Parties court Jewish vote in Winnipeg South Centre
WINNIPEG — It looks increasingly like the riding of Winnipeg South Centre – the Winnipeg riding with the largest number of Jewish voters – will once again have a Jewish Liberal representative in Ottawa after a four-year hiatus.
Israel once again contentious for Mount Royal candidates
MONTREAL — Justin Trudeau does not share his brother’s views on the Middle East and is not being advised by him, says Anthony Housefather, the Liberal candidate in Mount Royal.
In response to an audience question at a panel discussion among the riding’s major party candidates, held by Bialik High School Sept. 30, Housefather attempted to dispel a recurring claim that the Liberal leader is under the sway of his brother Alexandre (Sacha) Trudeau, a documentary filmmaker.
Thornhill hopefuls face off over Jewish issues
TORONTO — At an all-party debate for Thornhill candidates, Conservative incumbent Peter Kent, Liberal candidate Nancy Coldham and NDP candidate Lorne Cherry addressed issues important to the Jewish community, including the economy, Canada’s relationship with Israel, Iran’s nuclear deal and the rise in anti-Semitism and terrorism.
The Sept. 30 event, sponsored by B’nai Brith Canada and held at the Sephardic Kehilla Centre, attracted more than 200 people who gathered to hear from the candidates in advance of the Oct. 19 federal election.
Liberals, NDP target finance minister in CIJA debate
TORONTO — A debate featuring representatives of the three major parties got a little feisty on Wednesday as the New Democratic Party and Liberal candidates took turns targeting Conservative Finance Minister Joe Oliver on issues of economic performance, anti-terrorism legislation and support for Israel.
But Oliver gave as good as he got, questioning the Liberals’ past record of voting against Israel at the United Nations and pointing out the NDP had some “problematic” members running in the election.
The miseducation of Alex Johnstone
How can you not know about Auschwitz? I mean, really.
And yet, there was Alex Johnstone, NDP candidate in the Ontario riding of Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas, admitting this week she had no knowledge of the most infamous Nazi death camp, a place where more than one million people died during the Holocaust.
Conservatives decry graphic anti-Israel posters plastered around Montreal
MONTREAL — Political posters around Montreal depicting a dead child on a beach and accuse Israel of killing Palestinian children and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of supporting it are causing outrage.
Over a photo of the lifeless child, the signs read in French: “Israel murders Palestinian children/ Harper applauds/ What do the other parties say?”
Liberal Bendayan takes on NDP leader in Outremont
MONTREAL — If Rachel Bendayan doesn’t slay the giant, it won’t be for lack of trying.
The 35-year-old lawyer has knocked on 10,000 doors to date, she says, in an effort to return Outremont to the Liberal stronghold it was for decades.
Mount Royal Liberal hopeful gets prominent local backing
MONTREAL — Liberal Anthony Housefather’s bid to become the next MP for Mount Royal has received a major boost, with ringing endorsements from the dean of Montreal city council, Marvin Rotrand, as well as former D’Arcy McGee MNA Lawrence Bergman and Russell Copeman, borough mayor of Côte des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grâce.
A broad spectrum of cultural community, municipal and public school representatives were also on hand to give their support to Housefather at the official opening of his campaign office Sept. 9.
Mount Royal debate gets testy over Middle East and terrorism
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.
CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK: Israel should not be a political litmus test
Despite public and private appeals to call off the event, the Jewish Defence League (JDL) went ahead with its unfortunate decision to picket a Liberal fundraiser at the Toronto home of pharmaceutical magnate and Jewish philanthropist Barry Sherman.
Before the Aug. 26 protest, Sherman was viciously attacked on social media, with trolls questioning his motives and suggesting he was furthering his business interests by buying access to power.
