The council chambers in Burnaby felt unusually tense Monday night as residents packed the room, many holding signs with stark images from Gaza. After hours of emotional testimony, councillors voted 6-3 to approve a resolution calling on the federal government to impose an arms embargo against Israel.
What began as a grassroots petition has now become official city policy in British Columbia’s third-largest city, adding Burnaby to a growing list of Canadian municipalities weighing in on the devastating conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
“This is about humanitarian concerns, not taking sides in a complex geopolitical conflict,” said Councillor Maita Santiago, who introduced the motion. “We cannot stand by while Canadian-made components potentially contribute to the suffering we’re witnessing.”
The resolution specifically urges Ottawa to “immediately suspend all transfers of military equipment and technology to Israel,” while also calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid access to Gaza.
Mayor Mike Hurley, who voted against the motion, questioned whether municipal governments should involve themselves in international affairs. “We have streets to fix and housing crises to solve,” Hurley said during deliberations. “Foreign policy decisions belong at the federal level, where officials have access to intelligence and diplomatic channels we simply don’t have.”
But supporters like local resident Fatima Al-Saadi, who addressed council during public comments, disagreed. “When humanitarian crises reach this scale, silence at any level of government becomes complicity,” she told councillors, her voice breaking. “This is about Canadian exports and Canadian values.”
Canada exported approximately $21 million in military goods to Israel in 2022, according to government data from Global Affairs Canada. These exports typically include optical and sensing equipment, aircraft components, and other technical systems rather than complete weapons.
The Burnaby resolution comes as similar measures have appeared before councils in Vancouver, Montreal, and Victoria in recent months. Two weeks ago, Vancouver city council narrowly rejected a comparable motion after an equally contentious debate.
Public reaction outside council chambers was predictably divided. Ben Meyer, spokesperson for a local Jewish community organization, expressed disappointment. “This oversimplified approach ignores the complexities of the conflict and Israel’s security concerns,” Meyer said. “It feels like municipal virtue signalling rather than meaningful policy.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Canadian Community Centre released a statement celebrating the vote as “a meaningful stand against violence that will hopefully inspire action at higher levels of government.”
The practical impact of Burnaby’s resolution remains unclear. Foreign policy decisions rest firmly with the federal government, which maintains official diplomatic and trade relationships with Israel while also providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly acknowledged receipt of the resolution but reiterated that Canada “conducts rigorous risk assessments before approving any military export permits” and that all applications undergo “thorough human rights reviews.”
Political science professor Samantha Wilson from Simon Fraser University notes that these municipal resolutions hold more symbolic than legal weight. “Cities can’t dictate foreign policy, but these votes reflect genuine community concerns and can contribute to broader pressure campaigns that sometimes influence federal decisions,” Wilson explained in a phone interview.
For local resident David Chen, who waited four hours to speak for just three minutes at the meeting, the city’s action represents something deeper. “I pay my taxes here. My children go to school here. Why shouldn’t my local representatives speak up when I believe Canadian exports are contributing to a humanitarian disaster?”
As councillors filed out after the marathon session, both supporters and opponents lingered in small groups outside city hall, some embracing while others engaged in heated discussions that mirrored the division inside.
Whether Burnaby’s resolution influences federal policy or not, Monday’s vote has certainly amplified local voices in a global conversation that shows no signs of fading from Canadian political discourse anytime soon.
