Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated on Tuesday that Ottawa has no intention of paying the $1-billion US cost for a permanent seat on U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” which is tasked with overseeing the governance and reconstruction of Gaza.
“There are still many details to be ironed out, but it’s clear that Canada will not foot the bill if we decide to join the Board of Peace,” Champagne informed reporters during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Champagne’s remarks followed Prime Minister Mark Carney’s acceptance of the invitation to join the board, along with 59 other global leaders. Carney mentioned that his officials have yet to finalize the structure, operations, and financing details of the board.
Canada has not been requested to make any payments at this time. Carney emphasized the importance of directing financial aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza to enhance their welfare. He highlighted the necessity of unimpeded humanitarian aid flows to Gaza as a prerequisite for any further progress.
Trump intends for the board to be chaired by himself for life, with member states limited to three-year terms unless they contribute $1 billion US each for permanent membership. The White House mentioned that permanent membership is offered to partner countries demonstrating a strong commitment to peace, security, and prosperity.
Carney expressed Canada’s focus on providing direct financial assistance to Gaza and emphasized the need for impactful humanitarian aid. The government’s priority is to ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza effectively.
Apart from the primary board, additional executive committees have been appointed by Trump to guide the process in Gaza, drawing criticism from some countries. A team of 15 Palestinian technocrats, independent from Hamas and vetted by Israel’s Mossad spy agency, has been chosen to manage daily operations in place of the Hamas government.
The United Arab Emirates and Hungary have publicly accepted the invitation to the board, while other nations have shown caution pending finalization of the details. Concerns have been raised about the board potentially overshadowing the United Nations’ role in conflict resolution.
The second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal has been initiated by the United States, with unresolved issues from the first phase, including Israeli airstrikes, Hamas’s actions, and border crossing delays. The upcoming phase aims to address challenges such as disarming Hamas and deploying an international peacekeeping force.
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