© The Canadian Press/Adrian WyldForeign Affairs Minister John Baird responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons Tuesday December 4, 2012 in Ottawa.
Baird was making his first public statement in the House of Commons on the controversial move by the Israelis, which was meant as retaliation after the Palestinians won greater recognition at the United Nations last week.
The Israeli settlement announcement sparked international condemnation from all of Canada's allies, including the United States, which voted against the Palestinian motion at the UN.
The Harper government has been criticized for staying virtually silent on the Israeli move, beyond a generic statement that unilateral moves by either side were not good for the prospects of peace.
Baird reiterated the government's heavy criticism of the Palestinian statehood bid during question period when he was asked about the settlements by the Bloc Quebecois.
But he emphasized that neither the UN vote nor the settlement announcement is helpful.
On Tuesday, the Harper government pledged to preserve hundreds of millions of dollars in Canadian humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.
The issue was vigorously discussed during a 90-minute meeting in Ottawa involving Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino and four envoys who were called home for talks.
Canada strongly opposed the Palestinians' successful effort last week to win elevated status at the UN, so Baird called in senior diplomats from Israel, the West Bank and the UN missions in New York and Geneva to discuss a response.
Baird's spokesman told The Canadian Press Tuesday night that Canada's five-year, $300-million commitment to the Palestinians would be maintained when it expires at the end of the current fiscal year in March.
"The current $300-million commitment will be followed through on," Rick Roth said in an email.
"CIDA will evaluate the program in the Palestinian Authority for the outcomes achieved with taxpayers' dollars, as they do with all programs" he added.
"Future commitments by CIDA for programming in the Palestinian Authority will be dependent on their ability to achieve meaningful results for those most in need and the commitment of leaders in the Palestinian Authority to prioritize the basic needs of the people."
Along with the U.S. and Israel, Canada was one of only nine countries to vote against the Palestinian motion at the 193-country General Assembly.
In his response Tuesday night, Roth clarified an earlier statement that said Fantino would review what happens next.
"Our $300 million over five years in support of security and humanitarian aid is important," Roth had said in a statement detailing the meeting earlier on Tuesday.
"We intend to, by and large, see these projects through. The relevant minister will, as a matter of course, as they do on all matters, review the path forward once the projects have been successfully completed."
The money goes toward strengthening the Palestinian justice system, private sector economic development, and health and education assistance.
Roth said the diplomats and the two ministers had "a healthy exchange on where we are and where we want to go."
Source: The Canadian Press
Israeli Settlement Construction Fallout
[Link]