B’nai Brith Survey of Winnipeg Mayoral Candidates Has a Few Surprises

Q3: How would you improve the ability of municipal employees to recognize and counter antisemitism? 

Scott Gillingham: The City of Winnipeg is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and as a major employer, its policies work to identify and eliminate discriminatory barriers in the workplace as well as prevent future discrimination and remedy the effects of past discrimination in employment. As mayor, I will support those initiatives. 

Jenny Motkaluk: Consider the fact that all Canadians are already guaranteed not to be discriminated against based on characteristics out of their control, like race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. As many of us know, anti-semitism has become quite common place, especially on-line. On-going training to identify anti-semitism and other forms of discrimination is necessary. Woke culture that fuels acceptance of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies is part of the culprit as these programs are often discrimination in disguise. To be clear, that’s why I reject woke culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies as well as BDS. 

Shaun Loney: I have announced my intention to diversify the skills of officers in the Winnipeg Police Service through hiring practices that will meet the needs of the work that Winnipeg Police are required to do in the present day. While this includes much more training, revolving around impacts of colonization in our community, it most certainly will include training to counter antisemitism. I would be most pleased to discuss how the city of Winnipeg can contribute to a national plan to combat antisemitism, including urging the government of Canada to enact legislation and regulations that would be effective against antisemitism and other hate crimes.  

Q4: Do you accept the need for a national plan to combat antisemitism as endorsed at the National Summit on Antisemitism and in which municipalities would play an active role? 

Glen Murray: The answer to this question is a resounding YES. And if other minorities feel that Jewish issues are taking precedence, then the same approach to dealing with bigotry against those groups could be based on this model. When I was previously Mayor of Winnipeg, I spent three years as chair of the Big Cities Mayors Caucus. This model could be brought to this group of mayors to enhance and quicken the delivery of this program.  

Jenny Motkaluk: I do NOT accept the need for a national plan based on that particular Summit because that Summit excluded important grassroots voices such as Israeli Canadians and grassroots Zionists. That Summit excluded anyone already not well-connected to the federal government, so it was not the full conversation that was needed to hear the concerns of our Jewish community. Jewish Federations represent their donors, not the entirety of the pro-Israel Jewish community. Increasingly, the main targets of violent antisemitism in Canada are the pro-Israel supporters such as people who attend Yom Ha’atzmaut rallies or monitor Al Quds and Nakba Day events – and they are the ones most in need of protection.  

Robert-Falcon Ouelette: Yes, this national plan will help ensure that any hate is understood, evaluated and combatted. I often worked with MP Anthony Housefather from Montreal who worked very hard to fight antisemitism while I was a MP for Winnipeg in Ottawa. I would continue to take my lead from community members about the direction the city should take to fight hatred.