CIJA blasts Radio-Canada for TV caller’s ‘anti-Semitic’ rant
MONTREAL — The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has filed a complaint with Radio-Canada over a caller’s remarks it considers anti-Semitic and the host’s failure to interrupt and then comment that the remarks were “interesting.”
On the Aug. 4 edition of La période des questions, a public affairs program aired on the French-language public broadcaster’s news network Ici RDI, Marie Lafontaine of Quebec City phoned in to comment on the federal election campaign.
It matters who’s in power
Now that the federal election is upon us, debates within our community about political leadership will begin to heat up. People just seem to care more nowadays about who’s in power. Here are some of the things to watch for.
CAMPAIGN NOTEBOOK Four ‘Jewish’ battleground ridings to watch
It’s no secret that Jewish voters have apparently shifted from being largely supportive of the Liberal party to heartily supporting the Conservatives in what seems like majority numbers, due largely to the party’s full-throated support for Israel under Prime Minister Stephen Harper (and to a much lesser degree its commitment to security for religious institutions).
NDP candidates under fire for comments about Israel
Three federal NDP candidates are under intense scrutiny – and one has resigned – for controversial comments each made about Israel.
Hans Marotte, the NDP candidate in Quebec’s Saint-Jean riding; Morgan Wheeldon, who was, until stepping aside Aug. 9, running in the Nova Scotia riding of Kings-Hants; and David McLaren, running in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound were among the NDP candidates featured, alongside past comments they made, on a Conservative Party of Canada’s attack website titled “Meet The NDP.”
Harper chooses JCC in Mount Royal for campaign launch
MONTREAL — Prime Minister Stephen Harper ridiculed his two main opponents for being soft on fighting terrorism and naïve in not recognizing the threat posed to Canadians by jihadist violence.
Before an enthusiastic crowd of 700 party faithful gathered in the YM-YWHA's Ben Weider Jewish Community Centre auditorium on Aug. 2, Harper portrayed his Conservatives as the only party that can make the tough decisions on security necessary to protect Canadians.
Week of Aug. 6, 2015
Lessons of the Holocaust
At Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, we teach students in our Holocaust workshops that the lessons of the Holocaust are varied and diverse, but that, ultimately, humanity is the key to ensuring that hate and intolerance are never again permitted to go unchecked.
Q&A Natan Sharansky: the gulag made me more independent
Thirty years ago next February, a baggy-panted little man walked across a bridge that connected East to West Germany and electrified the world. Anatoly Shcharansky was free after spending nine years in a Soviet prison and becoming a byword for Soviet Jewish “refuseniks.” The same day he was released by Moscow, Sharansky was whisked to Israel to an adoring public who could scarcely believe he was freed at last.
Trudeau tells shul audience he might reopen Iran embassy
MONTREAL — Justin Trudeau said he would not lift sanctions against Iran if he becomes prime minister, but his government might reopen the Canadian Embassy in Tehran.
The Liberal leader was responding to an audience question during a July 21 appearance at Shaare Zion Congregation, a synagogue in Mount Royal riding.
He said it “would be nice” to resume diplomatic relations with Iran in light of the deal limiting Iranian nuclear activity, if the regime complies with the terms.
Stephen Harper’s Shandeh
What a night! More than 750 Ontarians packed the Canadian Room at the Royal York Hotel for the greatly anticipated Words and Deeds Gala.
Week of July 23
Trudeau is wrong on Iran
I would like to thank Kate Purchase, Justin Trudeau’s spokesperson, for “clarifying” his position on re-establishing diplomatic relations with Iran (“Liberal party defends Trudeau statements on Iran,” July 2).
