Over the last years, we have seen a purported shift in Canada’s voting strategy on UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions concerning Palestine. However, it’s not so much a shift but rather an attempt to save face. This reality becomes crystal clear when considering the history of Canadian voting for UNGA resolutions on Palestine since 1949.
Canada’s vote at the UN since 1947 shows at best conditional support for Palestine. More realistically, Canada’s votes ebb and flow as its concern for its image as a ‘peacekeeping’ nation falters.
A few key points:
The UN database reveals a strong and consistent pro-Israel vote by Canada over the last seventy years.
While the shift to voting no’ consistently began in 2011, Canada cast its first ‘no’ in 1949. Following 1967, it continued to cast many ‘no’ votes.
In the 1970s and 80s, a ‘yes’ vote is often misleading as these resolutions were not specifically focused on the rights of the Palestinian people. Rather, they were generally related to peacekeeping or other issues that served the occupier, at least as much as the occupied.
Analysis of votes in the period after the Oslo Accord, shows the international community voting ‘yes’ more consistently. Canada joined that trend within the context of Oslo language and voting in support of motions that condemned aspects of the occupation.
Overall, between 1947 and November 19 2025, Canada voted ‘yes’ 47%, ‘no’ 28%, and abstained 24% of the time. This does not accurately reflect support for the Palestinian people based on the notes above.
You can track Canada’s votes on CJPME’s UN Dashboard. The tracker provides information from 200 to the present, including updates throughout the ongoing UNGA meetings.
Mush of this analysis is taken from our previous work. You can find links to older posts at the bottom of this page.
A Quick Summary
Alright, let’s go back and start in 1947.
1947 to 1966
Nabka to Naksa
Photo: Palestine Chronicle / WAFA
In this period, Canada voted ‘yes’ 47 times, ‘no’ 2 times, and ‘abstained’ 5 times. Based on a straight count, Canada’s over 90% affirmative vote seems very supportive. However, the early ‘nos’ and abstentions sewed the seeds, and the roots grew deep.
1949
Canada’s first vote ‘no’ vote was in regard to Jerusalem as an International City in 1949. This resolution indicated the “intention that Jerusalem should be placed under a permanent international regime…and to confirm specifically the following provisions of General Assembly Resolution 181 (II).” Canada was one of 14 member states to vote against this Resolution. They also abstained on the Resolution calling for the establishment of UNRWA. Canada was one of only 6 members who abstained, with all other member states voting ‘yes.’
Canada again abstained in regard to a resolution calling for addressing right return including repatriation of refugees.
1967 to 1992
Naksa to First Intifada
Photo: Palestine Chronicle / Arab Center DC
Throughout these years, a ‘yes’ vote often was not a vote in support of the Palestinian people, but rather related to peace-keeping. By 1979, 5 of Canada’s ‘yes’ votes were related to peace-keeping. Meanwhile, Canada voted ‘no’ on various resolutions calling for disarming Israel. In the following years, ‘yes’ votes were also related to the development and rebuilding of Lebanon. Therefore, these votes cannot be taken as support for the core issues including the right of return, right to self-determination, and military occupation.
1967
Canada voted ‘no’ to three UN resolutions regarding Palestine. This included expediting a drafting to define aggression in the light of the ongoing international situation (Resolution 2330(XXII)).
1968
Canada abstained in the vote to establish a special committee to analyze Israel’s practices. Canada maintained this stance throughout the following years. Canada was clearly unwilling to speak out about the occupation from 1967 onwards.
1969
Canada shifted away from support of the inalienable rights of Palestinians, voting ‘no’ to Resolution 2535 (XXIV)(B). Canada remained absent for Resolution 2546 (XXIV), entitled “Respect for and implementation of human rights in occupied territories.” The Resolution urgently called on Israel “to desist forthwith from its reported repressive practices and policies towards the civilian population in the occupied territories and to comply with its obligations under the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant resolutions adopted by the various international organizations.”
1970
Canada voted ‘no’ to Resolution 2727 (XXV), Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories.
1971
Canada added a ‘no’ vote on Resolution 2792(XXVI) which recognized “that the people of Palestine are entitled to equal rights and self-determination, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.”
A key focus at the UN was the status of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and its right to participate at the UN as an observer. Canada voted ‘no’ to 1 resolution and abstained from another in this regard. Canada continued with this stance going forward.
1975
Resolution 3379 (XXX), Elimination of all forms of racial discrimination was passed, with Canada voting ‘no’. This resolution determined “that Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination.” This remained, until 1991 when a resolution to reverse it passed (which Canada voting ‘yes’ to the reversal).
1976
Canada abstained from a vote regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian people (Resolution 31/110). Only the US and Israel voted against this Resolution.
1977
Canada voted ‘yes’ to Resolution 32/82 calling for a nuclear-weapon free zone in the Middle East, but ‘no’ to the Question of Palestine which invited “all Governments and organizations to lend their cooperation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights…”
1982
Canada did in fact vote for “Israel [to] withdraw all its military forces forthwith and unconditionally to the internationally recognized boundaries of Lebanon;” and in September 1982 Canada voted ‘yes’ to an emergency session regarding the massacre of Palestinians in Beirut (after abstaining at the UNGA session in August). Canada also abstained on the vote to condemn the transfer of diplomatic missions to Jerusalem.
While Canada continued to vote against rights of Palestinians and condemning the occupation, in Resolution 37/123, the situation in the Middle East, Canada did vote to condemn “plundering the Palestinian cultural heritage,” and “the large-scale massacre of Palestinian civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps;” resolving that “the massacre was an act of genocide.”
1983
Canada switched its vote to ‘yes’ in support of Resolution 38/166, living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories. This was an example of Canada following the world lead. All member states voted ‘yes’ with the exception of Israel and and the US who, of course, voted ‘no.’
1985
In 1985, 4 of Canada’s ‘yes’ votes were related to peace-keeping, and 1 to cooperation of the UN and the Arab League.
1987
Canada voted ‘no’ to the substantial sections of Resolution 42/209, the situation in the Middle East. Canada did not condemn “Israel’s decision to annex Jerusalem and to declare it as its ‘capital’ as well as the measures to alter its physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and status.”
1988 to 1993
First Intifada to Oslo
Photo: Socialist Alternative
While Canada voted ‘yes’ frequently during this period, they also voted ‘no’ on key resolutions.
1988
Canada abstained on Resolution 43/21, the uprising (intifadah) of the Palestinian people. The resolution strongly deplored “the continuing disregard by Israel, the occupying Power, of the relevant decisions of the Security Council;” and reaffirmed “that the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian territories since 1967, including Jerusalem, in noway changes the legal status of those territories.” By abstaining from this resolution, Canada abstained from its own Article 1 responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention to uphold the Convention in all circumstances.
Canada was absent for the vote to acknowledge the proclamation of the State of Palestine. They were also absent for the affirmation with regards to the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their sovereignty over their territory occupied since 1967. Canada may not have supported the PLO being an observer, but Canada definitely did not support the designation “Palestine”.
1989
Canada voted ‘yes’ to Resolution 44/2. Only 6 member states abstained, with the US and Israel voting ‘no.’ The Resolution, the uprising (intifadah) of the Palestinian people, demanded that “Israel, the occupying Power, abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and desist immediately from those policies and practices which are in violation of the provisions of the Convention.”
1990
Canada voted ‘yes’, to Resolution 45/68, International Peace Conference on the Middle East.
1991
Canada voted against Resolution 46/130 which declared that only “the total eradication of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial, democratic society based on majority rule, through the full and free exercise of adult suffrage by all the people in a united and non-fragmented South Africa, can lead to a just and lasting solution to the situation in South Africa…” and reaffirmed “the legitimacy of the struggle of all peoples under colonial and foreign domination, particularly the Palestinian people, for the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and national independence, which will enable them to determine their political, economic and social system, without interference.”
That same year, with the Middle East peace process beginning in October 1991, Canada voted ‘yes’ on Resolution 46/201, Assistance to the Palestinian people..
1993 to 2000
Oslo to Second Intifada
Photo: Britannica
With the Oslo Accords, resolution language changed and Canada began to vote ‘yes’ more often. After 1995, Canada voted ‘yes’ approximately 80% of the time, and did not vote ‘no’. This must be considered in the context of the international voting pattern, votes approved without a vote, and the framing of resolutions related to the peace process.
1993
With Liberal Prime Minister Chrétien, Canada’s voting pattern changed. That being said, so did the international voting pattern, with less abstentions and ‘no’ votes.
1995
With new language re: self-determination from the Oslo Accords, Canada (and the international community) voted ‘yes’ to Palestinian self-determination. Similar framing of resolutions resulted in other ‘yes’ votes from Canada, including in regard to the repercussions of settlements.
Canada continued to vote ‘yes’ alongside the majority of the international community. 94% of Canada’s ‘yes’ votes from 2000 to 2023 came between 2000-2010. During the same period, Canada voted ‘no’ 198 times and abstained 55.
2011
Canada voted ‘yes’ on 1 resolution, but the Rresolution was essentially calling for the review of UNRWA, and not in support of the Palestinian people.
2019
Canada voted ‘yes’ to the resolution on self-determination. This vote was understood by many as an orphan vote serving as a fig leaf of hope to the international community to entice votes in favour of Canada’s upcoming bid for a seat in 2020 on the UN Security Council (UNSC). In contrast, CBC suggested that “Canada had reversed its recent voting history.” Between 2005 and 2019 Canada voted ‘no’ on Palestinian self-determination.
2020
Canada again voted ‘yes’ to the Resolution. This caused some hope that Canada is indeed taking a principled stand, and has led to upset by the pro-Israel lobby.
2023 to 2025
Al-Aqsa Flood to Present
Photo: Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa / Reuters
Since Israel escalated its “chronic, insidious genocide” in October 2023, Canada has again chosen to vote ‘yes’ on various standing resolutions.
2023
Canada voted in support of “Assistance to Palestine Refugees”, though provided a long explanation of its “rationale for vote change.” While stating that, “[g]iven the conflict and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Canada believes it is important to recognize the vital role played by UNRWA in the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians,” Canada also said:
“Moreover, we would like to underscore our long-standing concern that there are still too many resolutions related to the Arab-Israeli conflict being put forward at the UN General Assembly every year. And too many of these also unfairly single out Israel. Canada reiterates the importance of a fair-minded approach at the United Nations and will continue to vote “no” on resolutions that do not address the complexities of the issues or seek to address the actions and responsibilities of all parties, including the destructive role of terrorist organizations like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah.”
While, to date, Canada has voted ‘yes’ 12 times between 2024 and 2025, their actions fail to align with their votes. For instance, Canada has again begun voting ‘yes’ to “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”. However, Canada simultaneously allows the funnelling of money to Israel through tax-subsidized charitable funds. Canada also allows Canadian companies to participate in the maintenance and expansion of illegal settlements without repercussions. Canada also has and allows investments in companies operating in and/or supporting illegal settlements.
Conclusion
Canada’s ‘yes’ votes are simply a smoke screen. Canada is voting ‘yes’ while arming Israel to commit genocide, uphold its illegal occupation, and further entrench apartheid. It is these votes, this type of ineffectual action that demonstrates to civil society that international law, while purporting to be effective, can be blatantly ignored and is only enforced against the Global South.
**Note that not all votes are complete for 2025. This information will be updated when available.
On November 15, 2025, the Canada Revenue Agency revoked the charitable status of Herut Canada Charitable Foundation (business number 714293479RR0001... read more
