Some local pro-Palestinian activists are calling Canada's move to recognize the state of Palestine "a step in the right direction." Waddah Saleh, who is part of group that organized a pro-Palestinian encampment at Ontario Tech University in 2024, which resulted in the school agreeing to publicly disclose its investments said, "I have hope in the sense that this is a step for Palestinians to finally have a little bit of freedom, to get recognition... I think it ignites that fuel in them for justice, for liberty for all people."