(OTTAWA) An Israeli cabinet minister’s plan to visit Canada next week comes amid an already turbulent relationship between Ottawa and that country’s far-right government – and it’s a trip that won’t does not meet diplomatic standards, according to some experts.
Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli is due to speak at a private Christian college near Toronto next week and attend a celebration of the 75e anniversary of the State of Israel on Parliament Hill, organized by an unofficial group of MPs.
Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Marilyne Guèvremont said in an email that it was a “private, not official visit.”
“As is customary for foreign dignitaries, limited protocol courtesies will be in place,” Ms.me Guevremont.
But the trip was not arranged through formal diplomatic channels, which two protocol experts say makes it “unusual” and creates the risk of incidents that could embarrass the Canadian and Israeli governments.
“The potential for embarrassment is if something happens, if there is an incident,” said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat and vice-president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
Mr. Chikli’s planned visit was revealed by an investigation by the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretzwhich reported that the federal Liberal government first learned of the visit when Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis emailed an invitation to all MPs to an event on the Hill.
Mme Lewis leads the Canadian Allies of Israel Parliamentary Caucus, an unofficial group of predominantly Christian MPs that advocates for Israel’s capital to be recognized as Jerusalem. Canada and several other countries reject this idea, arguing that it reduces the chances of a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
In a press release, Mr.me Lewis said she invited Mr. Chikli to Ottawa after learning he was already going to Toronto.
“As leader of the Canadian Parliamentary Caucus of Allies of Israel, I learned of the Minister’s planned visit to Canada and welcomed his offer to participate in our celebration of the 75e anniversary of the State of Israel,” she wrote.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who heads the Canada-Israel Inter-Parliamentary Group, said he first heard about Chikli’s visit when Mr.me Lewis invited all MPs to this event.
Mr. Housefather heads a different official parliamentary group that works with Global Affairs Canada to welcome foreign dignitaries and help inform official Canadian visits abroad.
Concerns from Ottawa
The newspaper Ha’aretz reported that Ottawa raised concerns with the Israeli ambassador about the visit. But the Israeli embassy said only that it “has spoken and passed on all relevant information regarding the visit with our relevant counterparts in parliament and government, as information has come in.” .
The embassy added that it worked closely with officials in Israel and community groups in Canada to facilitate a productive visit, which involves events in Montreal and Toronto that are still being planned.
Roy Norton, who served as Canada’s Chief of Protocol from 2016 to 2019, said it was rare for a foreign government minister to speak at a public event in Canada without going through the Office of Protocol .
“It’s a little incongruous that on a private visit he’s here to engage in business related to his portfolio,” Mr Norton said.
Colin Robertson explained that a cabinet minister from any country would normally travel with a diplomatic passport and ask their embassy to make arrangements for their visit, unless they are here for a vacation.
He added that it is “logical” for a visiting dignitary to be in contact with his embassy and Global Affairs Canada – for security reasons, at least.
“You would like to know who is here, and is there some kind of threat, and if so, then there are precautions to take,” he said.
Liberals are also concerned about Mr. Chikli’s speech at Canada Christian College, which is led by Charles McVety, an evangelical preacher who was condemned by the Ontario legislature in 2020 for “extreme and hateful,” citing his comments about LGBTQ people and Muslims.
The Trudeau government accuses the Tories of siding with Mr McVety, although MP Leslyn Lewis said she was not involved in that part of Mr Chikli’s visit.
A spokeswoman for Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly wrote that the visit “will highlight far-right activists and elevate intolerant rhetoric”. The statement criticized the Tories, but not Mr. Chikli himself.
Mme Lewis came under fire from Liberals in February for meeting with right-wing German politician Christine Anderson, whose party is accused of downplaying Nazi crimes. Mme Anderson was visiting Canada at the time.
Liberal MK Ya’ara Saks told the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz that she had complained to the embassy and Israeli officials about the planning and involvement of the “side channel” with Mr. McVety. “I was very disappointed to see this from the Israeli government,” said the liberal.
Minimize damage
Canada says Israel remains one of its closest friends, but Ottawa is increasingly critical of moves by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit the power of judges and allow more settlements in occupied Palestinian territory .
Anthony Housefather’s parliamentary committee meets with Israeli government and opposition politicians to understand perspectives on judicial reform and determine how Canada should respond.
Mr. Norton, who is a professor at the Balsillie School of International Affairs at the University of Waterloo, argued that those lingering concerns could have led Ottawa to advise against Mr. Chikli’s visit to Canada if officials had followed the usual protocol.
MPs from all walks of life can request protocol services to help facilitate a visit, in which case regional departmental experts would advise how a visit fits Canada’s interests.
“I’m sure people [de chez Affaires mondiales Canada] would be concerned that […] in the context of the visit, he could incite a radical opinion or an opinion that is not in line with government policy [canadien] said Mr. Norton.
According to him, Mr. Chikli’s visit is not a major diplomatic incident, but it certainly complicates things for Ottawa.
“It’s not the best way to do it, but the deputies are independent of the government,” he said. You have to deal with [la situation] and try to minimize the inconveniences”.