(OTTAWA) March 9, 2016 – Following the passing of a resolution in the European Parliament on February 25, Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, asked the House of Commons for unanimous consent to pass motion M-48 to raise attention to the alarming deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
“Though this motion did not pass, I am hopeful that it brought some much needed attention to the extremely concerning situation in Yemen. I am horrified to read about the truly untenable conditions for civilians. So much of what is happening shows a brazen disregard for international law, from the use of cluster munitions by the Saudi-led coalition to the use of landmines by Houthi forces. More than 2.5 million people are living in displacement and hospitals, weddings, markets and so many other civilian centres are being targeted. The violence must end and we must take a stand.
As U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: ‘Yemen is in flames and coalition airstrikes in particular continue to strike schools, hospitals, mosques and civilian infrastructure.’ Ban stressed the need to control ‘arms flows to actors that may use them in ways that breach international humanitarian law.’
“Though the conflict is complex, it is clear that Saudi Arabia is acting in violation of international law. It appears that Saudi forces are using Canadian-made combat vehicles in Yemen. We must end our complicity. We must end our silence. Canada cannot justify selling combat vehicles or any arms to the authors of such destruction.”
Full text of M-48:
M-48 — Ms. May (Saanich—Gulf Islands) — That, in the opinion of the House, there has been an alarming deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen which is characterized by widespread food insecurity, indiscriminate attacks against civilians and medical and aid workers, the destruction of civilian and medical infrastructure as a result of the pre-existing domestic conflict, as well as the intensification of airstrikes, ground fighting, and shelling by the Saudi-led coalition and despite repeated calls for a renewed cessation of hostilities; and that, therefore, the House: (a) endorse a Resolution passed by the European Parliament on February 25, 2016, as well as United Nations Security Council resolutions on Yemen, in particular resolutions 2216 (2015), 2201 (2015) and 2140 (2014); (b) express grave concern at (i) the airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition and the naval blockade it has imposed on Yemen, (ii) the actions taken by the Houthis, including the siege of the city of Taiz; and (c) unequivocally condemn (i) the targeting of hospitals, markets, and civilian centres, (ii) the use of cluster munitions by the Saudi-led coalition, in violation of the norm created by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, (iii) the use of landmines by Houthi forces, in violation of the Ottawa Treaty; and that the House further call upon the government to launch an initiative aimed at imposing an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia.
Good Sunday Morning – January 10
January 10th, 2021
Good Sunday Morning – Jan 3
January 3rd, 2021
Good Sunday Morning – December 13
December 13th, 2020
Good Sunday Morning – December 6
December 6th, 2020
Good Sunday Morning – November 29
November 29th, 2020
Green MPs Elizabeth May and Jenica Atwin recognized in Maclean’s 12th annual Parliamentarians of the Year awards
January 13th, 2021
Green Party condemns steady erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong
January 6th, 2021
Green Party Leader Annamie Paul calls on Prime Minister to Convene Emergency First Ministers Meeting on the Humanitarian Crisis in Long-Term Care
January 5th, 2021
Green Party urges government to move swiftly and implement all Calls to Action recommended in report from TRC
December 17th, 2020
On fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, Green Party says Canada still a long way from meeting its most basic obligations
December 12th, 2020
On the edge of disaster. On the fifth Anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Global Greens call for action not celebration
December 11th, 2020
‘Twas just weeks before Christmas…
December 9th, 2020
Elizabeth asks Environment Minister to close Basel Convention loophole
December 9th, 2020
Elizabeth’s statement on the 50th anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women
December 7th, 2020
Green Caucus letter to Mins. Bains and O’Regan re: Small Modular Reactors
November 9th, 2020
Green Caucus stands in solidarity with pro-democracy protests in Bulgaria
September 14th, 2020
Constituency Office
1-9711 Fourth St
Sidney, BC V8L 2Y8
Phone: 250-657-2000
800-667-9188
Fax: 250-657-2004
E-mail: elizabeth.may.c1a@parl.gc.ca
Parliament Hill Office
518 Confederation Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-996-1119
Fax: 613-996-0850
E-mail: elizabeth.may@parl.gc.ca
Jobs & Volunteering
Click here for the latest opportunities