Motion calling for ceasefire in Gaza shut down by Niagara regional council

A contentious motion in front of Niagara regional council Thursday calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was shut down by another motion introduced by St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe.

The motion from Siscoe was passed before the 18 delegates present were able to speak on the topic.

The meeting got very tense and many delegates called the move disappointing.

The agenda item initially brought forward by councillor Haley Bateman had a number of requests, including support for a ceasefire, lifting the cap on the number of Palestinians who can apply to come to Canada and lighting the Niagara Region headquarters with the colours of the Palestinian flag.

Siscoe said the reason he moved to remove the agenda item was because it didn’t pertain to Niagara Region business and the end result would be divisive within the community.

“My argument to many councilors is this would have been needlessly divisive,” Siscoe said in an interview with CHCH News.

“It didn’t matter how council decided on that motion, whether council passed it or defeated it, it was going to create division within the community.”

Delegates in the gallery were yelling “shame!” and continued calling for a ceasefire when Siscoe’s motion was passed.

The delegates eventually gathered outside to continue their speeches on their own.

Many were emotional because of council’s decision.