Ahmed Hussen, the Minister of International Development, spoke at a fundraising event held in Toronto. Hussen is anticipated to share an announcement on Wednesday, according to sources. The event was captured by Christopher Katsarov of The Canadian Press.
The Canadian government is set to reinstate funding for UNRWA, the United Nations agency aiding Palestinians, following a temporary halt, CBC News reports.
In April, Canada will resume its $25 million payment and announce additional funding, a senior official revealed. This decision follows a suspension in January when Israel accused 12 UNRWA employees of involvement in an attack. UNRWA promptly terminated these employees upon Israel's allegations.
Canadian officials received an interim UN report on the matter, prompting the decision to resume funding. However, the source remains unnamed due to non-authorization to speak publicly.
The suspension, announced shortly after a similar move by the U.S., sparked political debates in Canada's Parliament. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre labelled UNRWA a "terrorist organization," vowing to cut funding if he becomes prime minister. Conversely, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh criticized the pause, arguing it penalizes vulnerable individuals dependent on UNRWA.
Senior UN figures have urged the restoration of funding, expressing regret over its halt. Martin Griffiths, UN under-secretary-general, highlighted ongoing investigations into Israel's allegations and emphasized UNRWA's crucial humanitarian role despite challenges, including staff casualties.
Israel has long contested UNRWA, accusing it of perpetuating Palestinian refugee issues, facilitating armed group infiltration, and promoting anti-Israeli sentiment in schools. UNRWA refutes these claims, asserting its commitment to neutrality and prevention of armed group influence.
