NWT MLAs are set to vote on a motion later this week that will call on the premier to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, among other measures.
Great Slave MLA Kate Reid told the legislature on Tuesday she plans to table the motion, seconded by Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan, on Thursday.
The motion, which is non-binding, requests that Premier RJ Simpson write a letter asking the “Canadian government to call for an immediate and effective ceasefire and halt to violence by both Israel and Hamas, advocate for the immediate release of all hostages, advocate for and provide funds for unhindered access to humanitarian aid for all those in need in Gaza, and take all actions necessary to fully uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention,” Reid said.
She said the motion additionally calls on the Legislative Assembly to “condemn all acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Palestinian racism in our territory.”
Reid on Tuesday tabled a petition organized by YK Citizens for Ceasefire, a group of residents that has held rallies in support of a ceasefire in Gaza since November.
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Reid said the petition had garnered 905 signatures online and in person. Derek Lindman, a spokesperson for the group, said 645 of those signatures were from residents across the NWT.
“What we’re hoping for is all Canadians and all Canadian institutions, whether they’re governmental or non-governmental or they’re unions etc, to stand up and demand that Canada does not assist genocide and in no way can be seen to be assisting genocide,” he said.
“We either have human rights or we don’t. We either support human rights and the Genocide Convention in difficult times or we don’t have those values.”
Nazim Awan, a former chair of the Islamic Centre of Yellowknife, said he is aware of three families in the city with Palestinian roots.
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Watching the situation in Gaza “is very psychologically depressing,” he said.
Awan said YK Citizens for Ceasefire, which has members from a variety of backgrounds, had given him hope.
“They have shown real leadership and they have put Yellowknife on the map that, OK, we are not complicit, we are not just watching, we will take action,” he said.
Lindman said the group plans to hold a lunchtime rally on Thursday ahead of MLAs’ vote on the motion.
‘Focusing on our jurisdiction’
In December, Yellowknife city councillors rejected a request from YK Citizens for Ceasefire to write to the federal government in support of a ceasefire in Gaza.
They did, however, agree to ask Premier Simpson to do so and condemned “all acts of anti-semitism, anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia” in the community.
In a statement to Cabin Radio at the time, Simpson said he believed that request had been fulfilled after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement in support of a ceasefire. Canada also voted in favour of a non-binding resolution at the United Nations calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the conflict.
In response to a question from MLA Reid in the legislature in December, asking whether he would call on the federal government to stop the sale of arms and military goods to Israel during the conflict, Simpson also declined.
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“I’ve taken the approach during this government to not wade into international affairs. We’re focusing on our jurisdiction. There’s a lot of work to do here,” he said at the time.
Lindman noted that since then, the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective measures” to prevent a genocide of Palestinian people. The court has also called on Hamas to release all hostages.
He also referenced the Canadian government’s suspension of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency last month, following allegations that some of the agency’s staff were involved in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The CBC has reported that Israel has yet to share evidence with Canada supporting those claims.
Lindman said members of the Yellowknife citizens’ group recently held a positive meeting with the premier.
