Montreal, February 2, 2018  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) and the Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC-CMF) welcome the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage’s report responding to parliamentary motion M-103, “Systemic racism and religious discrimination.”  Both organizations are pleased to see how the report advances the discussion on religious discrimination in Canada in several keys ways.  However, both organizations are anxious to see how the recommendations will be implemented, and would like to see a clear action plan.

CJPME Factsheet, published Feb 01, 2018: This factsheet defines Islamophobia and explains how it manifested itself in Canadian society. It addresses the employment discrimination and integration barriers Muslim Canadians face today. Lastly, it covers the different efforts implemented by the Canadian government to impede its rise.

Last year, US President Donald Trump announced he was moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, breaking decades of diplomatic neutrality regarding competing Israeli and Palestinian claims to the city. 

This year, on May 8th, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer promised that if elected, a Canadian government under his leadership would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the Canadian embassy to Jerusalem. This is offensive, appalling, illegal, and wrong.

To be sent to Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the other leaders of Canada's political parties:

Earlier this week, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer promised that if elected, a Canadian government under his leadership would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.  This is offensive, appalling, illegal, and wrong.

In December, US President Donald Trump announced he was moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, breaking decades of diplomatic neutrality regarding competing Israeli and Palestinian claims to the city. We as Canadians need to express our strongest opposition.

To the Government of Canada:

WHEREAS Scheer's decision ignores all previous UN resolutions and international consensus on Jerusalem,

WHEREAS Scheer's decision contradicts international law which outlaws the seizure of territory by force,

WHEREAS Scheer's decision undermines all Middle East peace efforts, which call for a negotiated settlement on the status of Jerusalem,

THEREFORE, we, the undersigned petition you to publicly and diplomatically oppose all foreign embassies in Jerusalem!:

Montreal, November 17, 2017 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Liberal government to make important amendments to bill C-47, an arms control bill currently before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.  Bill C-47 is a bill intended to enable Canada to accede to the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), but is highly flawed in its original draft.  Late last week, Foreign Affairs Committee chair Bob Nault suggested that the government may allow amendments to the bill, and CJPME strong urges it to do so.  

Montreal, October 17, 2017 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is proud to join Amnesty International and nine other civil society organizations* in critiquing the federal government’s proposed arms control legislation encapsulated in Bill C-47. Bill C-47 is a bill intended to enable Canada to accede to the international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).  However, CJPME and its NGO partners consider C-47 to be highly flawed, such that Canada would not be fully compliant with the Treaty with the passage of C-47.  CJPME and its partners have issued a joint document highlighting their top 10 concerns with bill C-47.

Montreal, September 27, 2017 – In light of Canada’s silence on Israel’s human rights abuses, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) launches the Peace in Palestine campaign in an effort to force Canada’s politicians to have an honest public discussion about Israel’s illegal settlements and how Canada must respond. The goal of the campaign is to have Parliament pass a motion condemning Israel’s illegal “settlements” (aka colonies), which are an ongoing obstacle to peace and violate Palestinians’ human rights. 

Montreal, August 8, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) seeks to draw attention to Dr. David Kattenburg, a Winnipeg resident who lodged formal complaints with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) earlier this year over the mislabelling of wines produced in Israel’s colonies (aka “settlements”) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). In his persistent fight to hold the CFIA accountable to their own standards, yesterday Dr. Kattenburg filed to appeal the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)’s decision to allow the continued mislabelling of wines from Israeli colonies. 

Montreal, August 2, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Middle East positions of each of the candidates for the NDP leadership race, with Niki Ashton receiving the best score with an A+ rating. Jagmeet Singh was next with an A-, followed by Guy Caron at B+, and Charlie Angus with a B.  In developing this analysis, CJPME used the candidates' responses to a questionnaire issued by CJPME and Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) as well as  quotes and references in the media, comments the NDP leadership debates, comments from parliamentary debate, press statements, the candidates' campaign Websites, and more. 

Montreal, June 15, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges Canada to sign on to Amnesty International’s campaign calling on all countries to refuse to recognize or assist illegal Jewish-only Israeli “settlements” (a.k.a. colonies.) Late last week, Amnesty introduced their “Occupation @ 50” campaign urging governments around the world to ban the import of all goods produced in Israeli colonies. In addition, Amnesty encourages countries like Canada to introduce national legislation to ensure that companies operating in Canada are not involved in Israel’s settlement enterprise or in the trading of settlement goods.