Jewish groups urge politicians to stop using hate as a ‘partisan’ prop

Jewish Canadian leaders are following the lead of a federal envoy in calling on politicians and political parties to refrain from using antisemitism as a "partisan issue."

After an outgoing federal envoy denounced some politicians for using antisemitism as a “partisan” prop, Jewish Canadian leaders are now calling on political parties to stop using it to score political points.

“It maddens me when they use Holocaust Remembrance Day as an opportunity to even advance positive actions for the Jewish people,” said B’nai Brith advocacy head Richard Robertson.

“It becomes a form of tokenization.”

In July, Deborah Lyons resigned early from her term as Canada’s special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism. Canadian Heritage published her final report the following month.

In it, Lyons accused some political leaders of exploiting the threat posed by antisemitism for “political gain.”

“Canadian political parties need to refrain from making antisemitism a partisan issue,” she wrote.

“The desire to foster political gain on the backs of those suffering from hatred and discrimination is a serious dereliction of civic duty by political parties. It dishonours the communities impacted and it is a grave disservice to the fight against hatred.”

Lyons said the annual ceremonies held in Ottawa to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust have taken on an unacceptable partisan taint.