From queer rights organizations to coffee shops, Ottawa business owners are banding together in an urgent call to the city to advocate for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
More than 40 businesses and organizations signed a petition letter calling on the City of Ottawa to advocate for a permanent ceasefire and for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip.
Signed on Feb. 13, the letter urges Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and city council to stand with marginalized communities following an increase in hate-motivated crimes in Canada since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
The letter emphasized the importance of freedom of expression and the right to protest, condemning the ticket fines on pro-Palestinian protesters issued by Ottawa bylaw officers.
Sutcliffe has not responded to the Charlatan’s several requests for comment.
Businesses such as Horizon Ottawa, who organized the letter, and Gongfu Bao are just a few of many who are pushing for change.
Outside of her business, Jessica Carpinone has been advocating for Palestinian liberation for years. As co-owner of Bread by Us, an artisan bakery and espresso bar, she said she decided to sign the letter to get involved in a meaningful, action-oriented move.
“It felt very worthwhile to let politicians know that people in the business community care about this issue,” Carpinone said. “They often think that we’re disconnected or we don’t care but I felt it was important to let them know we’re watching their actions.”
Carpinone said politicians are meant to show up for their communities in their role as leaders, whether it’s on a national, provincial or municipal level. She said leaders should take on a “strong, ethical position.”
“This doesn’t just affect the international community; this affects people right here,” Carpinone said. “It’s really important we understand the connection that we play here in Canada on the issue of the occupation and how things like weapon sales and diplomatic support perpetuate that issue.”
“For us, it was important to lend our voices to that chorus of trying to highlight the role we play as ordinary Canadian citizens, to contribute positively or negatively.”
Since signing the letter, Carpinone said she’s received “gratitude and positive feedback” from the community and her customers.
“I think it’s really comforting and important that the businesses [the community] interact with … see their basic humanity and shared values,” she said.
In addition to signing the letter, Carpinone has also contributed to a bake sale hosted by the Independent Jewish Voices for Peace for the cause and focuses on advocating for better working conditions through Better Way Alliance — a national advocacy group of small businesses.
Tarek Hassan, the founder of Gongfu Bao at 365 Bank St., said he wanted to take advantage of his position as a restaurant owner — which he believes is a privilege — to advocate for those without food security.
Hassan said Gongfu Bao started advocating for a permanent, sustained ceasefire in late October, shortly after the conflict started.
“When it started to be clear where Canada’s stance was and how problematic it was, that’s when I felt I had to not just speak out personally but use the platform of the business to share our values and our stance,” he said.
Hassan said this is not the first time Gongfu Bao has advocated for social justice. His business regularly voices in support of Indigenous rights and other issues.
“We’ve done it on Indigenous sovereignty issues in the past, so it wasn’t abnormal for us to make our values part of the voice of the brand,” he said.
“It’s very much a part of how we do things.”
However, he said the relationship between owning an established business and pressing for social change is complicated.
“Capitalism is the way business runs in places where we are, so how do you engage with it but also uphold your values?” he said.
But since signing the letter, he said other small businesses reached out to support each other.
“There were a lot of other small businesses that we chatted with saying, ‘Hey, we’re on the same page,’ you know?”
He said he even received considerable support from his customers, adding many came in to thank him personally.
As for the outcome of the petition, Hassan said he hopes city council will make changes that will lead to advocating for a permanent ceasefire and more aid for those in the Gaza Strip.
He said the NDP’s stance on recognizing Palestine as a state is a “small step forward,” but Hassan said he believes it is still “watered down.”
Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Sean Devine wrote in an emailed statement to the Charlatan that he supports the protection of human rights, with no specific mention of Palestine.
“The Councillor does, however, strongly and unequivocally support the protection and advancement of human rights. The extreme suffering being inflicted on innocent people is unacceptable,” his email statement read.
In the end, Hassan said he supports the way communities stand up together to promote change.
“I think every community that can consolidate voices of its members, to make a stand, can add to the big picture in a way that’s impactful,” he said. “What we hope for is … to have a slew of small businesses stand up and make the stand together.”
Featured image by Cassandra Bellefeuille.
