Ottawa, 10 February 2025 – Mr. Frank Baylis was in Ottawa today where he gave a press conference on Parliament Hill to announce his proposal for Canada’s role in the Gaza strip.
Evoking Canada’s long history as a peaceful nation and a safe haven for people fleeing conflict zones, Frank Baylis notes that Canada has failed the Palestinian people by failing to make good on its promise to welcome Palestinians to Canada through the Special measures for extended family program, for which fewer than 15 percent of applicants have arrived successfully so far.
Frank Baylis proposes that in light of the state of utter devastation of the Gaza strip following 15 months of armed conflict, Canada must invest in rebuilding efforts, partnering with organisations on the ground to rebuild school, hospitals and other infrastructure crucial to civil society.
Canada should also take the lead among allied nations in recognizing the Palestinian State, something that 146 of the 193 member states, just over 75%, of the United Nations already do.
“A new solution is needed to create a new path forward for peace,” declared Frank Baylis, “Decades of imbalance in the region have not led to regional stability and have instead normalized the view that Palestinians are not eligible to the advantages of statehood. In order to advance in a way that is conducive to establishing an enduring peace in the region, Canada must lead the way as a peace-keeping nation in recognizing the Palestinian State.”
Note:
Among the G20, nine countries have recognized Palestine as a state : Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkey, as well as permanent invitee Spain. The remaining ten countries, including Canada, have not: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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Source :
Justine McIntyre
Media Relations / Responsable des communications
Équipe Frank Baylis PLC / LPC Leadership Team
438-495-2884
[email protected]
Since my announcement that Canada should formally recognize the state of Palestine, some people have reached out to me to express their serious concerns. As I respect and acknowledge their perspectives, I would like to provide some clarifications here.
Before addressing my announcement, I must first express my deep concern over the dramatic rise in antisemitism in Canada since the October 7th attacks. I personally experienced this hostility when I was verbally and physically assaulted by a protester after leaving an event in Ottawa. To help combat this rise in antisemitism, I am an active member of United Against Hate, an advocacy group that successfully petitioned the federal government to hold a summit this month to address this urgent issue. So, while I strongly support the right to peaceful protest, I unequivocally condemn all forms of harassment and violence.
In my statement, I criticized Canada for not accepting Palestinian refugees who were trying to flee the war in Gaza. To be precise, we did accept approximately 600 Palestinians. This however pales in comparison to the 40,000 Syrians and the 300,000 Ukrainians that we accepted when they were fleeing the horrors of war. This double standard needs to be called out. As we cannot turn back the clock, I believe that Canada should now take action to help the Palestinian people rebuild. We should invest in rebuilding their schools, hospitals, and homes, in a way that ensures the rebuilding of a civil and tolerant society.
This rebuilding can only begin once all Israeli hostages and administratively detained Palestinians have been returned to their families so that Israelis and Palestinians alike can begin the long process of healing from the recent traumatic events. Reconstruction efforts should be coordinated through credible Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). This work cannot involve Hamas, as peace cannot be achieved through an organization that promotes hatred and terror. Added to this, it is designated a terrorist organization by multiple countries, which prohibits engagement with them. Done correctly, and with the right partners, Canada can play a significant role in this rebuilding process.
A key element in rebuilding this civil society is to respect the dignity and aspirations of the Palestinian people. We should recognize that they exist, acknowledge them as a people and a nation, and therefore recognize their nation’s state. I strongly believe that this is the right course of action. It is this call to recognize the state of Palestine that some people have taken issue with. To be clear, what I am proposing is in no way a reward for terrorist acts committed by Hamas, which I unequivocally condemn. Rather, it is something that Canada should have done years ago.
I have been told that this is not the right time, that recognition should only come after a lasting peace has been put in place. This is where our approaches differ. I believe that recognition is not only necessary but is a critical step forward on the pathway towards achieving peace.
My personal conversations with members of the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities have led me to conclude that the vast majority of people on all sides of this conflict really do want peace. This shared sentiment gives me a great deal of hope. It is on this hope that I act.