CIPP calls out the harm done by the City of Ottawa’s silence on Palestine

As a union representing municipal professionals, including nurses, engineers, paramedics and others in many different fields, CIPP members work tirelessly to serve our community.

We want our city to be a welcoming and safe home for everyone.

We deplore the City of Ottawa’s silence on Israel’s genocide in Palestine. This silence is causing harm to union and community members – especially to Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and allied people of all backgrounds including members of the Jewish community.

Community members with connections to Palestine deserve the empathy and support that is typically offered to any community experiencing such horrific violence and loss. This silence contributes to anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and Islamophobic rhetoric in our community. And creates a climate where many of our members feel unsafe at work and fear retribution for expressing any support or sympathy for Palestine publicly.

This leaves many of our members particularly Palestinian, Arab and Muslim members feeling unseen, erased and unsafe. The City of Ottawa must take action to ensure that our community is a safe and welcoming place for Palestinian people and their allies.