Québec solidaire’s (QS) request for a hearing in Parliament on the Quebec Office in Israel was rejected by the Institutions Committee on Thursday, but MP Ruba Ghazal promises not to give up.
“I am not surprised, but I am extremely disappointed,” reacted the member for Mercier who was at the origin of the request.
Ms. Ghazal wanted the Commission to examine the circumstances surrounding the opening of the Quebec Office in Tel Aviv by summoning the Minister of International Relations Martine Biron and the Director of the Office, Mr. Alix Hakobyan.
The motion had obtained the support of the other oppositions, but it was rejected by the deputies of the Coalition Avenir Québec, who hold the majority of seats.
Asked to comment on this refusal, Minister Biron’s office stressed that the commission was “sovereign” and that it “took note” of its decision.
The opening of the office sparked controversy in the context of Israeli strikes in Gaza. After affirming that the head of post worked “from Montreal”, Minister Biron had to recognize that he had gone to Israel from February 26 to March 27.
MP Ghazal judges that this sends “a message of indifference to what is happening in Palestine” and that it tarnishes Quebec’s “good reputation” internationally. She originally demanded that the government cancel the opening of this office.
“I wanted her to come and explain,” insisted the MP, who argues that the debate is “not closed” and that she does not intend to “give up.”
Ms. Biron will, in any case, have to answer questions from the opposition on the activities of her department during the study of appropriations which begins next week.
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