Premier Wynne with your Ontario business mission happening to Israel May 15-20, you still have not shared who the several Ontario institutions/not-for-profits that will accompany you to the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). You say your trip to Ramallah and Bethlehem is to build on key relationships in innovation and education, but this leaves us with some troubling questions:

i) who has invited Ontario to the OPT?

ii) what Palestinian civil society, business or government groups are meeting with you and your delegation?
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ii) who are the Ontario institutions/not-for-profits that will accompany you to the OPT? 

iii) why was this information not provided in the press material released or upon our request?

Perhaps you are not sharing this information, because in fact it is the Occupier (Israel) who has invited you into its Occupied Territory of Palestine.  Is your hope you can have a photo shoot that makes Ontario voters think you are doing good things for Palestine?

Certainly, if this is indeed a trade and investment mission to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, there would be much room to create sanctions related to Israeli trade and investment in order to move the draconian Israeli restrictions on Palestine.  These restrictions prevent exports from the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as create impermeable barrier to investment in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Even the ability to import items that allow for manufacturing and other daily needs within the Occupied Palestinian Territory is severely hampered. 

In the fall of 2014, the Canadian consulate staff in Ramallah seemed very proud of a minuscule $6 million of Canadian imports from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  They did not know the breakdown but said it included a President's Choice olive oil from Palestine.  Interestingly, President's Choice was not aware of this contract!  Since we know that about $200,000 of fair trade "Palestinian" products including mainly olive oil comes into Canada, our understanding based on research is the majority of the $6 million is Jerusalem Stone taken by Israel for export from its occupied territory. 

Certainly, there is much innovation that could lead to export from Palestine. 

We asked you to cancel your business mission to Israel but since you did not respond we therefore call on you

i)    to take sanctions against the occupier Israel to allow this to happen.  This means not entering into any investment or trade with Israel until Israeli sanctions are removed against Palestinian exports.  We would also call you to work to support investment in Palestine.

ii)      to provide transparent due diligence to show what has been done to ensure that any trade and investment with companies and organizations you are meeting with in Israel are not contributing in any way to the occupation, or to violation of international humanitarian law or human rights. 

iii)     to ensure all staff working on the Israel-Palestine trade and investment file have training in International Humanitarian Law and the United Nations Resolutions related to Israel-Palestine, as well as understand the Palestinian civil society call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions related to ending apartheid and violations of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. 

iv)      to NOT open an economic development office in Israel.  Rather to put resources to putting stopping Ontario trade and investment with Israel until free trade directly with Palestine is possible. 

v)        to work directly with Palestinian civil society on possible trade and investment, including removing Israeli barriers

v)        to live out your expressed commitment to freedom, equity and justice for all people, by not continuing with investment or trade with Israel, until international humanitarian law and universal human rights are practiced, and that apartheid is ended within the state of Israel and the OPT.