Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dodged a question Thursday about whether one of his leading MPs should remain in his parliamentary seat after slamming his government’s approach to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, harshly criticizes the Liberal government’s response to the genocide against Israel and the decision to cut funding to United Nations relief agencies amid famine in a Zoom call with voters. The situation was being recorded. Mr Oliphant also said he was considering resigning from his parliamentary position.
Prime Minister Trudeau was asked Thursday whether he thought Oliphant should remain a parliamentary secretary. The prime minister did not answer questions. Rather, he said the “diversity” of opinions among Liberal MPs reflected the communities they served.
Asked about a leaked conversation in which Liberal MP Rob Oliphant harshly criticized the prime minister’s approach to foreign policy in Gaza, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said diversity of opinion is the source of the Liberal Party’s strength.
“The kinds of conversations that are happening within the party are not necessarily easy, but they reflect the diversity of conversations that are happening across the country,” Trudeau said at a news conference in Winnipeg. Ta.
“As a nation, we remain committed to addressing the complex situation with a firm focus on promoting peace and stability and protecting the right of people to live in peace and stability.”
The conversation was recorded without Oliphant’s knowledge. A copy of the recording was provided to his CBC News.
The CBC does not identify members calling for a ceasefire in the conflict, out of concern that publicity could lead to professional reprisals.
Oliphant told CBC News that his constituents were hurt by the Gaza crisis and wanted the conversation to be private. He added that he did not say anything in that exchange that made him unwilling to publicly defend himself.
In the call, Mr. Oliphant criticized Canada’s recent decision to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the main United Nations agency that provides aid to Palestinian refugees.
“When I read that we were suspending funding to UNRWA, let me be clear, it was political. And I’m not just talking about domestic politics. It has to do with our allies,” Oliphant told voters. “I thought it was the wrong decision.”
Canada became the second country in the world, after the United States, to suspend funding to UNRWA. This was in response to Israeli claims that 12 or 13 UNRWA personnel took part in various missions during the October 7 attack on Israel.
Asked about Mr Oliphant’s comments on Thursday, International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen defended his government’s decision to suspend funding to UNRWA.
“We have not ended our relationship with UNRWA. We are suspending funding pending the outcome of this investigation, which is being carried out by the United Nations itself,” he said, adding that the government is not closing its links to other aid organizations. He added that funding is being stepped up.
In a recorded call, Oliphant criticized the government’s response to the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, sparking confusion about Canada’s position.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Jolie’s statements were widely misreported in mainstream and social media as dismissing South Africa’s case and siding with Israel. In fact, their statement carefully avoided rejecting or endorsing South Africa’s case against Israel.
“I would not have done what the government did and I advised the government not to do that because I knew it would be misunderstood and I would not have believed that it would have been misconstrued that I did not agree with the South African case. We should sue because it could be interpreted as something we don’t have,” Oliphant told voters.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poièvre said Oliphant’s comments show the Trudeau government has not taken a clear position on the Israel-Hamas war.
“This is another example of what a two-faced quack Justin Trudeau is when it comes to the Middle East,” he told reporters Thursday.
“Prime Minister Trudeau has no understanding of the Middle East. He doesn’t have any clear position.”
NDP foreign affairs commentator Heather McPherson said it was “surprising” that Oliphant hasn’t been more vocal about his views.
“If the President actually believes that UNRWA funding should be restored, that we should call for an immediate ceasefire and do everything we can, then have the courage to make a public statement. We should do it on the spot,” she told reporters outside the House of Commons on Thursday.
Salma Zahid MP — one of several Liberal MPs call for a ceasefire — echoed Trudeau’s statement when asked about Oliphant’s comments.
“The Liberal Party reflects the diversity of this country,” she said.
“We’ve had these difficult discussions in our caucuses…It’s important that we represent the voices of our constituents here.”
