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Canada’s Defence Minister is calling for the elimination of Hamas and doubts the organization would respect any call for a ceasefire.

Bill Blair was speaking today to journalists ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting in Ottawa, responding to questions about the possibility of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that has claimed the lives of thousands of Israelis and Palestinians.

“Quite frankly, Hamas has to be eliminated as a threat, not just to Israel but to the world,” Blair said. “They are a terrorist organization.”

Asked about Blair’s comments, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not quite go as far as his Defence Minister.

Arriving for Question Period, Trudeau said Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization that has committed “unspeakable atrocities” and that Canada’s priority needs to be the continued protection of innocent civilians, the liberation of hostages taken by Hamas, and facilitating a humanitarian corridor to get aid in and civilians and foreign nationals out of Gaza.

Hamas, an Islamist militant group, launched a series of attacks on Israeli civilian and military targets on Oct. 7. In response, Israel has been bombing targets in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground invasion against Hamas militants.

On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly called for a de-escalation of violence in the crisis but would not be pinned down on whether Canada would push for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants.

Trudeau has been under pressure to promote an immediate ceasefire, with more than 30 MPs, including 23 Liberal MPs, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh having written letters to the Prime Minister on the issue.

But Blair told journalists, “I have no expectation that a terrorist organization would respect international law or any call for ceasefire.”

Blair said Israel has been the victim of a “horrific terrorist attack” and has the right, under international law, to defend itself.

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TODAY’S HEADLINES

Five dead after Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., shootings: police – Police in the Northern Ontario city say five people – including three children and the accused – are dead after shootings at two homes in what they are calling a case of intimate partner violence.

Federal Court approval for $23-billion First Nations child-welfare settlement – A Federal Court judge has verbally approved the landmark deal in which Ottawa will compensate more than 300,000 First Nations children and their families over chronic underfunding of on-reserve child-welfare services.

Macklem warns premiers about dangers of putting Bank of Canada’s independence at risk – Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem warned premiers who publicly asked the central bank to not raise interest rates last month that their requests could undermine the institution’s independence.

Pierre Poilievre in campaign mode, targeting ridings held by Liberals and NDP – A federal election could be two years away, but Poilievre is said to be going “full tilt” already as his Conservatives set their sights on forming government.

Ottawa urged to enable CSIS to share more on national security threats with country – A parliamentary committee probing foreign interference by China is calling on Ottawa to empower Canada’s spy service to speak more plainly and precisely to Canadians about foreign interference threats.

Canada’s chief accessibility officer ‘furious’ after Air Canada forgets her wheelchair – Stephanie Cadieux is taking airlines to task for failing to treat wheelchair users with respect after Air Canada forgot last week to bring her wheelchair on a cross-country flight.

St. Lawrence Seaway strike stalls road salt, wheat, steel cargo as winter closing nears – The strike by unionized workers has halted shipments amid the yearly rush to move the grain harvest and other key commodities ahead of the winter freeze-up.

Outsourcing firms submitted contracting records with detailed description of non-existent company – IT staffing firms at the centre of misconduct allegations submitted contracting reports to the federal government that included a detailed description of a company that doesn’t exist, documents show.

Fall update agenda – The federal government’s fall economic and fiscal update will include new measures to boost the supply of housing, federal ministers say.

THIS AND THAT

Today in the Commons – Projected Order of Business at the House of Commons, accessible here.

Deputy Prime Minister’s day – Private meetings in Ottawa and the weekly cabinet meeting are on Chrystia Freeland’s agenda. She also held a media availability, accompanied by Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Treasury Board President Anita Anand.

Ministers on the road – Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is in the United Arab Emirates on an official visit that will include stops in Armenia before the minister returns to Canada on Friday.

In Ottawa – Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault made an announcement on conservation measures, accompanied by Catherine Grenier, president of Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Commons committees – The public accounts committee heard witnesses on the redevelopment of Centre Block on Parliament Hill, expected to take until 2032. Defense Minister Bill Blair appeared, in private, before the procedure and house affairs committee on the intimidation campaign against Conservative MP Michael Chong and other members. The citizenship and immigration committee heard witnesses on an exploitation scheme targeting certain international students. Erin O’Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency, was among the witnesses appearing before the government operations and estimates committee on the ArriveCan app, which has been the subject of Globe and Mail reporting. Former RCMP commissioner Beverley Ann Busson, now a senator, was scheduled to appear before the veterans affairs committee on the experience of women veterans.

Senate committees – Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux was scheduled to speak to the Senate national finance committee about Bill C-241, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act.

PRIME MINISTER’S DAY

Justin Trudeau, in Ottawa, held private meetings, chaired a cabinet meeting and attended Question Period. In the evening, he was scheduled to attend a fundraising event in Gatineau, Que.

LEADERS

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves François Blanchet held a scrum on Parliament Hill ahead of Question Period.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is in her Vancouver Island riding participating in Parliament virtually.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in Ottawa, held a meeting with Dene National Chief Gerald Antoine, and was later scheduled to attend Question Period.

No schedules released for other party leaders.

THE DECIBEL

Today’s edition of The Globe and Mail podcast features Caroline Alphonso, The Globe’s education reporter, on how French immersion is dividing schools, why it exists and how parental power is shaping bilingual education in Canada. The Decibel is here.

OPINION

The Globe and Mail Editorial Board on how Ottawa keeps firing blanks on gun buybacks: “If the Liberals wanted a buyback program, they could have one in place by now. The fact that they keep putting it off is just more proof that, for them, gun control is just as much an electoral wedge issue as it is one of public safety.”

Campbell Clark (The Globe and Mail) on Ottawa’s chronic computer problem: “Managing IT projects seems to be beyond the capacity of the machinery of government in Ottawa. It’s time to recognize the government of Canada has a massive computer problem. It has a lot of trouble with zeros and ones.”

Tony Keller (The Globe and Mail) on the political problem of bilingualism flourishing in Montreal: “Raise the price of something, and people will consume less of it. That’s the unassailable logic behind carbon taxes. Since 2013, Quebec has had carbon pricing, to discourage carbon pollution. And as of next year, when it doubles tuition fees for out-of-province students at its three English universities, it will have a pricing system to discourage language pollution.”

Lloyd Axworthy (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how the Wab Kinew he knows is going to change Canada: “The province is now the epicentre of an exciting political event that will have significant consequences for the future of governance for all Canadians. Wab Kinew, who was sworn in as Premier last week, is the avatar of this change. He is the first First Nations leader of a government and, at 42, is poised to usher in a new era of leadership. Mr. Kinew represents the millennial generation – people born in the eighties who are now ready to replace contrarian Gen-Xers.”

Linda Nazareth (Contributed to The Globe and Mail) on how other countries are embracing the coming fifth industrial revolution as Canada falls behind: “The fourth industrial revolution was all about technology and the fifth industrial revolution is about using that technology to meet societal goals and fashion a human-centric future of work. Other parts of the world have already embraced the idea of this new ‘Industry 5.0′, and it would seem to be time for Canada to do the same.”

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