Justice Committee on May 9th, 2024

[Rachel Cook]

They did until I went to the media, and then I think my story got out there. It shows they're willing to subject Jewish students to anti-Semitism and hurt Christian students at the same time to make sure that they don't look like they're supporting Jewish students or Israel.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Ms. Pressmann, you're the founder of a national organization. Do the interactions between Jewish students and administrators when they have issues like this—based on the stories that Ms. Nashen and Ms. Cook told—seem familiar to you in terms of what your membership is dealing with when they complain to administrations?

[Nati Pressmann]

We've had students who had the same situation. They were just told it's another person's jurisdiction. These are things that last for months. By the time they're told to go and meet with the right person, it's apparently too late to deal with that incident.

It's very similar to what we're hearing on campuses across the country, where Jewish students feel unsafe. When they try to use university support and try to use university staff to support them, they're not helped at all and they're pointed in the wrong direction multiple times.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Tarshish, based on your experience of Jewish students....

Am I done? I'm done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Mr. Housefather, that's six minutes. Thank you.

Mr. Fortin, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

First, I would also like to thank all the students here today. I agree with my colleague, Mr. Morantz, that they have shown a great deal of courage in coming here. I know that it isn't necessarily easy. I'm very grateful to them.

Mr. Oberman, I must tell you that I agree with just about everything you said—

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Mr. Fortin, one moment, please. I think that someone said that there wasn't any interpretation.

Do you have interpretation?

Okay. Yes. Give us just one moment.

Mr. Fortin, could you say a few words, please?

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

One, two. One, two.

No?

[Neil G. Oberman]

I can translate.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

I would agree, but it's part of my job to make sure that everyone can understand in French or in English, so I apologize for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Let me suspend for a minute, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

We'll now resume the meeting.

Mr. Fortin, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

First, I would like to thank all the students here today. I agree with my colleague, Mr. Morantz, that it takes a certain amount of courage to appear before a House of Commons committee and report unacceptable situations.

I see that people can't hear what I'm saying. There still doesn't seem to be any interpretation, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

No?

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Can anyone give us an explanation?

[Neil G. Oberman]

Can I do it?

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

No, thank you. That's kind of you to offer, Mr. Oberman.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

I ask that all the time. They never allow it.

[Neil G. Oberman]

I'm just trying to be a good Canadian citizen.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

The clerk says that it works.

You may proceed, Mr. Fortin.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Can anyone explain to Ms. Cook how the devices work?

[The Chair, Liberal, Lena Metlege Diab]

Yes. Okay.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Ms. Cook still isn't receiving the interpretation. We're no longer talking about anti‑Semitism here, but rather about an efficiency issue affecting bilingualism in the House of Commons.

Sorry, but I must take a hard line on this matter.

Don't be sorry.

The thing is, you're not the only one. People are watching us and listening to us, and everyone should be able to understand what we're saying in French or in English.

As I was saying, bilingualism matters in the House of Commons.

Can you hear us, Ms. Cook?

[Neil G. Oberman]

The translation works well on television. It's important that the audience understands.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Perhaps it depends on what I'm saying.