Ottawa City council took a principled and courageous stand against injustice in 1988. Would it stand by that today? And where might it apply?

On September 21, 1988, Ottawa City Council passed the following motion put forward by the Policy, Priorities and Budgeting Committee, chaired by Mayor Jim Durrell.

“That the City of Ottawa condemn apartheid in South Africa and proclaim itself an anti-apartheid city”.

• In favour 16
• opposed 1 (Councillor Jackie Holtzman)
• CARRIED

Several other motions were also adopted including naming city infrastructure after Nelson Mandela, encouraging other cities to follow suit, as well as ensuring that the city boycott products from South Africa.

At the time it was a courageous and principled move for the city to take. Nelson Mandela was still in prison on Robben Island and still labeled a terrorist by Canada’s allies, the US and the UK. In fact, Mandela remained on the US terrorism watch list until 2008, when Congress passed a law to remove him and the ANC from the “terrorist” list.

Ottawa researcher Don Lalonde discovered the resolution buried in Ottawa city archives, and asked the current Mayor and councillors a simple question: Does the city of Ottawa stand by its resolution proclaiming it “an anti-apartheid” city?

Today, South Africa is no longer an apartheid state. But many humanitarian organizations have labeled Israel an apartheid state, including:

• Amnesty International: report calling Israel’s treatment of Palestinians “apartheid” and a crime against humanity.
• Human Rights Watch: described Israel’s actions as apartheid, citing the systematic oppression of Palestinians.
• B’Tselem: This Israeli human rights organization has used the term “apartheid” to describe Israel’s policies towards Palestinians.
• UN Human Rights Experts: A UN special rapporteur has stated that Israel’s 55-year occupation of Palestinian Territory amounts to apartheid.
• The International Court of Justice has also found Israel responsible for apartheid-like policies.
• etc.

So if the City of Ottawa still calls itself an “anti-apartheid city” would it be appropriate for Ottawa to join the “apartheid free community movement” slowly spreading across North America? The city of Brampton Ontario is the most recent to do so although you did not read this in the mainstream media.

OFIP spoke to Don Lalonde about how he found out and what he wants the city to do.

Canada Talks Israel Palestine is the weekly newsletter of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion about Canada’s response to the Israel/Palestine issue. Readers are invited to make comment. To get on our regular mailing list or for more information write: ofip.chair@gmail.com