In the wake of controversy stemming from Selina Robinson’s allegations of antisemitism within the NDP caucus, British Columbia Premier David Eby convened with Jewish community leaders, committing to addressing and combat antisemitism across the province.
The premier has pledged to protect the province’s Jewish community from antisemitism when dealing with provincial employees and asks those with complaints to come forward.
Eby met with various Jewish groups in the province on Friday and said afterwards that antisemitism “exists in schools, in civil society, in private employers, and I believe that people have had antisemitism experiences within the government of B.C. public service,” according to the Globe and Mail.
With a background as a human rights lawyer, Eby said that while none of the issues brought to him by the Jewish groups he met with were reported to the province, he knows that people may be “incredibly scared” to come forward.
“If you have had experiences like this, bring forward your concerns,” said Eby. “It will be investigated, and they will be addressed, and we will root out these issues.”
Following speaking with Eby, three Jewish groups issued a joint letter.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver, and the Pacific Region Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs thanked Eby for meeting with them to hear their concerns about systemic antisemitism in his government and across the province, specifically in the public service and B.C’s healthcare, education, and post-secondary institutions.
“History has repeatedly shown us that hatred targeting the Jewish community does not remain directed at Jews, but spreads across society like a virus,” said the organizations in their letter.
The premier’s commitment follows controversy that included calls for Eby’s resignation from the B.C. Conservative Party, following allegations of antisemitism within the NDP party. Jewish MLA Selina Robinson left the NDP caucus last week, citing antisemitism among her colleagues.
Robinson wrote in her resignation letter that her colleagues failed to show her and the Jewish community support and solidarity during their troubling times.
Her letter highlighted the indifference and absence of support for B.C.’s Jewish community among her NDP colleagues, as well as accusations of antisemitism against some members.
After writing an email to more than 35 MLAs, calling on them to join her in speaking at a vigil just days after the Oct. 7 attack, Robinson said she received little response and was embarrassed at the turnout of her colleagues.
Two of her colleagues, instead of addressing her email, called on the government to make a public statement about the plight of Palestinians.
“But it wasn’t their antisemitism that broke my heart. It was your silence to their antisemitism that hurt the most. Not a single one of you responded to their insensitive, disrespectful, and inappropriate email. No one. Your silence broke my heart that day. You abandoned me and my community that day,” she said.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver, and the Pacific Region Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs added in their letter that events to this point “have sent a chilling message that antisemitism is tolerated in B.C.”
“This is dangerous and contributes to the vulnerability already experienced by our community after the October 7 terrorist attacks committed by Hamas,” reads the letter.
The Jewish tradition teaches that there are clear steps to take to repair relationships, reads the letter. The first step is “to understand the harm one has caused, both by action and by inaction.”
The organizations acknowledged that Eby has taken the first step.
“Now he must make amends for the harms he has caused and address the alarming increase of antisemitism in B.C. with concrete action,” reads the letter.
The three organizations said that they look forward to working with Eby as he takes steps to repair his government’s and his own relationship with the Jewish community and show that antisemitism will not be accepted anywhere in B.C., which the organizations said is critical for all residents of British Columbia.
The premier gave numerous accounts of students facing antisemitism in the province.
In one example, an elementary school teacher asked a student to disclose if they were Jewish and then instructed them to explain “what Israel was doing in Gaza to the entire class.”
Eby said that in another instance, a student was sent to sit in the hallway for “creating a disturbance” after they challenged a teacher’s views on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“These are devastating incidents for parents that expect, when their kid goes to school, the kid is going to be safe there and supported,” said the premier.
He has committed to B.C.’s Jewish community that those who have experienced antisemitism will be protected and urges anyone with complaints to come forward.
