Votes Against Genocide: Holding Canada Accountable for Justice
4-10-2025
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Born out of frustration, heartbreak, and a deep determination to demand better from our democracy, the Votes Against Genocide campaign emerged in December 2023. This movement has grown out of rallies, events, and a shared collective grief for Palestine, highlighting Canada’s complicity in the ongoing genocide. As communities across the country rose to speak out against the atrocities unfolding in Palestine, we were faced with an uncomfortable truth: we, as settler-immigrants, benefit from the same systems of colonial violence that continue to harm Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
In our mobilization, we began to reflect on the systemic injustices in both Palestine and Canada. We paused at every event to acknowledge the land we stand on, stolen from Indigenous communities. The genocide we are witnessing in Palestine echoes the historical and ongoing genocide faced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The colonial systems that perpetuate violence in Palestine are not isolated; they are connected to the settler colonial structures that undergird Canada’s existence.
This realization spurred the formation of Votes Against Genocide—a campaign aimed at holding elected officials accountable and demanding that political parties act to end genocide, both abroad and within Canada. The campaign is built around the idea that MPs need our votes to stay in power. If they refuse to take action against genocide, they do not deserve our support. In 2025, we will leverage our collective power to demand accountability and change. This campaign will target key ridings, using a strategic approach to hold Liberal and Conservative MPs accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
The Strategy: Holding Political Parties Accountable
Votes Against Genocide focuses on targeting swing ridings, where the voter base is divided between two dominant parties. These ridings are crucial because small shifts in voter preferences can alter election outcomes. By focusing on these areas, the campaign aims to force both the Liberal and Conservative parties to take notice and act in response to the demands of their constituents. The campaign uses an Accountability Scorecard to assess each party’s stance on genocide, tracking their policies, public statements, and actions. Although the campaign does not endorse any party, it calls for meaningful action to end complicity in genocide.
The Demands: Justice, Liberation, and Reparations
The campaign’s core demands are rooted in a commitment to justice, liberation, and reparations for Palestinians and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. These demands are aligned with international law and Canada’s obligations as a UN member state. They include:
1. Impose Sanctions and Embargoes on Israel: Immediate sanctions on Israeli trade, military officials, and entities, alongside a two-way arms embargo, to stop the ongoing genocide against Palestinians.
2. End Funding for Colonization: Stop Canadian financial support and trade that fuels Israel's colonization of Palestine and harms Indigenous communities.
3. Prosecute Israeli War Crimes: Hold Israel accountable for its war crimes under international law and stop complicity in these actions.
4. Recognize and Rebuild Palestine: Support Palestinian sovereignty and ensure that reparations are made for the displacement and destruction caused by Israeli forces.
5. Restore Indigenous Sovereignty: Ensure that Canada takes meaningful steps to honor Indigenous sovereignty and land rights as part of the reconciliation process.
6. Fulfill Truth and Reconciliation Calls: Implement the calls to action laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, especially those related to land, culture, and education.
7. Provide Justice for MMIWG2S: Ensure justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people.
8. Defund and Reform Policing: Address systemic racism in law enforcement and focus on policies that decolonize and protect Indigenous communities.
Political Accountability
The Votes Against Genocide campaign does not believe Canada’s political leaders are incapable of action. In fact, it points to Canada’s history of swift responses when political will exists—like the sanctions against Myanmar and the arms embargo on Azerbaijan in previous years. These actions demonstrate that change is possible when the government prioritizes human rights and justice.
However, Canada’s ongoing failure to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Palestine and its neglect of Indigenous Peoples here in Canada show that political will is lacking in these critical areas. This failure is a direct violation of international law and Canada’s promises to both Palestinians and Indigenous communities.
As voters, we have the power to demand better. Votes Against Genocide encourages Canadians to engage with the political process, evaluate their party’s stance on these critical issues, and vote for those who demonstrate a genuine commitment to justice and accountability. The campaign’s rating system allows voters to track party progress and hold politicians accountable.
The goal of this campaign is simple: to demand that our leaders act with integrity and fulfill their commitments to justice. This is not just about voting; it’s about using our collective power to create real, lasting change. Together, we can hold our politicians accountable and build a Canada that stands for peace, justice, and human rights—for Palestinians, for Indigenous Peoples, and for all.
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