Canadian Heritage Committee on Oct. 26th, 2023

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Thank you.

We have a speaking list. Hopefully, we can get through most of it, if not all of it, before the hard stop at 10:15.

We have Mrs. Thomas continuing. Then we have Mr. Melillo, Mr. Julian, Mr. Coteau, Mr. Noormohamed and Ms. Hepfner on the speaking list.

Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

The point is simple. The CBC itself said that to call Hamas terrorists was to take sides. If they're not going to call Hamas a terrorist organization, are they not left taking a side still?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Go ahead, Mr. Champoux.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I would remind you that the allegations that Ms. Thomas is currently making are extremely serious.

As Mr. Julian pointed out earlier, there are journalists on the ground. To suggest that journalists at Radio‑Canada, CBC or any media outlet are biased towards terrorists threatens their safety on the ground and undermines their integrity. These comments are serious and have far-reaching effects.

I am asking Ms. Thomas to retract her remarks, to withdraw them and to choose her words better because we are spreading serious misinformation that can seriously harm journalists who are doing their work on the ground.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Thank you, Mr. Champoux.

Mrs. Thomas, continue, if you don't mind.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, you do need to ask Mrs. Thomas to retract what are serious allegations that put the lives of journalists, who are already in incredibly dangerous situations, in peril. These are not comments that can be excused. We can't turn the page. She has made unbelievably horrific allegations. She needs to retract. She needs to apologize.

I would suggest, Mr. Chair, that you have the power from this committee to go to someone else so that she cannot—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Mrs. Thomas, would you apologize?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I would ask for her to apologize to all the journalists she has just put in incredible danger.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Mrs. Thomas, you've been asked to apologize.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I have the article in front of me. I'd be happy to read it into the record in its entirety. I believe if I were to do so, it would show that the CBC did in fact take information—

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

—at their own admission—

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

A point of order.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

—directly from Hamas, and put it out to the Canadian public—

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

A point of order.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

—as if it were fact.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I do not retract my statement.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Okay.

Mr. Noormohamed.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Well, I think Mrs. Thomas has now spoken for herself. She's not retracting her statement, so she's not taking you up on the offer to apologize to the committee, or, more importantly, to journalists. This is now not only repetitive; this is inflammatory. The consequences of these types of comments....

Mr. Chair, I would ask you, as the chair of this committee today, to take very seriously what Mr. Champoux, Mr. Julian and I and others in this committee are saying and feeling. This is a very, very serious line of misinformation that Mrs. Thomas has chosen to peddle to get clips. This is not what this committee should be about. People's lives are literally hanging in the balance over every word people are saying, not just abroad but also in this country.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Thank you, Mr. Noormohamed.

Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, I would ask that you give the next person on the list the ability to speak.

Could you rule on that, please?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Kevin Waugh]

Mrs. Thomas, are you just about ready to wrap up? I do have Mr. Melillo and Mr. Julian next on the list.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Chair, I'm not asking you....

She has not retracted. She has not apologized. She has made incendiary allegations against journalists. I would ask that you give the speaking role to the next person, and if you rule to the contrary, I'm prepared to move the appropriate challenge to your ruling.