Brampton City Council Unanimously Passes Motion for a Ceasefire

Navjit Kaur Brar, Regional Councillor Ward 2/6 Brampton shared on X the following statement: 

"Today, Brampton City Council unanimously passed a motion to call for the immediate and unconditional return of hostages and a ceasefire, as has been called for by many humanitarian organizations. The events unfolding across the world have far reaching effects. We need to be the voice of our residents and acknowledge that they are all affected by what is going on. It is affecting our day to day and our mental health. Our empathy and our compassion are our strengths, but they must be bolstered by strengthening the bonds of community and supporting one another. We must condemn violence in all its forms and be steadfast in our commitment to reject hate and prejudice."

Read the motion below:

Be it resolved:

For over a month, the world has been watching the unfolding situation in Israel and Gaza in shock and horror at the growing number of lives lost and lives torn apart.

What the terrorist organization Hamas did on October 7th was horrific and there's no justification for it.

The continued bombing of Palestinians in Gaza is unbearable. No one should live under constant threat of violence, or be denied the necessities of life. And yet, so many Palestinian and Israeli civilians have lost their lives or been taken captive; women, journalists, doctors - the toll on children has been especially heart-breaking.

Israelis deserve to be safe. Palestinians deserve to be safe.

Brampton is a global city. When we are confronted with horrific global events we are all shaken. We are left to make a defining choice between hate or hope. Time and time again Brampton has chosen hope and unity.

It has defined our city as a beacon in difficult times. Our diversity, our empathy and the harmony in which we live is unique in the world. It must be protected. It is our common bond. Our ability as a city to meet deep differences with compassion and hope, to gather and rally democratically in the spirit of community and peace, is always the best of us at work. But, our city isn't perfect. In hard times our common bond is often tested. The fact remains antisemitism and Islamophobia exist here. People are scared of being targeted for who they are or what they believe in.

Any assault on the freedom of people practicing their faith or religion,is not welcome here. Threatening the safety of businesses is not welcome here. Violence, in all its forms, is not welcome here. Hate is not welcome here.

In talking with Muslim and Jewish communities over recent weeks, we heard their worries and their fears. We have heard how deeply people are grieving and how unsafe they feel right now. We have also heard about common hopes and dreams.

Stories of people comforting a sleepless neighbour, sharing their worry for a loved one back home, or meals cooked for friends to nourish them in their worry. These quiet, hopeful moments are a shared dream of peace, made real in our city every day.

We will always choose hope and compassion. We believe that violence is never the answer. We believe that peace can only come through the immediate and unconditional return of all hostages and a ceasefire, as has been called for by humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations.

When violence and darkness surround us, we must continue to be a welcoming, kind and compassionate city.

Brampton will always denounce terrorism, Islamophobia, anti-semitism and hate in all its forms.