NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Members of Parliament are set to vote today on a motion from the New Democrats calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to "officially recognize the State of Palestine." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
OTTAWA – Members of Parliament have approved a dramatically altered version of an NDP motion that had called on the federal government to “officially recognize the state of Palestine.”
The amended version of the non-binding but highly symbolic motion instead urges Canada to “actively pursue” the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a negotiated two-state solution – aligning with Canada’s existing policy.
The New Democrats had introduced a motion that called on the Liberals to recognize Palestinian statehood, among other measures.
But an 11th-hour amendment to the motion softened it dramatically, much to the dismay of the Opposition Conservatives.
Their objections overruled, both the amendment and the new motion passed by a margin of 204-117.
Montreal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, a vocal critic of his own party’s handling of the conflict, voted against both, as did former cabinet minister Marco Mendicino.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Mar. 18, 2024.
– With files from Laura Osman
