Political Consultant Marwan Tabbara
2015-2021 MP for Canada for CN for Hepsler

Israel Palestine Conflict 2023

Israel Palestine conflict, a topic that I have covered  frequently during my time in public office. I served for 6 years on the International Human Rights Committee and was Chair of the Palestine Canada Friendship Group. As Chair, I coordinated an all-party delegation of 18 MPs to Palestine and Israel in 2018. A report was drafted that advised the Canadian Government of recommendations to adopt for future peace talks, to avoid reciprocal violence in the region.

What the world is witnessing is extremely tragic and horrific, many families watching the news during Thanksgiving weekend are shocked. Unfortunately, this conflict will claim more innocent lives in the coming days and weeks as it has for the past 70 plus years.

Let us put peace first, and DEMAND our leaders and governments to finally enter into real negotiations and attain peace. This has gone on far too long and has brought shame on the entire international community.

 Let us not abandon the peace process and have another generation witness the horrors of war.

“It’s time to end this vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization”

Antonio Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General

Marwan Tabbara

October 9 2023

On Beirut Barracks blast in 1983 comparing to Gaza war 2023

October 23 1983

40 Years ago today, 2 large truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut Lebanon. These buildings were housing American and French troops during the Lebanese Civil War. This attack claimed the lives of 307 people; 241 American and 58 French, the two attackers and civilians.

It was a series of suicide bombers who detonated the truck bombs. Some reports say it was Islamic Jihad Organization that claimed responsibility and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. Reports at the time mentions the motives for the attack was because of United States and French support for Iraq during the Iraq Iran war that raged from 1980-19888.

The killing of 220 Marines, 18 sailors and 3 soldiers has been the deadliest single-day death toll for the Untied States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

As the United States sets off its USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier strike ship to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel, history has shown us time and time again that Lebanon a tiny country of just over 10,000 square Kilometers is often ground zero for proxy wars between larger state actors (Saudi Arabia, Iran and the West)

As a Lebanese Canadian who arrived back from Lebanon just days ago, tensions are extremely high and an overwhelming majority of Lebanese that have suffered so much do not want to be involved In yet another regional conflict. Lebanon by definition is a failed state and the world bank has defined its economic crisis as the “worlds worst since the 1850s”.

Recent interview with Walid Jumblatt, a former militia leader and one of Lebanon’s political veterans (there are many unfortunately) has a pessimistic view of what may unfold in the coming days. When asked about the Israel’s war with Hamas  Jumblatt replied “I don’t think we can escape”. Jumblatt along many Lebanese fear Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanese Shiite milita backed by Iran will launch an assault on Israel from the North making it a war on two fronts. A war that will escalate and claim the lives of many Lebanese.

I myself, am a product of war, the same with the millions of Lebanese that have fled violence, death and destruction. I call upon our leaders here in Canada and abroad AGAIN TO DEMAND A CEASFIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE before this escalates even further. This is a an all-out crisis that Israel, the USA and Iran have the power to stop and resolve.

Let us learn from our past and preserve our future, lives are at stake.

Marwan Tabbara Former Member of Parliament Kitchener South-Hespeler

On Beirut Port Blast

August 3rd 2023

On August 4th 2020, the Lebanese capital Beirut was shocked and dismayed by the
world’s largest non-nuclear blast that killed more than 220 innocent lives and injured over 6500.
Incompetence, lack of good governance and lack of accountability are some of many words used to
describe the Beirut implosion. The blast perhaps can also be described as a
foreshadow; warning of future events that unraveled the following months.

Faced with the worst economic crises globally since the mid 19th century, Lebanese
struggle to survive on dwindling funds and basic state services. The current situation although
unbearable for many, draws similarities to its ravaging civil war from 1975-1990.
Prior to the civil war in 1974 the Lebanese per capita income was roughly $1800 USD. In 1989 it
fell to a mere $500 USD. Lebanon fell in the ranks of middle income countries to least
developed countries. An elongated civil war, damaged infrastructure, foreign interventions
were just some of the causes for Lebanon’s crisis. Today’s Crisis can be attributed (but not
limited) to the following:

• Large public debt in foreign currency
• High debt servicing

• High imports and low export volumes
• Influx of 1.5 million refugees
• Limited manufacturing
• Political wrangling
• Rampant corruption that conspired against depositors
• Deepening confessional divides, Clientelist state
• Failure to provide reliable electricity and other basic state services
• Massive exodus of skilled talent and brain drain.

As Lebanon did many times before, it WILL and CAN rebuild. The resiliency of its citizens
to overcome the hardest days, is a testament of its people. The momentum of the October 17th
revolution needs to be revived once again, its citizens from all stripes need to demand change.
Change from leadership that has cemented its power and influence since post-civil war.

In 2022 a low voter turnout of 49% came out and voted alongside diaspora voters.
13/128 Members of Parliament were independent, an astonishing breakthrough. Reflecting the
publics anger towards economic collapse and lack of accountability. The momentum is there,
it’s time to remove the old political elite that has repeatedly failed Lebanon and tumbled it
towards a failed state. Time for rejuvenation with a central vision of political reforms, equality,
transparency and accountability, sustainable economic development and opportunity for all its
citizens.

This can be done and MUST be done for it citizens. Those that lost their lives in the blast
cannot be replaced but the ruling elite since post-civil war can. Lebanese at home and the
diaspora must take part in increasing voter turnout to well over 60% in order to change its
political and economic course in 2026. We must act now, lives depend on it.

2020 Canadian Delegation’s Impactful Tanzania Trip

A First-Hand Look at Positive Change

‘Seeing is believing.’ It might sound cliché, but our parliamentary delegations prove that there is power and truth behind this phrase. Seeing the progress made towards ending extreme poverty and meeting the people whose lives have been impacted thanks to Canadian funding brings the story of Canadian aid to life and is an experience that you just can’t get from reading a report. Delegations provide a great opportunity to show cross partisan support for aid investments on either side of the aisle.

‘Seeing is believing.’ It might sound cliché, but our parliamentary delegations prove that there is power and truth behind this phrase. Seeing the progress made towards ending extreme poverty and meeting the people whose lives have been impacted thanks to Canadian funding brings the story of Canadian aid to life and is an experience that you just can’t get from reading a report. Delegations provide a great opportunity to show cross partisan support for aid investments on either side of the aisle. 

In January 2020, Results Canada had the opportunity to take 2 Members of Parliament (MPs), Conservative MP Lianne Rood and Liberal MP Marwan Tabbara, to see first-hand the impact of Canadian funded projects in Tanzania. We met teachers, health workers and community members; all dedicated to ensuring all Tanzanians have equitable access to education, health and opportunity. As Tanzania is one of the top recipients of Canadian aid, Canada plays a role in supporting their work through programs and partnerships.

Thanks to the support of Canadian partners in Tanzania including WaterAid Canada, Amref Health Africa and Nutrition International, we were able to visit health centres, schools and community posts to see how improvements were being made in the areas of maternal and child health, access to clean water and good hygiene and proper nutrition. We learned how the construction of new, safer facilities is helping to reduce the number of maternal mortalities in rural Tanzania. In one health centre, the number of deliveries increased from 25/month to between 140-160 deliveries/month simply because more mothers trusted the care they would receive, reducing the number of risky home births and ensuring mothers and their babies have a healthy start.

We also visited an urban health centre where we learned about the immunization work funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a global health partnership that is supported by the Government of Canada. Here we learned how a municipality in Dar es Salaam was able to digitize immunization records in 46 health facilities through the use of tablets – meaning more accurate records for patients and increased quality of care from health care workers.

Both MPs have returned to Canada with a fresh perspective on the importance of Canadian aid and are looking forward to raising important global health issues within Parliament. But don’t take our word for it, here’s what the MPs had to say about their experience:

 “There are many people here [in Tanzania] that are living below the poverty line but when we inject resources into these communities we’re seeing progress in their maternal health, immunization rates, nutrition and that leads to the overall health of Tanzanians, specifically in rural communities.”– Marwan Tabbara, Member of Parliament

“Canadians should be proud because we’re having a huge impact on the lives of a lot of people, and I’m proud to have represented Canada in Tanzania.”– Lianne Rood, Member of Parliament

Flood Mitigation Fund, Kitchener receives almost $50M. Benefits 11,500 residents from flooding.

The City of Kitchener will receive $49.9 million from the federal government to fund several flood mitigation projects.

Waterloo MP and Government House Leader Bardish Chagger made the announcement Wednesday.

The projects will focus on upgrading key components to the city’s stormwater management system, adding stormwater drainage controls in some neighbourhoods and redesigning a natural channel to help manage heavy rainfalls, the city says.

Included in the projects are upgrades the Bridgeport dike and work to replace a section of the Walter Bean River Trail as well. 

“This significant investment from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund will help ensure our critical infrastructure can withstand these severe weather events and protect Kitchener residents,” Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said in a release.

The city will also contribute more than $72 million toward the projects, with additional funds from the Grand River Conservation Authority. 

Upgrades will help protect more than 11,500 residents from flooding and “reduce the number of people directly affected by 75 per cent,” the city said in the release.

The work is also expected to reduce local economic losses by 80 per cent, according to the city.

The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund is a $2 billion, 10-year federal program that aims to help communities build more infrastructure to better withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes and droughts.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/kitchener-flood-protection-federal-funding-1.5146381

Kitchener Flood Fund Puts $750K in Stormwater

Invests $750K into Stormwater Management at RBJ Schlegel Park

New funding announced this week from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), included $750,000 grant that will help the City of Kitchener, Ontario incorporate state-of-the-art stormwater management features at the new RBJ Schlegel Park.

Kitchener’s investment in green infrastructure is intended to forward a reputation for leadership in environmental sustainability and improve watershed health by minimizing stormwater runoff into the downstream system.

“RBJ Schlegel Park will provide many recreational facilities and play areas for Kitchener residents,” said area MP Marwan Tabbara. “I am very pleased that it will include innovative green infrastructure that will be supported financially by our government’s municipal green infrastructure program. Well-managed cities like Kitchener are important partners in climate action.”

“We’re committed to building a culture of sustainability and including this type of infrastructure is the new standard, which cities like ours must look at,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “In addition to adding to the park’s amenities, showcasing the environmental benefits of low impact development (LID) at RBJ Schlegel Park will hopefully inspire other businesses and organizations to include similar LID infrastructure at their locations, so that together, we can protect our community against the impacts of climate change.”

The green infrastructure system will manage stormwater with features like rain gardens in the parking areas, infiltration galleries under the artificial turf playing fields, bioswales and oil/grit separators to remove debris and treat road run-off, and a rock infiltration trench located under a dry retention pond. Stormwater will also be contained on site, minimizing impacts to the environment by replenishing groundwater resources and reducing the chances of flooding.

“Not only do rain gardens and bioswales help protect the environment, they will also add to the natural beauty of this fantastic park,” said Ward 5 Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock. “The natural vegetation provides habitats for birds and animals, which residents can enjoy while using the trails, playground, and picnic areas.”

This investment aligns with the city’s integrated stormwater management master plan, which outlines guidelines and policies that dictate how the city will manage stormwater over the next 15 years.

https://www.watercanada.net/kitchener-ont-invests-750k-into-stormwater-management-at-rbj-schlegel-park/