A new parliamentary week, heralding the start of the last sprint before the summer break. Twenty-four sitting days await us, with a packed legislative agenda that will undoubtedly give rise to heated debates. For these final weeks of this session of Parliament to be as effective as possible, the Speaker has invited the other Chair Occupants for a working breakfast. We are hoping our coordinated efforts will ensure a respectful and productive House.
A few notable dates this week: May 24th was the Journée nationale des Patriotes and Victoria Day. This holiday is an opportunity for me to reiterate my attachment to Québec and my staunch support for the institution of the monarchy. May 25th is the 75th anniversary of Jordan’s independence as well as Africa Day. I sit on the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and am committed to seeing democracy thrive on this diverse continent. I wish a happy Vesak day to all those who will celebrate on May 26th. Finally, on May 29th, we celebrate the UN Peacekeepers, an organisation Canada helped created under Lester B. Pearson, and we remember Canada’s commitment to peace around the world.
I had started writing this note before the fragile ceasefire that was declared last Friday in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I felt that the abundant correspondence I have received over the past few weeks demanded a serious and thoughtful response.
In the meantime, the ceasefire was declared. And Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, the Hon. Bob Rae made a statement that reflects my thoughts and aspirations in a far more eloquent way than I could have composed myself. To reproduce it here in its entirety would be too cumbersome, but I invite you to follow this link to access it: https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2021/05/statement-by-canada-following-un-security-council-session-on-the-devastating-violence-in-israel-the-west-bank-and-gaza.html.
Fundamentally, I wholeheartedly support Canada’s position to help “the creation of a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel. We will always stand ready to support efforts for a two-state solution.”