Prime Minister's Office still hasn’t responded to church leaders' letters and requests to meet
Prime Minister Carney announced at the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2025 that Canada recognizes a Palestinian state. The following is the statement of The United Church of Canada in response:
Statement on Canada’s conditional recognition of a Palestinian state
Prime Minister Carney's announcement of Canada's conditional recognition of a Palestinian State on September 21, 2025, is a small, long-delayed but nevertheless welcome action in list of more urgent and pressing actions Canada ought to have taken months and years ago.
In a letter to the prime minister on July 29, Canadian churches and organizations again called on Canada to take immediate steps to “use all economic, diplomatic, and political tools available” to:
- secure an immediate, sustained ceasefire;
- ensure food, water, fuel, and humanitarian aid are delivered unhindered;
- achieve the release of all captives, both Israeli and Palestinian;
- impose a comprehensive, two-way arms embargo on Israel, including closing loopholes such as exports via the U.S.; and
- end Israel’s military occupation and annexation of Palestine, paving the way for a just peace.
In its statement issued on August 1 regarding the prime minister's declaration of Canada’s intent to issue a conditional recognition of a Palestinian state, The United Church of Canada reminded Prime Minister Carney once again of these urgent priorities. Canadian church leaders have written the Prime Minister multiple times, both individually and jointly, and requested to meet with the Prime Minster to discuss concrete actions Canada must take in support of a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
To date, there has been no response from the Prime Minister's Office to the church leaders' letters and requests to meet.
The United Church would like to discuss with the prime minister how, with its recognition of Palestine, Canada will fulfil its obligations in accordance with the International Court of Justice's July 19, 2024 ruling that "all States are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the continued presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
The church reiterates that Canadians have a right to know the immediate steps the Canadian government will take to uphold its obligations under international law. The actions called for in this statement and in multiple letters to the government will be more effective than dictating to Palestinians who will govern them and how.