Treasury Board: Commons News and Nations Relief

treasury board: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, also known as UNRWA, lost its ongoing Canadian funding in 2010 amid allegations it was tied too closely to Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Canada and others, according to Brandon Sun. Vic Toews, who was president of the federal Treasury Board at the time, reportedly said in 2010 that federal funding for the Palestinian Authority was not being reduced, but rather redirected in accordance with Canadian values. International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau made the announcement at a news conference and also during question period in the House of Commons news that was greeted by cries of shame from the opposition benches. The government did provide 14 million in emergency food support to UNRWA in 2012. An additional 5 million is being provided in response to the agency appeal for help for those impacted by the crisis in Syria and its environs. Bibeau said 20 million will go support education, health and social services for millions of vulnerable Palestinian refugees, as well as urgent humanitarian assistance. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.