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Unlike the current government, the Harper administration cut off subsidies provided to antisemitic organizations
- 09 March 2023
- 12:07 am
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- 09 March 2023
- 12:07 am
Stephen Harper is seen speaking to the Israel parliament in 2014, the first to the Knesset by a Canadian prime minister. (Screencap: Youtube)
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Antisemitic allegations, actions and undercurrents in the House of Commons and beyond (11)
The Conservative Party
Stephen Harper’s Conservative government treated Israel with respect and strongly supported its position in the conflict with the PA and Hamas.
Harper also negotiated and signed Canada’s first Free Trade Agreement with Israel which the Trudeau government renewed with alacrity.
During Harper’s tenure, while the website of the Department of External Affairs indicated Canada’s support for the two-state solution, the government refused to entertain this solution until the P.A. stopped behaving the way it has been doing; namely, airing fake complaints and jeremiads, making gratuitous accusations and subsidising terrorism.
Canada’s moral leadership with respect to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict under the by the Harper government and its key Minister is described by David Weinberg in Canada’s Moral Leadership, Israel Hayom, September 9, 2012
Mr. Harper adopted the non-legally binding working IHRA definition of antisemitism in foreign relations and applied it cancelling Canada’s financial contribution to UNRWA’s educational program which by all accounts to this day continues to teach the Palestinian pupils Gaza and in the “so-called” Palestinian refugee camps to hate Israel and Jews, refers to dead terrorists as “martyrs”.
Just as importantly, on the home front, unlike the current government, the Harper government cut off the social subsidies provided to antisemitic organisations.
And last but not least, despite Harper’s anti-Palestinian and staunch pro-Israel position and his great respect for the Jewish people, he nevertheless welcomed to Canada a very large number Muslim immigrants .
Most regrettably, however, during the 2015 federal election, Harper engaged in identity politics by attacking some of the customs of the Muslim community which are alien to Canadian values and at least one law.
And since Harper’s retirement, of all the parties represented in the House of Commons, the Conservative Party, remains the only party whose members continue
a. on the principled path taken by him on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and
b. questions the government, on matters where it is seen as coming up short in addressing the conflict and the problems of antisemitism confronting the Jewish community in government and in the community.
NDP
Pierre-Luc Dusseault, MP
In 2019, Dusseault represented a Quebec riding. He presented in the House of Commons a petition signed by 3514 “Canadians” – “simply put calling on the Minister of National Revenue to investigate certain activities of the Jewish National Fund Canada to determine if those activities are in violation of the Income Tax Act rules and regulations regarding charities…”
Dusseault stated that he is “sponsoring the petition in recognition of the right of every Canadian to express their opinion through petitions to their government. This petition, in my view is in no way anti-JNF Canada. It is to make sure that the laws are followed regarding charities…”
So, there we have it: an allegation against an Israeli philanthropic organisation of breaching the tax legislation is nothing more than an opinion.
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Jagmeet Singh, Leader
The NDP under the leadership of Jagmeet Singh has adopted a radically different approach to the Palestinian-Israel conflict than his predecessor. Christopher Reynolds, Tensions over Israeli-Palestinian conflict persist within NDP ahead of convention, The Canadian Press, March 31, 2021
At the April 2021 National Convention of the party, 80% of the convention delegates against 15% of them, voted for a resolution for the party to fight for:
a. the “end of all trade and economic co-operation with [the alleged] illegal settlements in Israel-Palestine” and
b. the suspension of the bilateral trade of all arms and related materials with the state of Israel until Palestinian rights are upheld.”
Although the resolution was non-binding on the leadership of the party, in an interview with CBC New, Singh indicated that the condemnation of Israel could potentially become a bona fide part of the NDP platform moving forward.
The Convention also had a resolution to reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism adopted by the Federal Government for domestic purposes. However, attacking the IHRA definition was not prioritised by delegates and it never came up for a full vote. With respect to the resolution that was adopted, Robert Walker of Honest Reporting Canada (HRC) wrote:
“Applying a blind one-sided track on Israel is dishonest, based on misinformation and serves only to make the NDP a hindrance to the cause of peace. It also, wittingly or not, acts as a valuable rhetorical fodder for antisemites…Canada’s media should not give the NDP, – or any party for that matter- a free pass when it comes to one sided and toxic resolutions… At a time when Jews represent the single largest target of hate crimes across Canada, adopting a resolution which demonizes the world’s only Jewish state, with no nuance of balance, creates a negative atmosphere for Canadian Jews and does a disservice to all Canadians, regardless of their political stripes.” HRC, April 14, 2021
Fred Maroun went further to point out that NDP’s “anti-Semitism problem was on full display” at its policy convention. Times of Israel Blog, 2021
At no time during the Convention and since did Singh condemn the terrorism of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the terrorism financed by the PA. Interestingly enough, Singh’s statement of the alleged facts of concern to him correspond to some of the recriminations directed to Israel by Marc Garneau, Minister of Global Affairs. However, in this instance Trudeau sought to distinguish the government’s position from that of Singh by specifically condemning the rocket attacks against Israel and asserted the government’s support of Israel’s right to ensure its security.
Based on this state of affairs, I believe that if the government truly wants to fight antisemitism successfully, among other things, it ought to emphasise publicly, repeatedly and adamantly the true facts on the ground.
Needless to say that Trudeau, watchful of the views and feelings of his Muslim electoral constituencies, would never allow that.
The far-left radical NDP MP from Edmonton Strathcona, Heather McPherson, promotes progressive blood libels against Israel such as the “apartheid state” smear. (Image: Facebook)
In May 2022, NDP MP Leah Gazan, during the Winnipeg Nakba Rally spoke briefly to offer the unsubstantiated claim that Israel had “brutally murdered” an Al-Jazeera journalist in Jenin. Donald James, Fly on the Wall at the Winnipeg Nakba Rally 2002, TheJ.ca. May 19, 2022.
On June 14, 2022, in the House of Commons, Heather McPherson, relied on the disreputable unsubstantiated report of the UN Human Rights Commission of Inquiry which as harshly rebuked Canada along with the U.S. and 20 other countries.
The Report condemned Israel’s alleged conduct in what McPherson strangely described as “the occupied Palestinian territory in Israel”. She asked the government why it will not even consider this UN report and revisit its policy towards Palestine and Israel?
Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, did not reply to the question. Instead, he repeated the same old line about Canada’s position provided by Garneau, supra.
As is to be expected, the Canadian Arab Institute (CAI) welcomed the passage of the resolution. The spokesperson for the CAI referred to recent polls according to which she asserted that the resolution was in line with Canadians’ concerns who want to see Canada support Palestinian human rights. Shireen Salti, CAI, April 13, 2021.
Doğan D. Akman is an independent researcher and commentator. He holds a B.Sc. in sociology, an M.A. in sociology/criminology and an LL.B in law. He held academic appointments in sociology, criminology and social policy; served as a Judge of the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, and occupied the positions of Crown Counsel in criminal prosecutions and in civil litigation at the Federal Department of Justice. His academic work is published in peer-reviewed professional journals, while his opinion pieces and other writings are to be found in various publications and in blogs.
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Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
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