True North

The newly appointed Liberal Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne addressed Canada’s decision to support an anti-Israel motion in the United Nations on Wednesday. 

The Liberal government reversed its long-standing support for the state of Israel after voting in favour of a resolution sponsored by North Korea, which demonizes the Middle-Eastern democracy and overlooks the terror activities of Hamas.

“I think people in the Jewish community in Canada and across the world see Canada as an ally, but there are times when we must express our opinion and our position as we did yesterday at the UN,” said Champagne about the decision.

Many critics pointed at Trudeau’s desire to gain a seat on the UN Security Council. Since 2016, the Trudeau government has spent $1.5 million on gifts for UN officials and other expenses. 

Last year, the Trudeau government also abstained from a vote to recognize Jerusalem and Israel’s capital, claiming that Canada shouldn’t compromise its values to get a seat on the council.

“If we have to compromise our values and principles to get the seat, it loses its usefulness,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The prime minister also rejected the idea of moving the Canadian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 

During the federal election campaign, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer suggested that if he were to win, he would move the embassy to Jerusalem. 

Under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada became one of Israel’s staunchest allies.

Harper frequently defended Israel in speeches and statements and pushed for closer bilateral ties between the two countries. In 2014, Harper became the first Canadian prime minister to address the Knesset. 

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan told reporters on Thursday that China was not Canada’s adversary and that it was time for the two countries to work together on various issues. 

“We don’t consider China as an adversary but you can’t at the same time look at it and have this discussion in one package,” said Sajjan referencing China’s arbitrary detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. 

“This is a time for us to be able to work together and to be able to come up with those solutions.” 

Sajjan, who was recently reappointed to the cabinet position, was speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum when he made the comments.

Earlier this month, former head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Richard Fadden claimed that Canada should see Russia and China as threats. 

“[We should] recognize our adversaries for what they are, recognize we have to deal with them, but draw clear limits to what we will accept,” advised Fadden. 

China has threatened Canada with “grave consequences” in the past over the extradition of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou for breaking U.S. sanctions on Iran. In retaliation, China detained two Canadians. Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig remain in a Chinese prison on trumped-up charges.

Former Chinese Ambassador Lu Shaye accused Canada of white supremacy when Canada called for the release of the two Canadians.

In June, two Chinese fighter jets flew aggressively close to Canadian warships in the East China sea. 

Most recently, Chinese Ambassador Cong Peiwu warned the Canadian government that sanctions on Hong Kong officials will hurt Canada-China relations.  

Currently, Canadian travellers in China are advised to “exercise a high degree of caution” while travelling in the country due to fear of arbitrary arrests. 

The newly appointed Minister of Middle Class Prosperity, Mona Fortier, had trouble defining her role and mandate on Friday morning’s CBC Radio program, The Current with Laura Lynch. 

The role was first announced by the Prime Minister during the cabinet reveal earlier this week, and it immediately raised eyebrows among commentators and Canadians regarding its purpose. 

Lynch repeatedly asked Fortier, “what exactly is your job?” on the Friday morning program, and Fortier failed to provide a clear explanation.

“I’ve been mandated as Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance to work with my colleagues to make sure we have that lens enabling the fact that we want to put measures in to continue to grow our economy,” said Fortier. 

She did not provide any specific examples or a coherent argument for why Canada needs yet another federal minister.

Lynch also repeatedly pressed Fortier on her definition of “the middle class.” According to the new Liberal minister, it means feeling like you can afford your own way of life. 

“I define the middle class where people feel they can afford their way of life, they have quality of life and they can send their kids to play hockey or even have different activities,” said Fortier. 

Fortier was also unable to answer questions regarding tax cuts proposed by Trudeau during his campaign, claiming that she doesn’t “have the exact number” or specific details. 

When asked whether the Liberal tax cuts will help those earning over $100,000 a year, Fortier replied, “we know and we have really pledged the fact that the 1% needs to give a little bit more. So we will put measures in to help the ones that can continue to build a strong economy and through the middle class we will be doing that.”

According to the Government of Canada website, Fortier is tasked with coming up with an “ambitious plan to build stronger and better communities while growing the middle class.”

Politicians reacted on social media to an anti-Israel protest which took place at York University campus on Wednesday evening. 

Anti-Israel protestors attempted to prevent people from entering the York University campus venue to hear a group of Israeli veterans give a presentation on anti-Semitism. Police had to intervene in order to prevent violence and further escalation.

Reservists on Duty is self-described as “a non-profit organization established in 2015 by IDF veterans who felt a duty to expose and counter the BDS [boycott divestment and sanctions] movement and new forms of anti-Semitism erupting on US college campuses.” 

The BDS movement is an anti-Semitic effort which has been rejected by the House of Commons in 2016.

Both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative leader Andrew Scheer were among a number of politicians who spoke out against the anti-Semitic violence which plagued the debate.

“I’m appalled by the intimidating scenes that occurred last night at York University. I unequivocally condemn the acts of antisemitism faced by the members of the Jewish community at the event,” tweeted Andrew Scheer.

Trudeau also took the opportunity to address and denounce the attacks earlier today.

“On Wednesday night, violence & racist chants broke out against an event organized by the Jewish community at York University. What happened that night was shocking and absolutely unacceptable. Anti-Semitism has no place in Canada. We will always denounce it & all forms of hatred,” said Trudeau.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also claimed he was “shocked by the vile hatred” which took place on the campus and said that racism and hatred have “no place in Ontario.” 

Toronto mayor John Tory echoed Ford in his own comments by saying “Anti-Semitism and violence is totally unacceptable.” Similarly, Liberal MP for York Centre released a statement denouncing the attacks.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel also called on York University to fix the problem of anti-Semitism on campus, claiming that during her time in office she has received more emails about anti-Semitism at York University than any other place in Canada.

The anti-Israel protestors chanted pro-Palestinian terror slogans, including praises of the “intifada” which was an uprising that led to the death of numerous Israeli citizens at the hands of Hamas and other terror groups. 

Among those present was Nazih Khatatba, the editor of al-Meshwar newspaper, who has described Jewish suffering as “fairy tales” and has engaged in Holocaust denial.

In the past, Khatatba has also praised terrorists involved in a synagogue massacre in Jerusalem.

The Reservists on Duty event was organized by Herut Canada, a pro-Israel campus group. Leading up to the event taking place, posters were plastered around campus calling for “No Israeli soldiers on our campus!” 

A video of the event shows a group of people struggling and a fight eventually breaking out among opposing sides.

Doug Ford’s proposal to make student fees optional for post-secondary students was rejected by an Ontario court. 

The “Student Choice Initiative” would allow students to opt-out of certain fees including student unions dues.  

Both the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and the York Federation of Students (YFS) challenged the provincial government on the policy by claiming that it was politically motivated. 

“Doug Ford’s attempt to wipe out students’ unions under the guise of giving students ‘choice’ has been exposed for what it really was: an attempt to silence his opposition,” said CFS representative, Kayla Weiler. 

According to the Ontario court, the policy overreached the provincial government’s authority and infringed on universities’ right to self-governance.

“Requiring that universities allow students to opt-out of student association fees and other ‘non-essential’ services is inconsistent with the universities’ autonomous governance,” wrote the ruling.

Union and federation fees are often mandatory costs attached to tuition dues. While every student is required to pay the costs, student union elections are plagued with extremely low voter turnout. In 2019, the YFS election had a turnout of only 5% of the university’s population, while the Ryerson Student Union (RSU) had a turnout of only 7.3%. 

According to financial records, a bulk of the YFS’ annual revenue was acquired from membership fees. In 2018, the union collected over $2 million in student levied membership fees, while this year it collected $1.8 million. 

Numerous student unions throughout Ontario have been accused of financial mismanagement and there have even been cases of financial fraud on the part of union executives. 

Earlier this year, an RSU executive was accused of using student funds for personal expenses to the tune of over $700,000. Among the expenses were thousands of dollars spent on Toronto nightclubs, cineplex recreation rooms, Airbnb and liquor purchases. 

An Alberta NDP MLA has been criticized for remarks he made in the Legislative Assembly critical of another MLA’s origin.

Marlin Schmidt, the NDP environment critic, appeared to ridicule Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda’s birthplace with a crass question in the Legislature on November 21, 2019.

“The member from wherever the hell he’s from, the Minister of Infrastructure,” Schmidt said to the Speaker.

Panda who is originally from India took offence to the question.

“It’s true, I was born in India. Like hundreds of thousands of others, I chose to make Alberta – the greatest place on earth – my home. It’s my honour and privilege to represent the residents of Calgary Edgemont as their MLA,“ Panda tweeted in response.

Schmidt apologized in the Legislature for his use of unparliamentary language.

Schmidt’s comment has been heavily criticized on social media, with videos of his statement receiving hundreds of retweets.

In the past, Notley and NDP MLAs  have accused UCP leader and Premier Jason Kenney of racism and prejudice, saying Kenney has a history of “mixed signals and dog-whistle politics.”

“Kenney’s UCP party has failed to demonstrate that racism has no place in public debate,” the NDP writes on the NDP website.

Notley has not disciplined Schmidt or addressed the controversy publicly.

UCP MLA Kaycee Madu, himself an immigrant from Nigeria, claimed that Schmidt has also made derogatory comments towards him in the past.

True North reached out to Schmidt and the Alberta NDP but has not received a response.