, when the pagers exploded, in one single day there were 600 dead. Among them were doctors and nurses who worked in the medical field at hospitals. More than 2,000 were wounded and the hospitals were not able to meet the needs of those patients. The day after, there was another explosion of walkie-talkies, which caused more than 400 deaths and a couple of thousand injuries.
In the operating room at the hospital, there was a doctor who is an ophthalmologist and president of the University of Balamand. I know him very well and I spoke with him. In an interview with BBC News, he said, “Unfortunately, we were not able to save a lot of eyes.” Dr. Elias Warrak added that more than 60% to 70% of the patients ended up with at least one eye removed. He said, “Some of the patients, we had to remove both eyes. It kills me. In my past 25 years in practice, I’ve never removed as many eyes as I did yesterday” in one single day. That kills me too. I am sure if any of my colleagues in this chamber witnessed such a situation, it would kill them too.
I would like to assure members that neither the Lebanese people nor the Lebanese government wants war. They are seeking peace. They are people who deserve to live in dignity, to live in prosperity and to have everything they need in their daily life. I believe the best and quickest solution is to apply United Nations Resolution 1701. It was agreed to on both sides in 2006. That resolution must be applied and respected by both parties to the conflict. That would put an immediate end to this war and let peace prevail.
I condemn the killing of any human being. I am not a religious man, but I was born and raised in the church as a Christian, and I respect all religions in the world. I respect Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and all human beings. Our Christian religion orders us to love even our enemies. How can someone ask me to approve a killing? I have a deep feeling that it is criminal, it is terrorism, when any human being, politician, leader, prime minister, president or state kills or orders the killing of a human being. We do not approve of that; we have to condemn it. We have to work together and see peace prevail.
Last week, I was touched when I spoke to one of my Jewish colleagues after our national caucus. He is the member for Winnipeg South Centre. He asked me to do a video with him, asking for peace. I am happy and proud that I did it.
I would also like to thank the people of Canada, the Government of Canada and the Prime Minister of Canada for rapid financial aid to those people who are in need. In a single week, more than one million people have been displaced, most of them in Beirut. They need drinking water, food and shelter; our government practically, and fortunately, is not there. Corruption and terrible mismanagement have also crippled the country and the population. I would like to appeal to our government and every government in the world to send the money directly either to the Red Cross or to NGOs that are registered with, approved by and reporting to the United Nations in order for the money to reach the people who are in need.
I end by saying that I hope to see a permanent, lasting peace among Jews, Muslims and Arabs in our lifetime. I hope to see peace prevail in all corners of the world; this will pave the way for generations to come to live in peace, to live in security and to enjoy life. I have a lot to say, and I will be more than happy to answer questions from my colleagues.
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Madam Speaker, the member spoke of the humanitarian aid that needs to go across to people in Lebanon. In my riding there is an incredible organization, Cedars of Hope, that does that. It started that work during the explosion at the port of Beirut. I know how incredibly resilient Lebanese people are, and they continue to rebuild. The situation is truly devastating.
My question is focused more on all the supports that the Canadian government continues to say exist, but I have heard specifically from constituents who cannot get on a flight, who cannot afford a $15,000 airplane ticket and who cannot even get a space on a flight if it does take off. All of these things are very logistical.
Could the member speak to what he has heard from constituents and the major problems they are facing just to get to some sort of safety and to the places where humanitarian aid could be provided?
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Madam Speaker, for more than eight months, I, with the government and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, appealed to all Canadian Lebanese who were in Lebanon to leave and to come back. We asked Canadian Lebanese in Canada not to go to Lebanon. For eight months, they did not listen to us.
Nonetheless, now we are doing our best. We are reserving seats on commercial planes, trying to help them come here. However, I can tell the member that, in this particular case, as a Lebanese Canadian and as one who spread the message, I would prefer that the money went to the displaced people, because they are mostly much more in need than the people we are talking about.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Madam Speaker, I know that my colleague has a very kind heart. Like me, he is deeply worried about so many Lebanese Canadians right now. So many people across this country are grieving and are so afraid of what is happening in the region and of the risk of escalation.
We have heard from the Jordanian foreign affairs minister that Netanyahu does not want a two-state solution. If we ask Israeli officials what their end game is, what is it other than just war and more war?
What we have seen is that the escalation, the counterattacks and the back and forth have done nothing except hurt civilians, hurt innocent people, traumatize populations and destroy cities and communities. Rightly, the people in Lebanon are deeply worried that their cities and their communities will be flattened the way that Gaza has been. I wonder whether the member could talk about what he has heard from his constituents about that.
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Madam Speaker, my colleague's question touches my heart.
If we watch the news, we see that in Israel there are daily demonstrations, sometimes with hundreds of thousands of people, against the government, asking it to make a deal to free the hostages and to make peace. We see that on both sides. I can assure my colleague that Lebanese people have the same feeling. Lebanese people do not want war. The Government of Lebanon does not want war.
However, the only path to end this is to work together, and this will be the responsibility of the United Nations, and mainly of the most powerful country in the United Nations, the United States of America, to do their utmost in order to bring both sides, without any conditions, to the negotiating table to work together. When we think about the future generation, everyone has to come with a hard compromise for a few countries to believe in a healthy economy, healthy—
Situation in Lebanon and IsraelEmergency Debate
The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes
It is time to resume debate.
The hon. parliamentary secretary to the President of the Treasury Board.
Anthony Housefather LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Madam Speaker, there is one party that does want war. It is the Islamic Republic of Iran. This summer, I was in Argentina. It was the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA, the Jewish community centre in Argentina, which was the deadliest attack on Jews between the Holocaust and what happened on October 7. That attack in 1994 killed 85 people and wounded 300.
Who was the attack carried out by? An Argentinian court ruled this year that the attack was directed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and carried out by Hezbollah, an organization that has killed and terrorized people around the world, not only in Israel, where millions of Israelis are being terrorized by the Hezbollah rockets being fired on their country on a repeated basis, but also in other countries as well.
Why does Iran want this? It is because Iran wants division. Iran wants its horrible regime to be able to get away with human rights violations in its own country, so it creates chaos abroad. One of the ways that it creates chaos is by attacking what it calls the “Zionist regime”, a regime that the supreme leader of Iran believes should be eradicated. Iran finances terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, to rain rockets on Israel and to do things like the massacre of October 7, where over 1,200 people were murdered, hundreds were injured and hostages were taken, many of whom are still in tunnels in Gaza. That is the situation that Israel faces.
I do not think that there is anybody in the chamber, in any party, that has a monopoly on virtue. Everybody cares about the civilians who are going to be harmed in any country, whether it is Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Gaza or Iran. Nobody wants harm to happen to civilians. The issue is the moral clarity of saying who is responsible for what is happening.
There has been an attempt this evening by some speakers to blame Israel for all of the events that have happened, when Israel was attacked on October 7 last year and has had, for years, missiles fired upon it by Hezbollah from Lebanon, because the Lebanese government, which may very well be of good faith, is unable to fulfill its obligations under a UN resolution saying that Hezbollah has to vacate south Lebanon.
Israeli civilians would be killed in drastic numbers if it were not for Iron Dome. We keep forgetting that. We keep pointing to the mass casualties in one place and not another, but the reason for that is the Iron Dome. Israel is fighting terrorist organizations on every single front. It is not a country that has just suddenly decided to start bombing here and start bombing there. The idea that we can assign all of the blame in a conflict that has started more than any of our lifetimes ago, and not even in 1948, as it started before then, but let us say, going back to 1948, to one side is absolutely irreconcilable with factual history.
I decided to come back to speak tonight because I wanted to make sure that, on this side of the House, there were some people who would say that because it is not right to claim that Israel is entirely responsible for what is happening. In fact, I think it is pretty clear that Iran has a huge amount of responsibility for what is happening.
I also wanted to say in this debate that we all hate hate. Hate is a horrible thing against any group, whether it is against Muslims, Jews, gays, Christians, people of colour or anybody, but it has to be said that, over the last 11 months, the Jewish community in Canada has faced hate in epic proportions, which has not been seen in any of our lifetimes. Jews constitute about 1.4% of Canada's population, while more than half of hate crimes, in some cases up to 70%, are against Jews.
It does not make sense that we have people in our streets who are yelling support for and flying the flags of terrorist organizations, and who are telling Jews to go back to Poland. That is horrifying. The fact that the police are not enforcing the law when they see people crossing that line, flying the Hezbollah flag and screaming at people to go back to Poland, is absurd.
I want to propose some solutions that would make it a lot easier to say that governments at all levels are combatting hate because right now no government in the world is combatting anti-Semitism enough. In Canada, the federal, provincial or municipal governments have not done enough to confront the epidemic of anti-Semitism in our midst.
Policing is a municipal jurisdiction. Enforcement of the Criminal Code is a provincial jurisdiction. It is not right to blame the federal government for all this happening, as some are trying to do. However, that does not mean we cannot show leadership. It does not mean that the federal Attorney General and the Minister of Public Safety cannot convene the provincial ministers of public safety and attorneys general to have a discussion about hate and anti-Semitism, to say that we need specific hate crime prosecutors who are geared toward hate crimes, to ensure that police have proper training, to ensure hate crime units are set up across the country, to ensure that police know that politicians at every level in the country, federal, provincial and municipal, will have the backs of the police when they enforce the law. That is what we need.
We need the Samidoun and the Houthis to be designated as terrorist organizations, the same as we have designated the IRGC. We need the Parliament of Canada to create a new intimidation offence, what I would call bubble legislation, to say that, if someone were to try to block people from entering or leaving a school, community centre, community building or a place of worship, they would be breaking a very specific provision of the Criminal Code. Again, that does not mean it would not be better done by the provinces. The provinces and municipalities could easily create buffer zones around these buildings. It is a shame they have not done so.
Over the last summer, university campuses were my priority. Since last June, I have been talking to universities across the country. I worked with Deborah Lyons, Universities Canada, the U15 and university presidents to set out a group of things that universities needed to do. We worked together to make sure that universities are committed to enforcing their codes of conduct and ensuring Jews were included in DEI programs so that anti-Semitism programs are to be given by groups that are representative of the mainstream Jewish community and support the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. Even though it is a provincial jurisdiction, our justice committee has gotten involved. We have done hearings. We are going to do a report.
There are things that we can do to confront this problem. I call on all of us to work together to make sure that we have a fair understanding and balance of what is happening in the Middle East and that we confront anti-Semitism and hate in Canada.
Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB
Madam Speaker, I always enjoy the member's speeches. It is nice to know that there is at least one voice of common sense in the entire Liberal caucus.
I do have one question. It has to do with the issue of his government saying that Israel has the right to defend itself, but that it is not going to help it defend itself, it is not going to sell it arms. I just think that is so hypocritical. It cannot say, on the one hand, that Israel has the right to defend itself, but on the other hand, that it is not going to give it the means to defend itself.
I know we could argue that it would get its arms somewhere else, but the point is what Canada does sets an example for the world. What this policy really means is that the people who brought it forward want every country in the world to follow suit, which would be a disaster for Israel and really be a problem. I would like the member's comments on that one particular issue.