Events in the Middle East came home to Whitehorse’s council chambers on May 21 as one councillor advocated for the city joining others that have issued a call for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. This prompted an unresolved discussion about the city’s role and whether such a move would be divisive.
Just before the close of the city’s May 21 standing committee meeting, Coun. Michelle Friesen announced a notice of motion to be brought forward at the next council meeting. The proposed motion would have the city call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
Friesen read out the proposed motion which notes that municipal leaders in places like Toronto, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Montreal have already called for a ceasefire, that tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands more displaced and that there have been protests around the world calling for action to end the conflict.
The motion also states that Canada has legal and moral obligations in the face of the genocide convention and International Court of Justice ruling that has found there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza.
“And whereas we have a moral obligation to stand against and speak up about the genocide, illegal occupation, oppression, human rights violation and violence taking place in Gaza and stand with Palestinians in their call for meaningful solidarity; Therefore be it resolved that council direct Mayor Laura Cabott to write a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the minister of foreign affairs of Canada Melanie Joly expressing our support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people by calling on the Canadian government to impose a full and immediate arms embargo on Israel, requests the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza as well as an end to the occupation. The letter should further state that the City of Whitehorse supports the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and that we unequivocally condemn the targeting and killing of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians,” Friesen’s motion reads.
Coun. Kirk Cameron immediately raised a point of order over the notice.
“My concern is two-fold with this notice of motion and this council even having to be considering a matter of this magnitude. It goes in my estimation way beyond what we’re in the business of doing as a municipality”
He cited portions of the municipal act that set out the role of the local government.
“This doesn’t, in my imagination. no matter how far I expand my imagination, capture an absolute pathetic war on the other side of the planet and it is really ugly, no question about it.”
Cameron also expressed concern that the notice of motion might violate council code of conduct provisions around divisiveness.
Coun. Ted Laking, chairing this portion of the meeting, directed city staff to review Cameron’s concerns.
After a brief recess, city manager Jeff O’Farrell returned to suggest that staff could further research the matter to provide advice on the validity of the point of order.
O’Farrell said an answer presented to council’s next meeting was the goal.
A May 22 Facebook post from Friesen outlines the notice of motion and corresponding point of order and notes that if the motion appears on the agenda for the coming May 27 council meeting, Whitehorse residents can have their voices heard by registering as a delegate at the meeting or by emailing legsvcs@whitehorse.ca prior to noon on May 27.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com