There is strength in unity,' says head of Métis nation in Alberta
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CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state in September
Social Sharing Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will recognize a Palestinian state in September if the West Bank's governing body agrees to make certain commitments. The prime minister said the Palestinian Authority must hold an election in 2026 and commit to other democratic reforms. "Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism, and honouring their innate desire for the peaceful co-existence of Israeli and Palestinian states as the only roadmap for a secure and prosperous future," Carney said during a news conference on Wednesday. He said Canada would formally recognize the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly. WATCH | Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state: Carney announces Canada will recognize Palestinian state in September 8 hours ago Carney's announcement came after he spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier Wednesday. Mona Abuamara, the former chief representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to Canada, told CBC's Power & Politics that she believes the commitments Carney set out are achievable. "The Palestinian people have been living hell for two years. They know what they want. They need the opportunity to actually build their own state," she told guest host David Common. The Palestinian Authority currently controls parts of the West Bank through the Fatah party. Hamas governs in Gaza. Neither territory has held an election since 2006. Carney said Hamas can have no role in the election he is proposing. He also reiterated that Hamas needs to release the remaining Israeli hostages and said a Palestinian state must be demilitarized. The announcement follows similar commitments from other allied countries in the past week. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the U.K. will also recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, allows the UN to bring in aid and takes other steps toward long-term peace. WATCH | Carney says prospect of 2-state solution being 'eroded before our eyes': Carney on whether recognizing a Palestinian state is a 'critique' of Israel 7 hours ago France announced a similar plan last week, but without conditions. Ireland, Norway and Spain have all recognized Palestine within the last year. Carney said he has spoken to both Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in recent days. "In our judgment, and the judgment of others, the prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes," the prime minister said. "Working with others to support the possibility of a Palestinian state establishes that [prospect]." Canadian governments previously said they would acknowledge a Palestinian state only after a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and Palestinian leadership. Carney said that approach was "no longer tenable." Carney said the ongoing threat of Hamas, the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and "the ongoing failure by the Israeli government to prevent the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian disaster in Gaza" spurred Canada to make this move now. Israel rejects Canada's plans The Israeli Foreign Ministry said its government "rejects" Carney's move. "The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages," the statement said. Iddo Moed, the Israeli Ambassador to Canada, told Power & Politics that Canada's decision would "embolden" Hamas. "Hamas is very much aware of what is going on right now and I think they will be celebrating this very message," Moed said. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), said in a news statement on Wednesday that Carney's decision is "predicated on misplaced faith in vague commitments" by Abbas. "Extending recognition absent real change on the ground is a recipe for another failed Palestinian pseudo-state controlled by terrorists," Shack said. More than 100 advocacy groups have been warning of hunger spreading in Gaza as ceasefire negotiations stall. Israel, which controls all supplies entering Gaza, denies it is responsible for food shortages. Carney was asked how likely it is that elections could be held given the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the heightened tensions in the region overall. "Much has to happen in order for a democratic viable state [to be] established in Palestine. We fully recognize that," Carney said. "We're committed to help work as part of that process, but I'm not in any way [or] shape minimizing the scale of that task." Carney was joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who announced $10 million to "to accelerate reform and capacity-building for the Palestinian Authority" earlier this week. Anand's announcement was made at a major UN conference — convened by France and Saudi Arabia — to find ways to preserve the two-state solution. Conservatives denounce decision The Conservative Party said in a statement that it supports a two-state solution, but also said Carney's decision is a "reward" for Hamas. "A unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, without peace negotiations or a renunciation of violence, destroys the path to a lasting, two-state solution. Worse, it legitimizes terrorism by handing political rewards to a group that rules Gaza through fear, oppression and brutality," the statement said. NDP MP Heather McPherson said she welcomed Carney's decision but said it should have been made sooner. She also called on Canada to do more to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "It should not have taken the Liberals this long to make this decision — and it should not take until September to implement it," McPherson wrote in a statement. "The Liberals should recognize the state of Palestine today — while also taking the political action necessary to end Canada's complicity in this genocide." In the past week, a number of Liberal MPs have called on Canada to follow France's lead. Toronto MP Salma Zahid and Montreal-area MP Sameer Zuberi said in social media posts that Canada must join France in announcing its recognition of a state for the Palestinian people. Fares Al Soud, who represents the Toronto-area riding of Mississauga Centre, said on social media that justice for the Palestinian people "demands recognition." Last fall, dozens of MPs from the Liberals, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green Party joined an international call for the recognition a Palestinian state.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Homelessness across Metro Vancouver hits all-time high, count reveals
Homelessness in Vancouver and its suburbs has hit an all-time high. That's according to new data from a homeless count conducted in March. With numbers high-level, preliminary numbers released now, as CBC's Chad Pawson reports those behind the count are pleading for governments to respond.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Trump says Canada backing statehood for Palestine makes it ‘very hard' to negotiate U.S. trade deal
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump meet at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press) U.S. President Donald Trump says Canada backing statehood for Palestine makes it 'very hard' for the United States to achieve a trade deal with its northern neighbour. 'Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine,' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. 'That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh' Canada!!!' Trump Truth Social Canada Palestine U.S. President Donald Trump says Canada recognizing statehood of Palestine makes it 'very hard' for two sides to reach trade deal. (Truth Social screenshot) The post comes hours before the president's Aug. 1 trade deadline, in which he's previously stated he would impose 35 per cent tariffs on Canada if the two sides could not come to an agreement. This is a late breaking update. Previous copy from The Canadian Press is below… Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that Canada's negotiations with the United States might not conclude by Donald Trump's Aug. 1 deadline as the president added new trade measures that could further hinder some Canadian businesses. Carney said talks have been complex, comprehensive and constructive. He also said they are ongoing and cover 'a broad variety of topics.' 'There are many areas for co-operation between Canada and the United States, including defence spending, security spending, investments, which is one of the reasons why we're having these broader discussions,' Carney said at a news conference in Ottawa. Trump sent a letter to Carney threatening to impose 35 per cent tariffs if Canada doesn't make a trade deal by Friday. The White House has said those duties would not apply to goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade, better known as CUSMA. The Canadian economy is also being slammed by Trump's Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles. Trump on Wednesday signed executive orders for 50 per cent tariffs on semi-finished copper products starting Friday. The president, however, didn't include imports of the refined metal in his order, leaving many in the Canadian copper industry feeling relieved. In a separate order, Trump suspended de minimis exemptions — which had allowed packages worth $800 or less to ship to the United States to avoid tariffs. As part of his reasoning for the change, Trump cited the flow of fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Federation of Independent Business President and CEO Dan Kelly said suspending the de minimis exemption 'is bad news for many Canadian small businesses.' The federation's data shows about one-third of small Canadian exporters used the exemption to ship to U.S. consumers duty free, Kelly said in a post on social media. Pascal Chan, the vice president of strategic policy and supply chains at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said it adds 'another layer of uncertainty for Canadian businesses exporting to the U.S.,' particularly small- and medium-sized businesses. 'Any increase in compliance costs and delivery delays will only serve to compound the pressure on the cross-border supply chains that have long fuelled our shared economic prosperity,' Chan said in a statement. The latest trade changes comes as countries around the world are set to face staggering tariffs when Trump's deadline to make deals passes. Trump announced a deal with South Korea Wednesday which will see the country slapped with a 15 per cent tariff. The president said South Korea 'will give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President. In apost on social media Trump said South Korea will also 'purchase $100 Billion Dollars of LNG, or other Energy products.' In a separate post the president also said he 'concluded a Deal with the Country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves' but Trump didn't provide details of a tariff rate. Frameworks of deals have previously been announced for the European Union, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom — with all nations facing some level of baseline tariff. Not all the details of the deals are clear but Trump has said countries can 'buy down' the tariff rate and most agreements have come with announcements of billion-dollar investments. Trump on Wednesday also escalated his threats against Brazil — which will be hit a 50 per cent duty — and India — which will face a 25 per cent tariff, plus an additional import tax because of India purchases Russian oil. Trump has been dismissive of conversations with Canada, saying it is not a priority for his administration. The president said Wednesday that America's northern neighbour is a high-tariff nation, misrepresenting Canadian duties for agriculture imports. 'They've been charging our farmers 200 per cent, 300 per cent, 400 per cent for years and nobody did anything about it,' Trump told reporters. Carney met virtually with his cabinet earlier Wednesday for a meeting focused largely on the situation in the Middle East. Carney said Canada is seeking the best deal for Canadians and that negotiations will continue until that is achieved. He said Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, will remain in Washington with senior officials 'in pursuit of that goal.' With files from Catherine Morrison This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2025 Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
