The MP for Port Moody–Coquitlam is one of 30 members of parliament who this week called on the prime minster to recognize Palestine as a state.
NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo’s name is on a list of Canadian MPs (see below), as well as legislators in Australia and New Zealand, wanting Justin Trudeau to take action to secure peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
The State of Palestine is recognized by 146 countries, but not officially by Canada.
Zarrillo said the Liberal leader is letting Canadians down.
“What we’ve been seeing in Gaza is devastating. Innocent people are dying,” Zarrillo said in a news release. “Every world leader should be taking action to ensure peace and safety for people in Palestine and Israel. A big part of fighting for lasting peace for both is recognizing the state of Palestine, but Justin Trudeau has been silent.”
Last year, Canada voted at the UN General Assembly in favour of a cease-fire, which was followed by a joint statement by Canada, Australia and New Zealand condemning the violence.
In March, with the backing of nearly all Liberal MPs, the House of Commons passed an NDP motion that called on the government to work for the “establishment of the State of Palestine as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”
But in May, Canada abstained from a UN General Assembly vote to give new rights and privileges to Palestinian representatives at the UN; it also abstained in a move to ask the Security Council to review its request to have a Palestinian state recognized by the United Nations.
In September, Liberal MPs presented a motion to study the possibility of a Palestinian statehood.
Since the conflict started on Oct. 7, 2023, nearly 44,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza.
Today, Nov. 21, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, whom Netanyahu dismissed earlier this month. An arrest warrant was also issued for Hamas official Mohammed Deif, who may be dead.
Here is the list of MPs who signed the letter:
- Charlie Angus (New Democratic Party)
- Niki Ashton (New Democratic Party)
- Jenica Atwin (Liberal Party of Canada)
- Taylor Bachrach (New Democratic Party)
- Lisa Marie Barron (New Democratic Party)
- Stéphane Bergeron (Bloc Québécois)
- Rachel Blaney (New Democratic Party)
- Alexandre Boulerice (New Democratic Party)
- Richard Cannings (New Democratic Party)
- George Chahal (Liberal Party of Canada)
- Laurel Collins (New Democratic Party)
- Leila Dance (New Democratic Party)
- Don Davies (New Democratic Party)
- Blake Desjarlais (New Democratic Party)
- Leah Gazan (New Democratic Party)
- Matthew Green (New Democratic Party)
- Lori Idlout (New Democratic Party)
- Gord Johns (New Democratic Party)
- Peter Julian (New Democratic Party)
- Iqra Khalid (Liberal Party of Party)
- Jenny Kwan (New Democratic Party)
- Alistair MacGregor (New Democratic Party)
- Brian Masse (New Democratic Party)
- Lindsay Mathyssen (New Democratic Party)
- Elizabeth May (Green Party of Canada)
- Heather McPherson (New Democratic Party)
- Mike Morrice (Green Party of Canada)
- Jagmeet Singh (New Democratic Party)
- Salma Zahid (Liberal Party of Canada)
- Bonita Zarrillo (New Democratic Party)
