Envoy says Canada is coming closer to recognizing Palestinian statehood
'Accountability means everything to the Palestinian people. That's all we are looking for,' said Mona Abuamara, who is at the end of her four-year term as the chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada.
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Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Toronto Star
New Zealand lawmaker who called opponents spineless over Gaza is ejected from Parliament a 2nd time
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand lawmaker who was thrown out of Parliament for calling her opponents spineless during a fiery debate about a Palestinian state was ejected again on Wednesday when she refused to apologize for the remark. Chlöe Swarbrick, co-leader of the left-leaning Green Party and part of the opposition bloc, was ordered to leave parliament on Tuesday over a speech in which she called for government lawmakers 'with a spine' to endorse her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza.
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
New Zealand lawmaker who called opponents spineless over Gaza is ejected from Parliament a 2nd time
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A New Zealand lawmaker who was thrown out of Parliament for calling her opponents spineless during a fiery debate about a Palestinian state was ejected again on Wednesday when she refused to apologize for the remark. Chlöe Swarbrick, co-leader of the left-leaning Green Party and part of the opposition bloc, was ordered to leave parliament on Tuesday over a speech in which she called for government lawmakers 'with a spine' to endorse her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza. She was hit with a three-day ban — lengthy by New Zealand parliamentary standards — but returned the next day only to be ejected a second time. Her censure came amid fraught scenes in Parliament in Wellington on Tuesday as opponents rebuked the government for not moving to recognize an independent Palestinian state, days after neighboring Australia pledged to do so. Countries including France, Britain and Canada are also expected to recognize a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September. 'We are one of the very few countries in the world who so far refuse to acknowledge the absolute bare minimum,' Swarbrick said. Calling opponents spineless prompted the ejection The Green party lawmaker was abruptly ejected from the debating chamber when she urged government politicians to join her in a proposal to sanction Israel, which currently wouldn't have enough votes to pass into law. 'If we can find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,' Swarbrick said, referring to other Members of Parliament. 'That is completely unacceptable to make that statement,' Speaker Gerry Brownlee interrupted. 'Withdraw it and apologize.' The Green politician refused. Brownlee told her to leave the debating chamber for the rest of the week. 'Happily,' Swarbrick said. The standoff resumed when Swarbrick took her seat again on Wednesday despite the ban and Brownlee asked again if she would apologize. Swarbrick declined and was ejected once more, yelling 'free Palestine' as she went. Brownlee took the serious step, rare in New Zealand's Parliament, of taking a vote to 'name' Swarbrick for her misconduct, a ruling that means a legislator is formally suspended with their pay docked. The vote passed, with all government lawmakers endorsing it. Opposition lawmakers claim double standards The measure provoked fresh debate in Parliament about punishments for unruly behavior. Government lawmakers voted in June to enact unprecedented lengthy bans of opposition Māori Party lawmakers who performed a haka chant to protest a controversial vote. On Wednesday, opposition politicians decried Swarbrick's penalty as unusually severe, with lawmaker Willie Jackson highlighting his own ban of just 30 minutes for calling one of his colleagues a liar, before he was allowed to resume his seat without an apology. In another recent example, a government politician used an eye-watering expletive without censure, supporters of Swarbrick said. Several others had escaped punishment in recent years when using the word 'spineless' about their opponents. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins said it was unprecedented for a lawmaker to be ejected from Parliament for a second day over the same offense. Brownlee, however, said he had drawn a line when Swarbrick directed a personal insult at all 68 government lawmakers — including him. 'We have so many threats and other stuff being directed at Members of Parliament,' he said. 'If we don't change the behavior in here, nothing will change outside.' Pressure grows to decide Palestinian statehood question Meanwhile, the government continues to mull recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Wednesday made his most strident rebuke yet of Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israel leader 'has lost the plot' on the 'human catastrophe' in Gaza. 'I think Netanyahu has gone way too far,' Luxon told reporters. 'He is not listening to the international community and that is unacceptable.' While senior New Zealand officials, including Luxon, have said recognition of Palestine from their government was 'a matter of not if, but when,' his Cabinet has yet to endorse a change of position. A decision will be made in September after further consideration, Luxon said Monday.
Toronto Sun
18 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY: Canada playing small ball in trade talks with the United States
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves after speaking during a press conference after a Cabinet meeting to discuss both trade negotiations with the US and the situation in the Middle East, in Ottawa, on July 30, 2025. Canada "intends" to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images) Canada, under Mark Carney, continues to play small ball while the United States under Donald Trump keeps trying to score home runs. If this were a baseball game, we would have pulled the pitcher by now and tried to figure out which other players we could replace. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account While Canada got hit with more tariffs on Friday night, China received a 90-day extension on more tariffs on Monday. 'The United States and China have engaged in multiple rounds of productive negotiations to address trade reciprocity and national security concerns,' the statement from the White House read. You would think that if China could get a 90-day extension on further tariffs because talks were going well, Canada could do the same. After all, before the Aug. 1 deadline, Mexico was able to get a deal, as was every other G7 nation other than Canada. To Carney's 'Elbows Up Brigade' not getting a deal with Donald Trump is a badge of honour. The emails pour in fast and furious telling me to get behind the PM, to support whatever he wants to do, that he is the only one qualified to lead the country, that anything less than what they demand is treasonous. I don't criticize the PM's approach because I want Canada to fail. Rather, I want Canada to succeed and Carney's approach so far isn't working. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. When tariffs go up, not just with the United States but with other countries as well, when we can't get trade deals with countries like Britain due to our domestic policy, maybe we are the problem. Part of the issue, though, is that most Canadians won't know about these issues because most mainstream media outlets either won't report them or won't play them up. As Canadians from coast to coast call for international trade to be diversified, it would be headline news if the Harper government caused trade talks to break down with Britain over cheese imports. Recommended video Yet, under a Liberal government, the idea that Britain would walk away because of concerns over a small amount of cheese imports barely warrants a mention. But yes, let's diversify our trade to other countries who have the same issues with us as the Americans do. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For the Elbows Up crowd, none of this makes a difference. We can alienate every trading partner in the world as long as we annoy the Americans. It's like Leafs fans who accept losing seasons as long as they beat the Habs. This is a loser mentality and one that we shouldn't accept. Right now we have Carney's proposal on the table for boosting Canada's economy and the plan from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Both leaders want to head in the same direction, the difference is the speed and the success rate that they want to achieve. Carney's plan, exemplified by Bill C-5, looks like the kid who is trying to get a 51% to pass the class. It's not too ambitious and will do just enough to get a passing grade and not annoy the left flank of the Liberal Party which doesn't want Canada's economy to boom. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Poilievre's plan is that of the student who is trying to get an A-plus, but will settle for an A if that is what the teacher determines the case to be. He has called for a government policy that eliminates the capital gains tax if you sell your assets but reinvest them in the Canadian economy, a move that could unleash billions in domestic investment. His plan would reward provinces for dropping provincial trade barriers which cost the Canadian economy billions each year. Poilievre has encouraged the Liberals to back his bill; you could even say he's told them to steal his ideas. Given the current national state, we'd be smart to do so. We need to unshackle our economy to ensure we can compete with what Trump is doing south of the border. Simply focusing on tariffs isn't going to cut it. Read More Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA Canada Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays
