In a demonstration of growing public and institutional dissent, two significant Canadian bodies—the City of Burnaby and Unifor, the country’s largest private-sector union—have passed resolutions on the same day, demanding the federal government impose an immediate full two-ways arms embargo on Israel. The moves highlight the growing frustration with the labour movements and municipalities when it comes to the inaction by the Canadian federal government to uphold international law and try to stop the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Burnaby City Council Takes a Stand
On August 26, 2025, the Burnaby City Council became the first city in Canada to pass a motion calling for an immediate and full arms embargo on Israel. In addition, the motion committed the city to sign the Apartheid-Free pledge and also to advocate for the transformation/redesigning of the temporary resettlement visa program, which allows Canadians to get family members out of Gaza but which has been heavily criticized by Palestinian-Canadians whom have family members in Gaza.
The motion specifically called for the Mayor of Burnaby, Mike Hurley, to write to the federal government and advocate for the “establishment of a full two-way arms embargo to end both the export and import of all military goods between Canada and Israel”. The motion was introduced by Councillor Alison Gu, whom told CBC’s On the Coast program that the motion was motivated by the recent report from the Arms Embargo Now campaign, which highlights Canada’s ongoing complicity and participation in the ongoing genocide by its continued shipping of military parts and ammunition despite previous public denials from the federal government and ministers such as Anita Anand, the minister of foreign affairs.
Details of the motion and meeting can be found on the City of Burnaby’s council meetings portal. Previously, the city of Burnaby also passed a ceasefire motion in 2023.
Unifor Acts in Solidarity with Palestinian Workers
In a parallel and closely timed development, Unifor, which represents over 320,000 workers across the country, passed a resolution framed explicitly through the lens of labour solidarity by endorsing “the call by Palestinian trade union for an arms embargo on Israel” during its 5-day Unifor Constitutional Convention in Vancouver. The resolution, passed in support of direct calls from Palestinian workers and their unions, commits Unifor to lobby the federal government for an “immediate two-way arms and military equipment embargo on Israel.”
The resolution was brought forth “by the Canadian Freelance Union, a Unifor community chapter and Local 2025, representing union staff. It follows a recent report released by the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and members of the Arms Embargo Now (AEN) coalition.”
This latest move aligns the Canadian labour movement with a global network of unions taking similar positions in support of a full arms embargo in order to halt the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
A Converging Pressure Campaign
While foreign policy remains solely the jurisdiction of the federal government, the simultaneous actions by the City of Burnaby and Unifor represent a notable shift in the domestic landscape. These resolutions might seem symbolic, but they signify a groundswell of pressure from civil society, suggesting that the issue of genocide and solidarity for Palestinian liberation is resonating deeply within communities and workplaces across the country.
By moving beyond traditional advocacy channels and into municipal chambers and union halls, the campaign for an arms embargo is demonstrating a broader base of support, potentially forcing a more urgent reckoning within Canada’s political establishment regarding its military and trade relationships with Israel. The convergence of municipal and labour voices marks a significant escalation in the campaign to halt Canadian arms exports to Israel.