QUESTION PERIOD — Transport
Appearance at Interparliamentary Friendship Group Event
December 6, 2022
My question is for the Government Leader in the Senate.
Last week, Minister Omar Alghabra attended a gathering hosted by the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group. Among the guests was Nazih Khatatba, publisher of the Arabic language newspaper Meshwar Media. Mr. Khatatba is a dangerous anti-Semite, Holocaust-denier and terrorist sympathizer. His publication has referred to the Holocaust as a hoax and the biggest lie in history.
Minister Alghabra refused to apologize for standing with Mr. Khatatba at that event.
This is not the first time that Liberal MPs and ministers have been caught attending events with such anti-Semite, terrorist sympathizers. They always express regret at being caught, but these unsavoury characters continue to show up at the same events as Liberal cabinet ministers.
Senator Gold, do you think that Minister Alghabra should apologize for having attended this event with Mr. Khatatba?
Thank you for your question.
This government condemns anti-Semitism and offensive, abusive language and actions in all of its forms. It knows this behaviour must be called out.
As senators would know, the event that the Minister of Transport attended was a parliamentary friendship group event that included MPs and members of the Palestinian community. The invitation — and this is a matter of public record — was extended broadly to members of the community. There was no check being done by the parliamentary friendship group as to who would be attending.
I also understand that the minister had no actual personal contact with this individual, and was unaware of who that person was or that he was going to be attending the event.
The actions that you described quite probably, Senator Housakos, of this particular individual — not the minister, but the attendee — are completely unacceptable.
The government wants to assure all Canadians that the views that that person expresses are completely unacceptable and not what this government stands for. The government is committed to continuing to call out this kind of behaviour, condemn all forms of hate and all forms of anti-Semitism in our country.
Government leader, with all due respect, the minister stood in a picture with him, knowing full well that this is a well-known anti-Semite. As I said, Senator Gold, this is not the first time that Liberals and Trudeau cabinet ministers of this government have been found sharing the stage with anti‑Semites and terrorist sympathizers.
My question to you, government leader, is the following: If you were allowed to participate in the national caucus of the governing party — which you should, given the fact that you are the government leader and represent the government in this chamber — would you advise the national Liberal governing caucus to stay away from well-known anti-Semites and terrorist sympathizers?
The minister did not knowingly associate with known anti-Semites. I am choosing my words very carefully, Senator Housakos. You know who I am and my background. I think that we should be careful, especially when leaders of all parties came together just yesterday to light the Hanukia, or Hanukkah menorah, and express solidarity for the actions that we all need to take against anti-Semitism and all forms of hate when all political leaders, including your own, spoke movingly and passionately about the need to make this a non-partisan issue. On that, I will conclude my answer.
