Trudeau non-committal about restoring funding to Palestinian relief agency UNRWA
CBC
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday his government isn't ready to announce it's restoring federal funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the UN agency that has been delivering aid to the people of Gaza.
"We're not making any announcements today but we will continue to make sure Canada does the right thing in this situation and puts the protection of civilian life at the forefront," Trudeau said at a media event in Toronto about his government's pharmacare plan.
Trudeau said the federal government has ministers on the ground in the Middle East "engaging with partners" on "all the things Canada can and should do."
"The ongoing humanitarian crisis and disaster in Gaza is heart-wrenching for everyone. We know how important it is to get aid into Gaza, to help the families, the innocents, the civilians, the people who have been devastated by the past few months."
Trudeau's government and a number of other major donors cut off any additional funding for the agency in January after Israel alleged that some of UNRWA's staff were somehow involved in the Oct. 7 attack that left more than a thousand Israelis dead, injured or captured as hostages.
After the release of an Israeli report about alleged UNRWA staff involvement in that deadly day, the agency fired 10 staff members. Two others were later confirmed dead, UNRWA said.
UN investigators are reviewing the Israeli accusations and are expected to deliver a public report on their findings.
CBC News reported Tuesday that the government is prepared to resume funding UNRWA — including a $25 million payment in April and future funding.
International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen had been scheduled to make an announcement Wednesday but later cancelled his appearance.
A source told CBC News that the UNRWA funding announcement is still coming soon.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with reports of widespread famine.
The Hamas-run Gaza health authority has said at least 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.
Many people have been displaced and thousands are said to be injured or missing as a result of the war.
U.S. armed forces have been airdropping aid into Gaza to offer some relief. There is also talk of getting more aid into Gaza through the sea.
There's stiff competition among prospective home buyers in the St. John's region because the number of listings are unusually low and demand is surging.
Strong attendance and record sponsorship at the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit in North Bay is a good sign the industry is recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, says Destination Northern Ontario.
A group of Halifax residents is asking the Nova Scotia Supreme Court to look at a provincial decision to greenlight a controversial Fall River development.
Parkside Drive is closed in both directions following reports of a sinkhole, Toronto police say.
The Quebec government will present its fall economic update today.
Aggressive patients and lack of security are making nurses feel unsafe in a rural Western Manitoba emergency union, says the Manitoba Nurses Union.
Saskatoon resident Delynne Bortis knew her commute to work Tuesday morning would be particularly difficult.
WARNING: This story contains details of abuse and intimate partner violence:
The amount of money it takes for people to earn a living wage has increased across the province, according to a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
The new owner of Ontario steelmaker Stelco says his company "will not disappoint the people of Hamilton and Nanticoke," where the business's major facilities are based.
A Winnipegger is warning others about an intricate scam she says she almost fell for.