Thank you, Madam Chair. That won't be a problem.
I wish to move a motion.
At this point in time, having indicated that I wish to move a motion, I'll just say thank you so much to the witnesses for being here with us today.
I realize that this is a bit disruptive, but unfortunately, with the way the committee is structured, the only opportunity we have to move a motion is when we're in public, which is when we have witnesses.
The motion that I wish to move is:
Given that,
According to the 2021-22 and 2022-23 Public Accounts, The Department of Canadian Heritage has issued transfer payments to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council in the sum total of $600,000 and $569,353 respectively, and that,
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council awarded a February 2022 Connection Grant in the sum of $24,999 in which the main applicant and speakers at the conference for which funding was granted have publicly expressed antisemitic views, including calling for a “global intifada” and support for designated terrorist organizations in Canada, and that,
The Department of Canadian Heritage has confirmed the implementation of an anti-racism declaration as a condition of funding in their grant applications, and that,
The Government of Canada has committed to the Canada Anti-Racism Strategy;
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee:
Invite the Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Innovation, Science & Economic Development for a minimum of two hours each, to discuss the repeated and systemic awarding of grant funding to individuals or organizations expressing antisemitic views;
Recommend the Government of Canada immediately conduct a whole of government review of grant applications to include an anti-racism declaration as a condition of funding, and
Report its findings to the House.
Madam Chair, the reason this motion is so important to move today is that a group within the University of Alberta was granted this money.
We know that anti-racism in Canada is on the rise—