Montreal, November 16, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) congratulates the Canadian government’s decision today to renew funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees.  Earlier today, Canada’s Minister of International Development, Marie-Claude Bibeau announced that Canada is contributing $25 million to support the organization’s work.  “The Trudeau government has finally differentiated itself from the Harper government in regards to the Middle East,” declared Thomas Woodley, president of CJPME.  

CJPME Political Blog, Nov. 16, 2016: The naysayers on both sides of the issue have been proven wrong.  When the Green Party passed a motion in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on Israel in August, conservative voices felt Elizabeth May would be justified in stepping down as party leader.  Progressive voices, however, urged her to stay on, and not to disavow the BDS movement.  

Montreal, November 1, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds two recent bi-partisan motions in Parliament.  First, CJPME was happy to see the bi-partisan call for immediate help to Yazidi refugees, especially women and girls.  Second, CJPME was pleased to see the unanimous consent for an anti-Islamophobia motion.  “Both motions reflect critical maturing in Canada’s thinking on the Middle East and its peoples,” declared Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME.  “If Canadian leaders can set aside racial stereotypes and partisan politics to intervene in a humanitarian and inclusive way, then we’ve made progress,” added Woodley. 

Montreal, October 27, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls for Governor-General David Johnston’s state visit to the Middle East to be the moment for the Liberal government to demonstrate a new approach to the region.  “Thus far, the Trudeau government has been virtually indistinguishable from the Harper government on questions relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict,” said Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME.  CJPME believes that after a year in office, it’s time for the Trudeau government to define a new approach vis-à-vis the conflict.  

CJPME Political Blog, Oct.25,2016

As the Harper era ended and Trudeau’s term began in late 2015, a collective sigh of relief could be heard from ethnic communities all across Canada, especially from Muslim Canadians. From opposing niqabs at citizenship ceremonies to setting up a hotline for individuals to report the “barbaric cultural practices” of their fellow Canadians - which would have undoubtedly targeted Muslims and those believed to be Muslim - Steven Harper’s Conservative government proved to be highly intolerant of certain minority communities and certainly aided in the heightening of tensions against ethnic and religious groups in the country. 

CJPME Political Blog, Oct.21, 2016

My organization has joined in the sponsorship of 9 different Syrian refugee families.  Some of the files were submitted as early as 2015; all have been approved; yet not a single refugee has arrived.  There are thousands of sponsoring groups in Canada in a position identical to ours. 

CJPME Political Blog, Oct.12, 2016

Over thirteen years ago, the excitement was palpable.  In early June, 2003, Air Canada was about to launch its inaugural non-stop flight from Montreal to Beirut.  Thousands of Lebanese-Canadians had bought their tickets for the summer, delighted to avoid tiresome layovers in Europe on the way to visit friends and family.

CJPME Political Blog, Sept. 16, 2016

Normally, political party conventions end with leaders trumpeting their satisfaction with their party’s progress and accomplishments. Not so last month with Canada’s federal Greens.

Barely able to wait for the doors to close on August’s 3-day convention, Green leader Elizabeth May publicly and harshly criticized a key outcome of the convention.  At issue was the passage of a resolution calling for the party to adopt the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.  BDS is a tactic to pressure Israel to respect the human rights of Palestinians.

 “As leader, I am disappointed that the membership has adopted a policy in favour of a movement that I believe to be polarizing, ineffective and unhelpful,” May announced on the evening the convention closed. 

CJPME Political Blog, October, 5th 2016

Elizabeth May should apologize to Green Party members.  May’s behaviour since the Green Party convention a few weeks ago has not only left the public deeply confused, but also humiliated party members. 

Montreal, August 8, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) enthusiastically applauds the Green Party’s decision to support the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.  “By voting overwhelmingly in support of this BDS resolution, Green Party members demonstrate their deep concern for the human rights of indigenous Palestinians,” asserted Thomas Woodley, president of CJPME.  BDS is a movement applying economic pressure on Israel until it respects the human rights of Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.