Evidence of meeting #104 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was students.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Mr. Oberman, you've dealt with both Concordia and McGill. Should we call both of those presidents?
Attorney, As an Individual
Not only should you call them, but if they don't come, you should subpoena them, because they are the people who are causing the problems. Listen to what this poor student has to say.
Anthony, you are correct, but the funding of justice is a key issue today in Canada. When the judges don't have enough ability to sit in court because there aren't enough staff, there are issues.
However, I will tell you this. I understand that you want to talk about what you want. I understand—
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I understand. I have other questions and I have very limited time.
I understand that funding is an issue—
Attorney, As an Individual
Call anybody who can come and help us solve the problem, with no distinctions made. Concordia is a top offender, period.
Liberal
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I'm going to end by thanking all of you because, again, there are some times when things may not exactly be only in our jurisdiction.
However, I think having the national media cover those voices and having Canadians—all those Canadians of good faith—understanding your stories and understanding what's happening on campuses is going to cause many more Canadians to rally around this cause and push university administrators and all levels of government to do better.
Thank you so much.
Attorney, As an Individual
You should also not forget about CEGEPs, because there are CEGEPs that are suffering as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you.
Mr. Fortin, you have the floor for three minutes. Mr. Garrison will then also have the floor for three minutes.
We will then conclude.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'll try to cover all the bases in three minutes.
I gather from Ms. Cook's comments that universities should maintain an environment that doesn't allow this type of abuse. I agree. Mr. Oberman says that the police should step in and that the authorities should enforce the law. I agree with him too. Mr. Eshayek tells us that the current fight for the Jewish community isn't just for the Jewish community, but for all minority communities. I also agree with this.
The violence everywhere, especially on campuses, is a social issue. As I said earlier, I think that university campuses are wonderful places. They should be the most welcoming places in the world, where people are allowed to debate everything vigorously and authoritatively, but always respectfully.
I totally agree with what you said. This situation is unacceptable.
Ms. Cook, you said that it's important to maintain an environment that doesn't allow this type of abuse. In your opinion, are any other communities currently victims of this type of oppression, or is it just the Jewish community, to your knowledge?
Student, As an Individual
Yes. There are Christian communities and other communities
They are not supported by the sort of politically popular mood of the day on campus.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Are you aware of any situations involving other minority communities being ostracized or experiencing this type of abuse?
Student, As an Individual
The example I gave was November 8. We have November 23, December 13, and March 4. I don't even need to look at the paper, because I remember these dates.
I want to tell you something. The first time I came to Montreal, Canada, I was 13. It was my dream to move here. When I finished my military service, I moved here. I never imagined that moving to Montreal would be the worst thing that would ever happen to me, because of the anti-Semitism, and because of what I have to go through right now.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Eshayek. You're more than welcome in Quebec. I hope that you'll stay with us for a long time.
I'm running out of time. My final point is that, in my opinion, we need to work on this area. I support Quebec's state secularism law, because I don't think that the authorities should get involved in religious debates. People should be able to practise the religion of their choice and debate it respectfully.
Thank you all for being here.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you.
For the final three minutes, we have Mr. Garrison, please.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair. As I always point out, one advantage of being the fourth party is that you often get the last questions.
One thing I have heard a lot about and that we haven't really focused on here today is the attempt to exclude Jewish student organizations and defund them. I'm going to start with Mr. Tarshish, and ask him to talk about that experience, because I'm very concerned about it.
Director, Hillel Queen's, Hillel Ontario
This is a regular thing. The attempt to ban Jewish student organizations on campuses is not a new thing. Everyone wants us to think this is a new thing.
I come from the U.K. originally. There were attempts to ban Jewish societies on campus in the U.K. from as early as 1973, especially after the UN passed its infamous “Zionism is racism” resolution in 1975. That became a really serious thing that Jewish students had to deal with in the U.K. for 25 years.
We've come out the other side of it. Coming here, it is shocking. There is a lot more that can be done right now. Seeing my organization, Hillel, called a Zionist cultural institution, and therefore not allowed on campus, is just laughable to me.
Student, As an Individual
At campus protests, there are often calls from the BDS movement, which effectively does not do anything to change the lives of Palestinian people. Maybe it will remove Sabra hummus from the cafeterias.
Other than that, it labels Jewish organizations who, other than the anti-Zionist Jewish organizations, which represents a fringe minority of our community.... We all have ties to Israel. Hillel facilitates birthrights and internships in Israel. Our mainstream organizations that facilitate Shabbat dinners and social events are deemed complicit and, therefore, attempts are made to remove funding from our organizations.
Founder, Canadian Union of Jewish Students
For many Jews, Zionism is completely linked to our Jewish identity, to Judaism. Some of us see attempts to ban these institutions because they're Zionist as attempts to ban themselves because they're Jewish.
Student, As an Individual
Jewish students are the only students on campus who have to qualify their cultural heritage before they are allowed in public spaces or to be taken seriously.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you.
I know we have just 30 seconds left, as I can read. I just want to thank you again for the courage and forthrightness you've brought to this table today. I promise you that I, and I know other members of the committee, will work hard to make sure that your voices are reflected in the work we do.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you very much for your testimony. Thank you for your courage and for appearing today.
Please know that the committee—the chair and members—are here because we want to be here. It is a study that we all want to listen to, and we are here to do what we as parliamentarians can do in the time we have here, so thank you very much for coming.
For the members, I have two points. The clerk will send emails to you as you return to your offices. Please look at them. One is from the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The clerk requires a response on that—yes or no—from you members by Friday, please.
The second email he will send is from the Liaison Committee. That one we have a little bit more time on, so just take a look at that email.
Thank you very much, and have a lovely day, everybody.