OTTAWA — The Liberal government’s parliamentary secretary on foreign affairs is defending a decision to advance a committee motion to study the issue of unilaterally recognizing Palestinian statehood, against concerns it breaks from decades of Canadian policy.

Rob Oliphant, a Toronto Liberal MP who serves as parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, was among the majority of foreign-affairs committee members who voted on Tuesday in favour of a motion calling for the committee to “immediately study the issue of how the Government of Canada can advance the recognition of the State of Palestine within a two-state solution.”