ROTHENBURGER – Council motion on Gaza would be a waste of time, effort
(Image: CFJC Today, file photo)
CITY COUNCIL is about to get sucked into the Gaza quagmire. At this week’s regular meeting, council heard from Joanne Hammond, who said she represented a group called Palestine Solidarity Kamloops.
Hammond asked the council to write Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking him to back a ceasefire, to demand the release of all hostages, and support a free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. She also asked that the city welcome refugees.
Unlike so many other similar requests to other councils, this one was delivered calmly and respectfully, without podium thumping, shouting or arm waving. She was not there to assign blame, she said, only to ask for a “clear statement” from council on behalf of Kamloops.
(I see, by the way, that Palestine Solidarity Kamloops is planning some sort of motorcade protest through town today.)
Councillors asked no questions, made no comment, and didn’t tell her to stop talking despite the topic not being on the meeting agenda (usually, there’s at least a point of order or two from councillors when that happens during the public inquiries section).
Despite the lack of engagement, Coun. Nancy Bepple filed a notice of motion later in the meeting to do pretty much what Hammond asked for: if approved, the mayor would be directed to write to Trudeau calling for the federal government to demand an immediate ceasefire, release of all hostages, and unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid.
At the same time, the letter would condemn both Islamophobia and anti-semitism. Bepple said her motion, which will be debated later this month, is based on “community requests” and her “own feelings.”
Pressuring municipal councils to enter the Gaza fray has become a thing. Municipal councils across the country are being goaded into taking positions on the war between Israel and Hamas, often to the accompaniment of large crowds in the public galleries.
Notice of motion by Coun. Nancy Bepple, for debate Jan. 23, 2024:
Re: Recognizing Humanitarian Crisis
Whereas human rights groups such as Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, and the United Nations have raised concerns of the dire conditions of children and civilians in Gaza.
THAT the Mayor write a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to request that the federal government recognize the humanitarian crisis unfolding as a result of the current conflict, call for an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages, and provide leadership in the flow of unrestricted access of humanitarian aid;
THAT Mayor and Council of the City of Kamloops condemn all acts of anti-semitism, racism and Islamophobia in our country, which has risen these past months. We call on all levels of government to commit to ensuring our communities are just, safe and welcoming for all; and
THAT MP Frank Caputo receive a copy of the letter.
Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
More pointless council “work” masquerading as personal D.E.I. agendas?? If council wants to change the world, they should vacate their seat and join their international organization of choice, so that we can have someone in that seat working to address local issues!!!
Council is not paid nor elected to lobby our own government on international conflicts. Who do these people think they are?? This isn’t a stage for your personal feelings on whatever international issue you decide to think about in your spare time. It’s as if council doesn’t understand even their basic role and duty.
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Agree with the majority of comments. This is a ridiculous waste of time, effort and a potential quagmire for council to willingly wade into.
Please, stop playing games and focus your time and effort on the numerous issues facing the citizens of this community. This council is floating in the clouds while the rest of us are facing down double digit tax increases.
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Is this motion by Coun. Nancy Bepple anything more than grandstanding? Who is against condemning “all acts of anti-semitism, racism and Islamophobia in our country”? Hasn’t the government already recognized “the humanitarian crisis unfolding as a result of the current conflict, call for an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages”? How about doing your job, you know, tackling the local problems you were elected to do, such as; reducing the proposed 10.8% tax hike, opening up more 24 hr a day warming stations and beds, or even meeting with local builders and contractors offering incentives to speed up building and reno’s of closed down apartments/motels as we’ve got a bit of a housing problem here if you haven’t noticed.
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Coun. Bepple for Mayor. With her leadership, Kamloops Council would solve the Palestinian issue, restore order to shipping lanes and sign a peace accord with the Houthis, negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and eradicate the Mexican drug cartels.
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Don’t know if I’m suppose to say this here, but that was funny.
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First, a ceasefire at City Hall, Nancy.
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Seemingly living in a bubble of privileged disconnect (the “Build Kamloops” project is arguably a testament of that) it is, in my opinion, a good thing the presentation took place and a motion arose even if it will fall on deaf ears.
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I think our municipal government has enough on its plate without jumping into a Middle East conflict.
Having grown up in a farming community in SW Ontario, the folks in farm life know better than jump into a pile of untoward material and then try to come out with clean boots, or shoes or high heels for that matter.
Nancy should withdraw her motion.
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A truthful post.
If people want Canada to interfere with wars and thus speak for all citizens, perhaps they would get fulfillment by personally donating to the relief agencies and most of all, volunteer and work with them. I feel for the kids born now, when enough people come to Canada and bring their politics with them, if they will grow up in the peaceful country Canada has been till recently.
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Yes, we were once known as a peace-making country. Was it not Lester B. Pearson who heralded Canada as being a nation that promoted peace? A Nobel prize, if memory serves me right? Something has happened to us.
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