Ottawa, Ontario – Canada today called on Israel to abandon plans to authorize 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, labeling them “illegal” and a threat to peace. This diplomatic stance comes as the Canadian government also grapples with a growing wildfire crisis across several provinces, particularly in Manitoba.
Global Affairs Canada issued a strong statement asserting that the proposed new settlements “violate international law and undermine prospects for lasting peace and security via the two-state solution.” This follows Canada joining the UK and France earlier this month in threatening targeted sanctions against Israeli officials if settlement expansion in the West Bank continues. The Canadian government has repeatedly condemned mounting violence in the West Bank since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz stated the decision “constitutes a crushing response to Palestinian terrorism,” while a Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spokesperson called it a “dangerous escalation.”
Domestically, the political focus is also heavily on the escalating wildfire crisis. Premier Wab Kinew of Manitoba held a news conference in Winnipeg to provide an update on the provincial wildfire situation. The Assembly of First Nations, Chiefs of Ontario, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and other Indigenous organizations issued a joint statement today regarding the “growing wildfire crisis across Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan,” and Manitoba. They emphasized that “the risks from wildfires are growing in severity every year” and stressed the urgent need for governments to prioritize First Nations’ concerns and provide adequate resources for emergency response and long-term infrastructure. They highlighted issues like damaged hydro infrastructure and lack of access to basic necessities in evacuated communities, calling for immediate, coordinated responses from Premier Scott Moe (Saskatchewan) and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government continues to navigate a challenging political landscape, balancing foreign policy concerns with pressing domestic crises and ongoing scrutiny in Parliament, as evidenced by his recent first Question Period. Meanwhile, Canada Post has asked the jobs minister to force its union to vote on “final offers” amid ongoing financial struggles.