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.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
In the course of your experience, have you heard the Jewish people accused of exaggerating the Holocaust?
9:40 a.m.
Attorney, As an Individual
I'm also going to answer that question because it wasn't directed to the students.
The problem that we've seen is that people use social media to put out falsehoods and narratives in order to support and fuel their hatred. The answer is not only yes, but look at the law: The law prohibits it, but nobody is enforcing it, and that's the problem.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
In the course of your experience, have you heard people celebrate October 7 and celebrate Hamas?
9:40 a.m.
Attorney, As an Individual
They not only celebrate it but also strategize on how to use it as a tool to continue to oppress not only these students but anybody who loves democracy and freedom. It is happening in our country right now, and it's regrettable.
9:40 a.m.
Student, As an Individual
Again, “Last night, the resistance in Gaza led a heroic attack against the occupation and has taken over 30 hostages.” I don't even need to read it because I remember it. It was on October 8 by SPHR Concordia. SPHR Concordia is still a club, and the students are still students with no consequences.
9:40 a.m.
Student, As an Individual
I will never forget hearing, on October 8, the chant, “There are no civilians”.
9:40 a.m.
Director, Hillel Queen's, Hillel Ontario
It's incredibly concerning. I would also point you to the fact that Jewish students are seeing....
I'm sorry. I had something, and it's gone.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Have you heard that individuals have tried to diminish or suggest that these are isolated incidents? Is that consistent with what you've seen?
In other words, is this pervasive? Is this occurring consistently, daily, in your schools, in your communities?
9:40 a.m.
Student, As an Individual
In March, at McGill University, someone walked around campus for over four hours with a sign that said, “On October 7, Israel massacred its own people to justify genocide”.
9:40 a.m.
Attorney, As an Individual
Social media has been used to continue with this false narrative.
By the way, in our injunctions, a majority of our evidence emanated from their own videos in which they glorify hatred and violence. Then I have to show it to a judge so that the judge understands what's going on.
The answer is yes, yes, and it's unfortunate.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you, Mr. Mendicino.
Now we will go to Mr. Fortin.
Mr. Fortin, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.
9:40 a.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
We don't have more time than that? We have another half hour, Madam Chair. We can do a complete round, right?
9:45 a.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Okay, fine.
I heard your answers to the questions asked by my colleague, Mr. Mendicino. I would like to know one thing.
In your opinion, how should the university respond to this behaviour?
Ms. Nashen, go ahead.
9:45 a.m.
Bloc
9:45 a.m.
Student, As an Individual
For the past week and a half, I have received an email from McGill University every single day saying that there was an illegal encampment at our university. Having said that, a week and a half later, it's still there.