MONTREAL — Israel, Iran and security dominated the first debate between the major party candidates in Mount Royal riding, held before a raucous, standing-room-only audience of over 600 at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue on Sept. 2.
Conservative Robert Libman went on the attack against Justin Trudeau, criticizing his sincerity on those issues, while Liberal Anthony Housefather attempted to clarify the Liberal leader’s positions.
Libman contrasted Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s “principle” with Trudeau’s having “a moral compass dictated by how it will win or lose votes.”
Libman’s aggressive concluding statement that Housefather had “avoided talking about his leader” was refuted by Housefather.
“It appears he knew what I was going to say about Justin Trudeau before I said it,” Housefather said, pointing out that Libman was speaking from a text prepared before the debate.
Housefather appealed for respect, especially within the Jewish community, for differences of opinion, and accused the Conservatives of making Israel a “wedge issue” to the detriment of community unity.
“This division is not good for our community…” he said. “What has to stop is people saying you are not a good Jew if you are not voting for one party.”
The 1-1/2-hour event, which also included New Democratic Party candidate Mario Jacinto Rimbao, was organized by B’nai Brith Canada. Several times, moderator Dan Laxer, a CJAD radio announcer, called for decorum, after jeers and occasional boos erupted in the room.
There were no questions from the audience. B’nai Brith said the questions put to the candidates by Laxer were formulated from the top issues raised in a survey it had conducted in the Canadian Jewish community.
Housefather insisted that “no party has a monopoly on virtue” with regard to Israel, and that the Liberals are “unequivocal” in their support.
“Justin Trudeau has said that we will have Israel’s back, that we will boycott international conferences, like Durban [the 2001 UN anti-racism conference], that lead to anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, that BDS [boycott, divestment and sanctions] and Israeli Apartheid Week have no place on campuses, that [retiring Mount Royal Liberal MP] Irwin Cotler is his mentor on Israel.”
Housefather pointed out that Trudeau’s staff adviser on Israel is Hampstead native Marci Surkes, who is thus a resident of Mount Royal.
“I am a proud Jew,” Housefather continued. “My company has offices in Israel, I travel there often… I will fight for Israel all the time.”
Libman countered that he had never heard of Surkes, but that Trudeau does listen to his Mississauga Centre candidate Omar Alghraba, a past president of the Canadian Arab Federation, who has been, he claimed, unfavourable to Israel in the past.
Libman also quoted Trudeau as telling an “Iranian newspaper” that Harper is “pandering to the Jewish vote.”
Trudeau’s talk of “a return to a more nuanced foreign policy” and the role of “honest broker” is code, according to Libman, for “watered-down support for Israel.”
“Lies, lies, lies,” Housefather responded.
Rimbao, who identified himself as a member of the Filipino community, said he understands “the Jewish feeling about Israel,” but that his party believes Canada should be a “peace broker” in the Middle East helping to find a two-state solution, under United Nations resolutions.
He added that NDP leader Tom Mulcair’s wife is a Sephardi Jew, that their two children had bar mitzvahs, and that Mulcair has been to Israel.
The exchange on Iran was even more testy between Libman and Housefather. The former accused Trudeau of “want[ing] to reward” by resuming diplomatic relations with a regime that continues to call for “the annihilation of Israel and death to America.”
“Let’s not be naïve, let no one be duped,” Libman said. “History has taught us appeasement does not work.”
Housefather said the Conservative position, as officially stated when the deal was struck, is “almost identical” to that of the Liberals: no lifting of sanctions until Iran meets the stipulations of the agreement.
Trudeau, Housefather said, would consider reopening the Canadian Embassy in Tehran before that, because this country also maintains diplomatic relations with “enemies” such as North Korea. A diplomatic presence in Iran would protect Canadian citizens who travel there, he said.
He stressed that outgoing Mount Royal Liberal MP Cotler has done more to make Iran accountable than any other MP.
“Iran is the biggest threat to the world, and I will do everything I can so that Iran does not get nuclear weapons,” Housefather stated.
Rimbao said diplomacy is the best approach to dealing with Iran, and that Canada, working with its allies, should “tread slowly and surely” toward the fulfilment of the agreement.
The security debate also saw contentious exchanges between Housefather and Libman, with the latter once again slamming Trudeau for being indecisive on combating terrorism.
“He voted for [the anti-terrorism bill] C-51 when the wind was blowing in that direction. When there was pushback, he backpedalled,” Libman said.
Housefather said the Liberals’ position on the legislation was consistent before and after its adoption. “We voted for it because it is necessary… On balance, it is better to have [C-51] than not. Seeking amendments is perfectly legitimate.”
The Liberals wanted parliamentary oversight of security agencies and greater protection of civil liberties, such as a sunset clause to review the law after a number of years, he said.
Libman said C-51 addresses rights concerns. “We need a firm hand. Stephen Harper has the spine and the guts to stand up to the jihadist threat, which we have not seen from Justin Trudeau.”
The NDP would repeal C-51, Rimbao said, because it infringes on charter-protected freedoms. His party would also focus more on prevention of radicalization of Canadians, but not target mosques, as, he said, Harper wants to do.
The candidates also tussled over the economy, taxation, social spending, Canadian unity and language rights.
Both Housefather and Libman referred to their respective parties’ policies as better enabling middle-class families to send their children to Jewish day schools.
Rimbao observed that there is poverty in Mount Royal, and the NDP believes “it is imperative for the government to assist the people.”
