An NDP motion puts a big question to the test: Will Canada recognize Palestinian statehood?
CBC
An opposition day motion brought forward by the NDP's foreign affairs critic Monday could set the cat among the pigeons in the federal Liberal caucus.
The non-binding motion calls on the government to take a number of actions in response to the war in the Middle East, including that it should "officially recognize the State of Palestine."
The motion was sponsored by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh with the party's foreign affairs critic, Heather McPherson, acting as the point person.
"We wrote this in a way that it's not supposed to be a 'gotcha' motion," she said.
"This was supposed to be a motion that aligned with international law, aligns with Canadian policy. So we're hopeful that we will have some support from the Liberals and we're certainly seeing more movement from them over the last few days."
But the motion is also expected to divide the government caucus.
"It's not the perfect motion by any means, and no motion is. But when you look at the broad strokes of it, this is a push to support human rights," said Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who told CBC News that he will back it despite reservations.
"And I think it emphasizes Canada's role in this, which is to focus on and preserve human rights and peace."
Erskine-Smith, MP for the Toronto riding of Beaches—East York, says he has heard a wide range of views from his constituents on the topic, but "my inbox is full of people saying, 'We want the violence to end, we want civilians to be protected, we don't want to see more casualties. We don't want to see more kids die. And Canada has to do more to end the violence.'"
Erskine-Smith also knows that his view is not shared by everyone in his party.
"I expect there will be a split," he said. "I think the government position will obviously matter a great deal to my colleagues."
One Liberal who definitely intends to oppose the motion is Montreal's Anthony Housefather.
"It's incredibly meaningful in the sense that this would be a huge slap in the face to the vast majority of Canada's Jewish community," he told CBC News.
Housefather, MP for Mount Royal, says he objects to clauses in the motion that call for an immediate ceasefire, and for the suspension of all sales of military equipment to Israel.
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