Canada hosted the G7 summit (then G8) in Kananaskis in 2002. This year Prime Minister Carney will be the host again on June 15-17. The host leader sets the agenda. The Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP) suggests that Prime Minister Carney should put Gaza on the table. Read the OFIP open letter to the Prime Minister.

Open letter to Prime Minister Carney: Put Gaza on the G7 Agenda next month

Rt. Hon. Mark Carney

Prime Minister of Canada

Dear Prime Minister,

As the host of the 2025 G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, on June 15-17, you have the privilege and the right to set the agenda. The G7 group, which is composed of the most important Western countries, uses those meetings to discuss key issues facing the world community.

You have already used that privilege to invite Ukrainian Prime Minister Vladimir Zelenskiy and have put the Russia/Ukraine war on the agenda.

You would also profoundly honour Canada and Canadians by putting the Israeli genocide in Gaza on the agenda, and inviting Hon. Antonio Gutierrez, Secretary General of the United Nations, to brief the group on the dramatic humanitarian catastrophe facing Palestinians.

By doing so you could build on the excellent joint statement you issued along with President Macron of France and Prime Minister Starmer of Great Britain declaring that “The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law.”

On the other hand, failing to address this urgent humanitarian issue at the G7 summit will harm the moral and political status of not only Canada, but all of the advanced western countries members of the G7 in the eyes of the whole world.

Sincerely,

Peter Larson, Ph.D.

Chair, Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine

May 21, 2025

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URGENT MEETING – ADVANCE NOTICE

“Canada and Gaza: What are our moral and legal obligations?”

The Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine invites the Ottawa public to attend an urgent public meeting on the issue of Canada and Gaza on Monday, June 16th, 7:00 pm

First Unitarian Congregation, 30 Cleary Avenue, Ottawa