Ottawa needs ‘focused’ online hate plan after Marouf controversy, Jewish advocates say
Global News
As antisemitism rises in Canada, advocates say a government pledge to fight online hate and strengthen its funding processes must be expanded and fast-tracked.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article contains quotes of comments that readers might find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
Canadian Jewish advocacy groups say the recent case of a taxpayer-funded consultant accused of antisemitism demonstrates the need for “focused” action by the federal government in laying out a plan to fight online hate.
The urging comes amid a troubling rise in antisemitism in Canada and around the world, and days after Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen told a parliamentary committee he knew about hateful comments posted by Laith Marouf roughly a month before cutting funding to the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC), where Marouf is a senior consultant.
The funding was cut off from the group, which was overseeing an anti-racism project, shortly after Marouf’s tweets about “Jewish white supremacists” came to light in the media in August.
“For us, it isn’t the delay” by Hussen that’s troubling, said Marvin Rotrand, national director of B’nai Brith Canada’s League of Human Rights. “What’s important is we must ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Hussen told the committee Friday that Liberal MP Anthony Housefather first shared his concerns about the organization with him on July 19 or 20 and that his office immediately asked the Heritage Department to review the project funding details and keep it in the loop on next steps.
Hussen insisted to Conservative MPs who criticized the weeks-long wait before funding was cut off that he did act immediately, but the process took time — a statement that Rotrand and other advocates say they accept.
They have also expressed support for statements from Hussen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who have promised to strengthen the process for funding projects going forward.
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