Yesterday, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) launched a campaign urging the Canadian government to cancel its 36 million dollar drone contract with Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems. Announced in December 2020, the stated purpose for this “civilian” drone is environmental surveillance in the arctic. However, Palestinian civil society and anti-war groups have raised concerns about the harmful role of Elbit Systems and its products in Israeli violations of human rights and international law in the occupied Palestinian territory.

This position paper discusses CJPME's proposed amendments to the Bill C-85 and to the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.

Montreal, November 2, 2018  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls on the Canadian government to amend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Bill C-85). This Bill, introduced in the House of Commons early last week, seeks to modernize the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA). Canadians expect their government to implement trade deals that are in line with Canadian foreign policy and commitments to human rights and international law. CJPME believes that Bill C-85 does not conform to these expectations, and must be amended to do so.

Montreal, May 29, 2018 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls for a review and revamp of Canada-Israel trade ties.  Today, Israel’s minister of trade was feted at the Royal York hotel in Toronto, and activists from several organizations were present to protest trade cooperation with Israel.  Protesters attendant at the meeting stood up, one after the other, to disrupt the Israeli trade minister’s speech.  Their objections raised several issues, but heavily questioned how Canada could endorse deeper ties with Israel given Israel’s brutal and illegal crackdown on Palestinian protesters in Gaza just two weeks ago which also injured a Canadian doctor. 

Montreal, October 26, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds Dr. David Kattenburg for his application for judicial review of the decision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in a matter of wines mislabelled as “Product of Israel.”  Kattenburg had originally filed a complaint in March to the CFIA demonstrating that the wines in question were actually being produced in the West Bank – a territory never attributed or recognized as being part of Israel proper. The CFIA ultimately decided that it would allow the wines to continue to be imported and labelled as “Product of Israel” concluding that the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) overrode Canadian consumer protection laws.

Looking for a way to influence your member of Parliament and ministers? 

A group of Canadian activists have written up a letter for you to send to influential members of our government in order to pressure Canada in respecting international law and Canadian law.

Fraudulent labelling of products that were supposedly "Made in Israel" without regard to the status of the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be called out!

Copy and paste the following letter/email and send it out to the mentioned ministers and your member of Parliament!

Montreal, July 18, 2017  — Last week, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) issued a press release praising the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) decision to discontinue the importation of wines from Israeli colonies (aka “settlements”) mislabelled as “products of Israel.” CJPME is disappointed to learn that the CFIA has retracted its initial decision.  CJPME disagrees with this latest flip-flop, and believes the government's posture prioritizes Israeli business interests over the consumer protection of Canadians, and the human rights of Palestinians.

CJPME Factsheet 132, published July, 2011: This factsheet provides a detailed account of Sears Canada Inc.’s implicit participation in Israel’s colonial expansion in Palestine. Sears is not only in violation of international law but also against its own Code of Vendor Conduct. Lack of corporate responsibility and disregard for international law makes this Canadian retailer a legitimate target for boycott campaigns.

CJPME Factsheet 115, published May, 2011: Canadian Tire is one of the oldest companies in Canada. Currently, Canadian Tire sells products from the Israeli company Keter Plastic that are manufactured in the Jewish-only colonies of Barkan and Oranit in the West Bank. By selling Keter Plastic products, Canadian Tire is encouraging and legitimizing Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian land, which violates several of the UN Norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations.

CJPME Factsheet 84, published June, 2010: This factsheet provides an overview of the area known as the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau located in south-western Syria which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Today, Israel exports roughly $22 million dollars worth of wine each year — with approximately 38% originating from the Golan Heights. By buying and selling wine from the Golan Heights, Canadian liquor commerce encourages and legitimizes Israel’s military occupation of the Golan.