The prime minister responded Tuesday to allegations from the Opposition that the United Nations secretary general has convinced him to restore funding to a UN agency the Conservatives say helps terrorists.
Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said in question period that Canada should not restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency because its schools and hospitals in Gaza were used by Hamas, a terrorist group, to 鈥渟tore rockets and weapons designed to kill Israeli citizens.鈥�
Ambrose also said UNRWA staffers had been "suspended or fired" for they incited "anti-Semitic violence.鈥�
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hit back, saying that his government is looking for ways to support 鈥渢he good work鈥� of the UN and 鈥渨e will of course look at all the various things this past government cancelled for political reasons.鈥�
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development Karina Gould later said the government has not yet made a decision on whether to restore funding to UNRWA. She noted that allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, support the agency, which delivers education, social services and health care.
Conservative deputy foreign affairs Peter Kent said Monday that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon鈥檚 visit with Trudeau last week likely included 鈥渢rolling for new UNRWA funding.鈥�
Kent added to that comment in question period, asking, 鈥淐an鈥檛 the Liberals find more appropriate ways to deliver humanitarian aid than to hand it to terrorists?鈥�
Gould responded that it is in Canada鈥檚 best interests 鈥渢o look at all options on the table to see how we can best assist those in need in the region.鈥�
Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai, meanwhile, accused the Liberals of turning a blind eye to terrorists 鈥渂enefiting from our aid dollars,鈥� to which Gould responded that humanitarian is provided 鈥渋s to be provided a neutral, impartial fashion.鈥�
International Co-operation Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told CTV's Question Period on Sunday that she was considering re-funding UNRWA. "We're evaluating the situation and the decision will be taken shortly,鈥� she said.
The Conservative government cut aid to UNRWA in 2010. However, it later offered emergency food aid to Palestinians through the World Food Program, including $12 million in 2014.
"By providing direct and tangible aid, such as emergency food delivery, Canada is choosing its assistance in ways to ensure Hamas cannot divert Canadian dollars towards terrorist activities,鈥� Christian Paradis, the former foreign affairs minister, said at the time.
