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[00:00:07]

AND I'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, 2023 TO ORDER.

[1. Opening Statement ]

AND I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE IS LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION.

WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

[2. Approval of the agenda. ]

MS. BASSI-KELLETT ANYTHING FURTHER TO ADD TO THE AGENDA? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

NO, NOTHING ELSE TO ADD.

THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.

DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TODAY? SEEING NONE.

AND THANKS. JUST TO NOTE, WE HAVE COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN ONLINE.

NEXT, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING A MOTION TO CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CALL A CEASE FIRE IN GAZA.

[4. A discussion regarding a motion to call on the Federal Government to call a ceasefire in Gaza. ]

SO THERE HAS BEEN WORDING BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND IT'S A THREE PART MOTION.

AND THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST THAT EACH PART BE DISCUSSED AND DEBATED SEPARATELY.

WELL, I GUESS WE WILL DISCUSS IT AS A WHOLE, BUT IT WOULD BE VOTED ON INDIVIDUALLY.

SO COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN OR COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO IT.

UH, SURE. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

UM, IS THIS THE TIME FOR SORT OF MY GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE AMENDMENT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE OR TO READ OUT THE MOTION, THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO WHAT IS PRESENTED IN THE PACKAGE, YOU CAN PROPOSE THOSE AMENDMENTS.

YES. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO TO COMMENT ON THIS MOTION AND TO BRING UP THE AMENDMENTS, I'LL FIRST READ MY RESPONSE TO THE PRESENTATIONS LAST WEEK.

THEN I'LL READ SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT I HAVE AFTER HEARING FROM RESIDENTS ON THIS ISSUE THIS WEEK.

I WANT TO THANK THESE RESIDENTS FOR THE TIME THEY TOOK TO REACH OUT AND TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS.

I BELIEVE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER, IT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR AND HAVE BEEN UPLIFTED BY THE INTENSE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD THIS WEEK.

YELLOWKNIFERS HAVE BEEN RESPECTFUL AND THOUGHTFUL IN RAISING CONCERNS AND CHALLENGING MY APPROACH ON THIS ISSUE.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO THOSE RESIDENTS THAT GOT IN TOUCH.

SO FIRST, MY ORIGINAL STATEMENT.

THERE ARE VERY FEW ONGOING CONFLICTS WITH A LONGER HISTORY THAN ISRAEL-PALESTINE.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS CONTRIBUTES TO MAKING THIS ISSUE AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX AND EMOTIONAL SUBJECT.

WHAT FOLLOWS IS MY OWN PERSPECTIVE.

I WANT TO WELCOME ANYONE WHO DISAGREES OR WHO WANTS TO SHARE THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE TO CONTACT ME.

I BELIEVE HAMAS IS OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK TO BE A BRUTAL WAR CRIME.

THE TARGETING AND KIDNAPING OF CIVILIANS IN THEIR HOMES IS HORRIFIC.

I ALSO BELIEVE ISRAEL'S RESPONSE TO BE A WAR CRIME.

ISRAEL IS PRACTICING COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT.

THIS CAN BE SEEN IN THE DESTRUCTION OF WHOLE AREAS OF GAZA, THE DESTRUCTION OF HOSPITALS AND REFUGEE CAMPS, AS WELL AS THE INTERRUPTION OF BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS WATER, FOOD, FUEL AND ELECTRICITY.

THIS IS ALSO HORRIFIC.

HATE AND VIOLENCE WILL ONLY BEGET MORE HATE AND VIOLENCE.

THE CURRENT THIS WAS WRITTEN LAST WEEK.

THE CURRENT TEMPORARY CEASE FIRE IS A POSITIVE STEP.

HOWEVER, SHOULD ISRAEL RETURN TO ITS INVASION AND BOMBING CAMPAIGN, OUR WORLD WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME LESS PEACEFUL AND MORE UNSTABLE.

I BELIEVE IT IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO BRING ABOUT A MORE PEACEFUL AND STABLE WORLD.

THIS INCLUDES USING THE CITY'S VOICE AS THE CAPITAL OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.

FOR THIS REASON, I BELIEVE IT IS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY TO ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CALL FOR A LONG TERM CEASE FIRE.

I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF WRITING A LETTER AND SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION PROPOSED BY CITIZENS FOR CEASE FIRE.

AND NOW I WILL READ SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AFTER THE WEEK I'VE SPENT CONVERSING WITH RESIDENTS.

SO A FEW THEMES EMERGED THROUGH MY CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS.

FIRST, THAT THE CITY SHOULD WORK WITHIN ITS SPHERE OF INFLUENCE AND HAS NO PLACE TAKING A POSITION ON THIS ISSUE.

I UNDERSTAND THIS CONCERN AND IT'S WEIGHED ON MY MIND.

HOWEVER, GIVEN THAT A SIGNIFICANT GROUP OF RESIDENTS HAVE COME FORWARD ASKING FOR THIS, GIVEN THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE SET A PRECEDENT THAT THIS IS APPROPRIATE, AND GIVEN THAT THE CONTINUED SCALE OF DEATH AND DEVASTATION IN GAZA AND THE STATUS OF OVER 100 HOSTAGES, I STILL BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE CITY TO CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE.

ANOTHER CONCERN RAISED BY RESIDENTS WAS THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION.

SOME FELT THAT THE CURRENT WORDING MEANS THE CITY IS PICKING A SIDE, AND THAT THIS STATEMENT UNDERMINES ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST.

[00:05:03]

I DO NOT BELIEVE CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE IS PICKING A SIDE OR THAT IT DENIES THIS RIGHT, THOUGH I ACCEPT OTHERS MAY DISAGREE.

I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT BY PASSING THIS MOTION AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT WOULD MAKE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FEEL THREATENED.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS CLEARLY NOT MY INTENT.

AND WHILE I AM SURE IT IS NOT THE INTENT OF WHY CITIZENS FOR CEASE FIRE, WE CANNOT DENY THESE FEELINGS.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS ACTION WOULD BE SYMBOLIC.

ABOVE ALL, I DO NOT WANT TO CREATE DIVISIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY OR MAKE ANYONE FEEL THREATENED BECAUSE OF THIS ACTION.

IT HAS BECOME CLEAR TO ME THAT REGARDLESS OF COUNCIL'S DECISION ON THIS MATTER, SOME RESIDENTS ON EITHER SIDE OR BOTH SIDES WILL FEEL THREATENED AND SOME DIVISIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE CREATED.

THIS BREAKS MY HEART AND WEIGHS HEAVY ON ME.

IN ORDER TO ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE THESE DIVISIONS WHILE STILL CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, I PROPOSE TO ALTER THE FIRST TWO MOTIONS TO READ AS FOLLOWS.

FOLLOWING FROM TO REQUEST THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE FIRE AND HALT TO VIOLENCE BY BOTH THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND HAMAS. THE RESTORATION OF BASIC SERVICES, INCLUDING FOOD, WATER, POWER, FUEL, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE POPULATION OF GAZA.

THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES.

UNHINDERED ACCESS TO HUMANITARIAN AID FOR ALL THOSE IN NEED, AND TO CONTINUE TO REAFFIRM ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST.

I UNDERSTAND IF RESIDENTS STILL DISAGREE THAT THE CITY SHOULD COMMENT ON THIS MATTER, OR STILL FEEL LIKE THE LANGUAGE ISN'T APPROPRIATE.

I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT MY VIEW, IN MY VIEW, CALLING FOR A HALT TO VIOLENCE IS NOT PICKING A SIDE.

AS SOMEONE IN POWER, I BELIEVE IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO STRIVE TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY, OUR TERRITORY, OUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD IN SERVICE OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY. I STILL BELIEVE THAT CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE IS APPROPRIATE.

HOWEVER, I HOPE THAT THE LANGUAGE I'VE PROPOSED MAY ASSUAGE TO SOME EXTENT THE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DECISION AND ONE WITH ENDLESS COMPLEXITY.

I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS AND CANNOT FULLY APPRECIATE THE PAIN FELT BY EITHER SIDE.

TO CLOSE, I IMPLORE YELLOWKNIFERS TO BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.

I SAY THIS IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTI-PALESTINIAN, RACISM, AND ISLAMOPHOBIA HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS OR WANT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.

THANKS MAYOR ALTY.

I'VE PREPARED SOME COMMENTS AS WELL, JUST SO THAT I'M FLUID IN MY THINKING.

SO I'LL START BY SAYING THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS SORT OF TWO ITEMS OUT OF THE GATE.

FIRST IS, AS WE SIT HERE, MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE, MOST OF THEM WHO ARE CIVILIANS, HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING THIS SINCE THE HEINOUS ATTACK ON OCTOBER 7TH BY HAMAS.

THAT IS TO PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR THIS DISCUSSION WHERE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NOT CALLED FOR A CEASE FIRE, A FULL AND COMPLETE END TO KILLING.

SECOND, I WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT I KNOW IS A CONCERN OF SOME IN OUR CITY.

THAT IS THE QUESTION OF WHY WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE AT ALL.

IF WE GIVE IT A BIT OF THOUGHT, GOVERNMENTS REGULARLY SPEAK ABOUT AND MAKE COMMENTS ON AREAS OUTSIDE OF OUR DIRECT JURISDICTION, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, IMMIGRATION POLICY, TO NAME ONLY A FEW.

JUST BECAUSE THIS ONE IS HARDER TO DEAL WITH DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T.

ULTIMATELY, WE ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENTATIVES OF YELLOWKNIFERS, AND ON MONDAY LAST WEEK, YELLOWKNIFERS FILLED THIS CHAMBER OUT INTO THAT ATRIUM, ASKING US TO CONSIDER A MOTION THAT ASKS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT A CEASE FIRE IN A WAR THAT IS IMPACTING OUR RESIDENTS HERE AT HOME.

THE REALITY OF POLITICS IS THAT PEOPLE WANT A VOICE FROM THEIR POLITICAL LEADERS.

MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF, AREN'T SEEING THAT NATIONALLY, SO THEY INSTEAD ARE LOOKING CLOSER TO HOME TO FIND SOMEONE WITH ANY AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL THAT INFLUENCE IS. WHO CARES ABOUT A CEASE FIRE AND AN END TO DEATH.

I KNOW THERE ARE SOME AS WELL WHO BELIEVE THAT THESE MOTIONS ARE ABOUT TAKING SIDES.

TO THOSE PEOPLE. I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE READ THESE MOTIONS FROM THE AGENDA CAREFULLY ALONGSIDE THE AMENDMENTS THAT COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN PROPOSED.

THEY ARE NOT ABOUT TAKING SIDES.

THEY ARE ABOUT CALLING FOR AN END TO KILLING, ABOUT PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN AID, ABOUT RELEASING HOSTAGES, AND ABOUT CONDEMNING ALL OF ANTI-SEMITISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-PALESTINIAN RACISM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT TAKING SIDES.

THIS IS ABOUT A CEASE FIRE TO STOP DEATH.

NOW TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE MOTIONS.

THE PURPOSE OF THESE MOTIONS IS TO ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT A CEASE FIRE.

I SUPPORT THESE MOTIONS AS THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA IS NOT SPEAKING UP LIKE MOST COUNTRIES GLOBALLY.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, MOST COUNTRIES ARE, AND LIKE MOST OF OUR DEFENSIVE ALLIES, SPECIFICALLY ACROSS EUROPE, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS STAYING SILENT ON AN ISSUE

[00:10:03]

OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN OUR WORLD.

FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE ASKING BUT WHY THIS ISSUE? I HAVE HAD TO ASK AND ANSWER THAT MYSELF MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

THE ANSWER FOR ME IS THAT UNLIKE THE WAR IN UKRAINE, THE KILLING OF THE ROHINGYA IN MYANMAR, OR THE CULTURAL GENOCIDE OF UYGHURS IN CHINA, TO NAME A FEW AS EXAMPLES, CANADA IS NOT SPEAKING DECISIVELY ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT THOSE MOTIONS, WHAT WHAT THESE MOTIONS DO IS AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF YELLOWKNIFERS, AS SOME WITH FAMILY IN ISRAEL AND GAZA WHO ARE HORRIFIED BY WHAT IS OCCURRING, AND ALSO HORRIFIED BY THE SILENCE OF THEIR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, WHO FOR SOME INEXPLICABLE REASON, TO ME AT LEAST, CANNOT BRING ITSELF TO CALL FOR A CESSATION OF KILLING.

RESIDENTS ARE COMING TO US, NOT BECAUSE THEY THINK WE AS A CITY COUNCIL CAN STOP WAR.

IT IS BECAUSE THEIR FEDERAL POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ISN'T SPEAKING FOR A CEASE FIRE.

THEY WANT TO SEE AGAIN THAT OUR COUNTRY STANDS FOR THE MOST BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE MOST BASIC HUMAN RIGHT OF ALL, NOT TO DIE IN A WAR AS A CIVILIAN.

SINCE OCTOBER 7TH, I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH WHAT MY ROLE IS AS A CITIZEN OF CANADA AND AS A CITY COUNCILOR.

ON ONE SIDE OF MY BRAIN, I HAVE TRIED TO DISMISS THIS VIOLENCE AS NOT MY PROBLEM.

IT IS A WORLD AWAY IN AN ISSUE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS BEYOND MY RESPONSIBILITY.

HOWEVER, AS THE GRANDSON OF MY [INAUDIBLE] WHO THEMSELVES BOTH SURVIVED OCCUPATION AND STARVATION AS CHILDREN IN THE NETHERLANDS, IT IS HARD FOR ME TO ACCEPT THAT SILENCE IS OKAY.

MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AGO NOW I ALSO CALLED WITH AND SPOKE WITH THE MEMBER OF BURNABY CITY COUNCIL, WHO BROUGHT FORWARD A MOTION THAT IS THE MODEL FOR WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TODAY.

HE AND I TOOK 15 MINUTES OR SO AND SPOKE ABOUT THE QUESTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S ROLE IN THINKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT OTHERWISE ARE OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOWING LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN STANDING UP OBJECTIVELY ON THE SIDE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN SAFETY AND HUMAN SECURITY.

THAT MOTION, PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY BURNABY COUNCIL ALMOST A MONTH AGO ON NOVEMBER 6TH.

STATEMENTS SIMILAR TO THAT MOTION HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE IN THE PAST MONTH BY HUNDREDS OF OTHER LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL AND TERRITORIAL LEADERS, INCLUDING THE PREMIER OF THE YUKON, AT THE END OF OCTOBER, THE MAYOR OF EDMONTON TWO WEEKS AGO, AND IN EMAILS TO CONSTITUENTS BY OUR OWN MP FROM THE GNWT.

DURING MY TIME LIVING IN IRELAND, I HAD THE CHANCE TO TRAVEL AND WORK IN BELFAST.

IN OTHER PARTS OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND ON A REGULAR BASIS.

MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THOSE EXPERIENCES IS THAT THE PHYSICAL, CULTURAL AND EMOTIONAL WOUNDS HAVE NOT HEALED.

THERE REMAIN MASSIVE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE LOYALIST, PROTESTANT AND REPUBLICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES.

DURING THE DECADES SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE BELFAST GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT IN 1998.

MORE THAN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THERE IS NO FUNCTIONING GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND BECAUSE THE TWO SIDES SIMPLY WON'T WORK TOGETHER DUE TO POLITICAL REASONS OF ONE OR ANOTHER. BUT WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE IS KIDNAPING TERRORISM BY PARAMILITARY PARAMILITARIES ON BOTH SIDES, IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT TRIAL BY THE GOVERNMENT AND KILLING ON ALL SIDES. KILLING HAS STOPPED.

POLITICAL AND OFTEN SOCIAL DISAGREEMENTS AND DISTRUST CONTINUE FOR MANY, BUT THE DISAGREEMENTS HAVE BECOME POLITICAL.

THAT ALL HAPPENED AFTER BOTH SIDES AGREED TO A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE IN THE LATE 1990S.

THE LESSON FROM NORTHERN IRELAND FOR ME IS THAT NEITHER SIDE CAN KILL THEIR WAY OUT OF THIS CONFLICT.

NEITHER SIDE CAN KILL THEIR WAY OUT OF THE LONG TERM OPPOSITION WITH ONE ANOTHER, WITH WITHIN THEIR SHARED LAND AND SPACE.

THE FASTER WE AMPLIFY OR AMPLIFY OUR RESIDENTS VOICE, THE FASTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING CANADIAN FOREIGN POLICY HEARS A CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND AN END TO KILLING FROM THE NORTH.

I COULD GO ON AND ON IN THIS VEIN, BUT I WILL FINISH WITH A QUOTE FROM THE ANGLO-IRISHMAN EDMUND BURKE FROM 1770.

WHEN BAD MEN COMBINE, THE GOOD MUST ASSOCIATE.

ELSE THEY WILL FALL ONE BY ONE AND UNPITIED SACRIFICE IN A CONTEMPTIBLE STRUGGLE.

MORE THAN 240 YEARS LATER.

THOSE WORDS ABOUT COMING TOGETHER IN TIMES OF DISCONTENT STILL RING TRUE.

FOR ME, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN CANADIANS MUST ASSOCIATE PUBLICLY AND USE THE LIMITED VOICE WE DO HAVE TO CALL FOR A CESSATION OF KILLING, THE RETURN OF HUMANITARIAN AID, THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES, HOSTAGES, AND THE CONDEMNATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-PALESTINIAN RACISM IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, MAYOR ALTY COLLEAGUES AND RESIDENTS WATCHING TODAY FOR YOUR TIME AND THE CHANCE TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL MY THOUGHTS ON THESE MOTIONS.

I LIKELY WON'T HAVE ANY MORE ELSE TO SAY ON THIS TODAY, AND IF WE DO VOTE ON IT NEXT WEEK.

SO JUST THANKS FOR AGAIN FOR LETTING ME LAY OUT MY THINKING FOR THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FEQUET.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

WHEN I WAS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL, I NEVER FATHOMED HAVING TO THINK ABOUT MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICS OR CONFLICT, OR SPEAK TO THEM AS A CITY COUNCILOR.

I HONESTLY DON'T FEEL INFORMED ENOUGH, AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT REQUIRE OUR ENERGY AND OUR FOCUS.

THINGS I DO FEEL INFORMED ABOUT AND THINGS I DO FEEL I CAN MEANINGFULLY CONTRIBUTE TO.

[00:15:04]

AND SO I'VE REFLECTED A LOT ON WHETHER TO ADD MY VOICE TO THIS DISCUSSION, AND I'VE CONSIDERED THAT SOMETIMES REMAINING SILENT CAN BE THE RIGHT ACTION, AND OFTEN THIS CAN BE AN EVEN HARDER ACTION TO TAKE.

HOWEVER, AFTER REVIEWING THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF EMAILS, MESSAGES AND CALLS FROM YELLOWKNIFERS ON THIS TOPIC, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES IN A RESPECTFUL WAY.

AND I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THE INTENT OF THE CEASE FIRE NOW GROUP IS NOT TO TAKE A SIDE.

ULTIMATELY, EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE CHALLENGING TOPICS, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ARGUABLY OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE AS CITY COUNCILORS, I CAN'T SHAKE THE PERSPECTIVE THAT DEREK LINDEMANN OF THE YELLOWKNIFE FOR NOW FOR CEASE FIRE NOW SHARED IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS LAST WEEK.

THAT IN SUCH TIMES IT IS INCUMBENT ON ALL THOSE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT WITH WHATEVER VOICE YOU HAVE.

PRECISELY BECAUSE OUR FEDERAL LEADERSHIP IS NOT.

FOR THIS. FOR THIS REASON, I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF ALL THREE MOTIONS PRESENTED HERE TODAY.

AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT JUST TO EXPLAIN MY THINKING, BECAUSE MY INTENT IS NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE OR CREATE MORE DIVISION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TRUST ME, I HEAR THOSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TELLING COUNCIL THIS IS OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE.

AND YET THE TRUTH IS THAT WE ARE NOT SO DISTANT AND FAR AWAY FROM THIS CONFLICT AS WE THINK.

I'VE HEARD SO MANY FELLOW YELLOWKNIFERS TALK ABOUT THE COGNITIVE DISSONANCE OF WITNESSING THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION IN THIS CONFLICT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

LITERALLY WATCHING INSTAGRAM VIDEOS OF PARENTS KISS THEIR BABIES GOODBYE AMIDST RUBBLE, AND THEN TRYING TO GO ON ABOUT THEIR DAY AT WORK AND HOME AS IF EVERYTHING IS NORMAL.

FOR MANY YELLOWKNIFERS, THE TERROR ATTACKS OF OCTOBER 7TH AND THE BOMBING IN GAZA IS DISTANT.

IT IS A WORLD AWAY AND OTHERS ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT HERE IN THEIR OWN WAY, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO YELLOWKNIFERS FOR WHOM THIS ISN'T ABSTRACT OR SIMPLY A SOCIAL MEDIA STORY.

THERE ARE COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AMONG US WHO HAVE DIRECT TIES, WHOSE FAMILIES HAVE SUFFERED TRAGEDY BECAUSE OF THIS CONFLICT, AND ARE IN REAL PERIL EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY. IN THE MIDST OF THAT MIND BENDING WORRY, WHILE THOSE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SECURE SAFETY FOR THEIR LOVED ONES, THEY'RE ALSO STILL SHOWING UP FOR WORK LIKE THE REST OF US.

WE OWE IT TO THEM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND TO SPEAK UP HOWEVER SMALL OUR VOICE MIGHT BE, WITH WHATEVER POWER OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE MIGHT HAVE.

AS IF THE REAL AND PRESENT DANGER IN ONE PART OF THE WORLD ISN'T ENOUGH TO SPEAK UP.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING IT SPREAD HERE WITH INCIDENTS OF HATE MOTIVATED SPEECH AND CRIME, THE RISE AGAINST OUR MUSLIM AND JEWISH COMMUNITIES.

WE HAVE TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTI-PALESTINE, RACISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA, ALL OF WHICH ARE UNACCEPTABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EVERYWHERE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS CANADA WHO FEEL INCREASINGLY UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS IDENTITY OR THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, AND THAT IS NOT OKAY.

SO LET'S BE BRAVE.

LET'S AGREE ON WHAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE ENTITLED TO SAFETY NO MATTER THEIR RACE, RELIGION AND POLITICAL IDENTITY.

THE BOMBING OF CIVILIANS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THAT NEGOTIATION AND DIPLOMACY ARE THE WAY TO PEACE.

NOT DEATH, NOT DESTRUCTION AND NOT VIOLENCE.

WITH HER PERMISSION, I WILL SHARE AN EXCERPT THAT MY WIFE WROTE TO OUR MP ALMOST EIGHT WEEKS AGO NOW.

AS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR WHO REMADE THEIR LIFE IN CANADA.

I AM HEARTBROKEN BY THE ATTACKS IN ISRAEL LAST WEEK.

THE SUFFERING OF FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES ON OCTOBER 7TH, AND THOSE FAMILIES WHO REMAIN HOSTAGES IS DEVASTATING FOR ANYONE WHO STANDS FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. YET VIOLENCE, DEATH AND DESTRUCTION DOES NOT JUSTIFY FURTHER VIOLENCE AND MISERY WROUGHT ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS, INCLUDING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE NO MEANS TO FIND SAFETY AND FOR WHOM THE BRUTAL ATTACKS CONTINUE RELENTLESSLY.

WE HAVE TO URGENTLY CALL FOR A CEASE FIRE TO PROTECT CIVILIAN LIVES, TO URGENTLY SAVE CHILDREN.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE DEEPLY CONCERNED BY THE DIRE SITUATION, AS OUR PRIME MINISTER CONTINUES TO SAY.

WE MUST ACTIVELY OPPOSE WHAT'S HAPPENING OR ELSE OUR SILENCE CONDONES IT.

TO REITERATE LIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS CONFLICT MATTER.

TALKING ABOUT THIS AND SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE GNWT TO REQUEST CANADA CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND A CEASEFIRE IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION OR POLITICS.

IT'S INTENDED TO TELL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS, THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR FULL INCLUSION OF OUR COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.

THAT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR YELLOWKNIFE COMMUNITY MATTER, AND THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO DIPLOMACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OVER VIOLENCE.

MERCI.

THANK YOU COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

I WON'T GO INTO TOO MUCH DEPTH.

I'VE READ EVERY SINGLE EMAIL TO COUNCIL BOTH FOR AND AGAINST THIS MOTION, AND I REALLY AM GRATEFUL FOR MY FELLOW COUNCILORS FOR ARTICULATING THEIR THOUGHTS

[00:20:05]

SO ELOQUENTLY.

I SUPPORT THE MOTION AS PRESENTED BY COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.

I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT THAT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS IN NOT TAKING A STAND AGAINST A WAR WHICH WILL CERTAINLY LOOK BACK AND DECLARE GENOCIDAL.

THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAKING ACTION, I THINK FALLS DOWN THE CHAIN POLITICALLY.

WE SHOULD NOT, THROUGH SILENCE, CONDONE VIOLENCE, ISLAMOPHOBIA, HATRED TOWARDS PALESTINIANS.

YEAH, I'M HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME SPEAKING ON THIS, AS I'M SURE EVERYONE DOES WHEN THEY SPEAK PUBLICLY.

SO. YEAH. THANKS.

THANK YOU.

UM, AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME BEING PRESENTED AT COUNCIL AND WE CAN BRING THIS FORWARD AND FOLKS WILL SPEND THE NEXT WEEK HEARING FROM RESIDENTS. AND SO YOU CAN TAKE SOME TIME TO ALSO FORMULATE YOUR THOUGHTS BEFORE TAKING A POSITION ON THIS.

WE'LL TAKE COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN'S AMENDMENTS, ADD THOSE TO THE PACKAGE.

AND SO THEN THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON NEXT MONDAY AT 7 P.M..

BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS DISCUSSION? AGAIN, YOU CAN TAKE THE NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS WITH RESIDENTS AND THEN COME BACK WITH A POSITION.

FIRST PART OF IT. SO YEAH.

SO WE WILL UPDATE THE WORDING AND BRING THAT WORDING TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.

[INAUDIBLE] COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.

SORRY, JUST TO CLARIFY, THAT WORDING WOULD APPLY TO THE FIRST AND SECOND MOTION.

OKAY. PERFECT.

WE WILL UPDATE THE FIRST AND SECOND WITH THAT WORDING.

WITH THAT, WE WILL BRING THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL NEXT MONDAY AT 7 P.M.

[IN CAMERA ]

THE NEXT THREE ITEMS ARE IN CAMERA, SO IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO MOVE ON CAMERA, MOVED BY COUNCILLOR COCHRANE, SECOND BY COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE, WE CAN MOVE IN CAMERA.

[8. Business arising from In Camera Session. ]

AND WE HAVE NO BUSINESS ARISING FROM IN-CAMERA.

IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN, MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MCGURK.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. WE CAN BE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.