Prime Minister Tight-Lipped on Future Funding to Controversial UN Agency

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes an announcement at a news conference in Ottawa on Oct. 26, 2023. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t say if Canada intends to restore funding to a Palestinian UN relief agency that Israel has accused of being linked to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.

“We’re not making any announcements today,” Mr. Trudeau told reporters at a March 7 press conference in Toronto. “But we will continue to make sure Canada does the right thing in this situation and puts the protection of civilian life at the forefront of everything we do.”

Canada temporarily paused funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in late January amid allegations members of the organization participated in the terrorist attack on Israel.

The CBC earlier this week reported an unnamed senior official said Canada was set to resume its UNRWA funding.

The report indicated International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen planned to proceed with a scheduled $25 million payment to UNRWA in April. Based on an interim report from the United Nations examining the allegations, Canadian officials feel comfortable resuming funding, a senior government official reportedly revealed to the CBC.

The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Hussen’s office for comment on the CBC report.

“Our office can’t confirm CBC’s reports, and we have no further comment at this time,” said in an e-mail Olivia Batten, Mr. Hussen’s press secretary.

News of the potential funding reinstatement comes after a March 6 announcement on Canada’s funding to Gaza was cancelled.

Mr. Trudeau defended Canada’s previous support of UNRWA at the press conference, noting the Liberal government reinstated funding in 2019 subject to “significant assurances and conditions.” He said Canada will “move thoughtfully forward” amid the “serious allegations” the UN is investigating.

The prime minister’s remarks come amid rising tensions in Canada concerning the Israel–Hamas conflict.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Toronto have been escalating their efforts to disrupt government officials’ events, with some protesters becoming physical with attendees or passersby. A protest led to the cancellation of an event that Mr. Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were to attend.

Protesters also disrupted a March 5 event, blocking the entrance to a Toronto restaurant hosting a Liberal Party dinner event.

Mr. Trudeau addressed the issue at the press conference.

“I’ve heard from too many members of the Jewish community ... who feel unsafe in their own country,” he said.

He added that Canadians have a right to protest, but “hateful or harassing behaviour ... is not what we do here in Canada.” When that happens, he continued, “police authorities” should make sure “everyone can always feel safe everywhere in the country.”