QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Anti-Semitism
March 20, 2024
In order to have peace, you have to stand on the right side of history.
Senator Gold, after months of the Trudeau government trying to play all sides in the ongoing war between Israel and terrorist Hamas, it culminated on Monday night with a motion in the House of Commons that sends a terrible message to our friends and allies. Moreover, it signals to terrorist Hamas that they will be rewarded for future attacks like October 7 and the ongoing captivity of innocent people. Perhaps what is most egregious in the message is it was sent to people right here in Canada. We have seen the result of that with this morning’s publication of the worst kind of anti-Semitic trope in La Presse — the likes of which we haven’t seen since the 1930s, and which I never thought I would see here in our country.
Senator Gold, does your government take any responsibility for the level of anti-Semitism that is being validated and unleashed in this country by creating an equivocation that somehow terrorist Hamas and democratic Israel are on the same footing?
That is not the position of this government, and it is deeply disturbing for those allegations to be made. The hurt within the Jewish community and the pro-Israel community is deep and powerful. This government is a steadfast ally of Israel, and has been for decades and decades. Regardless of the attempts by your party, which go back decades, to use it as a wedge issue for electoral purposes, Canada’s friendship and deep relationships with Israel — which have endured despite changes of government and the rhetoric — shall remain.
The only one engaging in partisanship is your government. Senator Gold, moments ago, your own Minister of Canadian Heritage was asked about this despicable cartoon in the media scrum. Not only did she refuse to condemn it, but she actually said it was a matter of bad timing — amazing. Sorry, is there a good time for this kind of anti-Semitism, Senator Gold, in the eyes of your government? Is there a good time?
Will the minister apologize for this, and will your government take responsibility for contributing to the kind of Jew-hatred going on in Canada?
I was shocked when I saw the cartoon by Chapleau this morning. It’s the first paper that I read in the morning. My understanding is that it has been taken down and justly condemned, as you did in this chamber.
