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.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Good morning, everyone. I speak French. Bilingualism matters in the House of Commons. We're all happy to know that we can speak both English and French, and that everyone can hear us properly. Is that the case? Do I need to speak again? I could also sing Canada's national anthem. Since these are new devices, they probably need some fine‑tuning.
Is it working for everyone?
Liberal
Bloc
Liberal
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Good morning, everyone.
I'm sorry about these inconveniences. We always try to respect bilingualism on Parliament Hill, which sometimes means making a few small compromises.
For the third time, I would like to say how happy I am to see all the students here to tell us about the situation on their university campuses. Needless to say, we find the situation unacceptable.
In my opinion, a university campus is a place to learn, but also a place to exchange views. Everyone should feel safe and free to exchange views, even vigorously at times. That's fine. However, this must be done respectfully. The situations described here are neither respectful nor acceptable.
I also told Mr. Oberman that I agree with just about everything that he said. I was particularly struck by his comment that laws must be created, but they must also be enforced. This certainly applies to anti‑Semitism.
Our Criminal Code is already relatively thick. We can make it even thicker and add endless provisions. However, in my humble opinion, this won't solve the problems on the ground. I think that the emphasis should be placed on respect.
As legislators, I believe that we have a greater responsibility to set an example by treating each other with respect and dignity.
There are examples of foul language unbefitting of a parliamentarian and a respectful citizen. I won't quote these examples, but they have happened here, in public, on Parliament Hill. I find them deplorable every time. I'll say it again here.
This shouldn't happen. Unfortunately, it may be connected to the rise in foul language and unacceptable behaviour happening everywhere. This is particularly true these days on university campuses.
I apologize for the long introduction. I believe that it's important to share my thoughts on the matter.
That said, it was good to hear from Mr. Oberman. I would also like to hear from the students.
The whole situation on campuses is unacceptable. You can keep coming back to it, but it won't get us anywhere.
What do you think is the reason for this situation?
Obviously, the tragic events of October 7, 2023, acted as a catalyst.
Why is it hard for you to show up on university campuses and discuss topics that interest you without falling victim to this exclusionary behaviour and these unexplained or badly explained criticisms?
Mr. Eshayek, what's the reason for the current situation on campuses?
Student, As an Individual
I think a lot of it has to do with Jew hatred. I'm always saying that I think I'm more pro-Palestinian than the people who are screaming the things they're screaming, because I actually want the people in Gaza to have a decent life, but in order to do so, we have to get rid of Hamas.
I didn't see these people standing outside and screaming and chanting when Syria killed—murdered—500,000 Arabs or when Egypt didn't open the borders for the people of Gaza. I didn't see them going into the streets and protesting about it. I think it has everything to do with Jew hatred and it has nothing to do with the people in Gaza. It's sad to see.
I also think that once you let criminals commit crimes without any consequences, they will continue to commit crimes. Once we see university administrations and university presidents taking steps and doing something against it, we will be able to stop it. We have to make sure that the university presidents are going to do something and are standing up against the criminals.
That's my opinion.
Thank you.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, Mr. Eshayek.
Ms. Nashen, what are your thoughts on the same issue?
Student, As an Individual
There's a notion in Western society that Jews are white and that white people are the oppressors. But Jews are not white; we're an indigenous people who come from the land of Israel. We're demonized on campus as being the oppressors, such that people don't want to partake in conversation with us. They're able to label us as Zionists rather than as Jews, and to make that the cause of the ills of the world. We have seen this throughout history: Jews have been demonized for the ills of the world. We were communists and we were capitalists and we were vermin and we took over democratic institutions, and today we're called Zionists.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you.
Ms. Nashen, in your opinion, do we need to make a distinction among the Canadian Jewish community, the Jewish community in Israel, the Jewish community around the world and the Israeli government, which a number of us are criticizing? Is there a distinction, or should everyone be lumped together, in your opinion?
Student, As an Individual
In this room, we have people from all different political parties who are all Canadians and who don't all have the same opinions on the actions of the Canadian government, so why would it not be the same for Jews and for Israelis?
Liberal
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'm going to have a shorter preamble, I hope, than Mr. Fortin did. That would be the normal practice.
I want to start by joining Mr. Housefather to say that when I voted in favour of this study, I naively assumed that this committee might be able to set aside relentless partisanship to shine a light on this problem and to search for solutions. I am disappointed at some of the things that have happened early on in this room, and I hope we will get our focus back onto the problem of anti-Semitism and the problems that Jewish students are facing.
Like anyone who has ties to the Jewish community, I am not surprised—I have ties in my riding and I have long, historical family ties to Jewish communities—but it's still shocking to hear all of you here, from various backgrounds and various institutions, reporting that the same thing is happening in Canada. I thank you for bringing this to the attention of the public. I thank you for taking the risk you're taking personally, because I know there's a personal risk of retaliation and harassment as a result of your being here today, and I don't think we should minimize that at all. So we owe you a debt of thanks for being here.
Rather than making a long speech myself, I particularly want to hear what you have to say about this problem. I know a couple of you didn't quite get to finish your remarks at the beginning, so I'm going to give you an opportunity without asking you a specific question. I'm going to go to Mr. Eshayek first for anything he didn't quite get to do within that time, and I'll make the same available to others.
Student, As an Individual
First of all, thank you.
One thing I wanted to tell you about is something that happened to me. The other day I went to the McGill encampment to watch it, and when I came back home, I found out there was a video, a full three-minute video about me, and pictures of me and videos of me on Instagram with more than 100,000 views, which had been posted by the pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas students saying that I'm dangerous, that I'm an ex-IDF soldier and that if you see me on the street to call the police. I'm an international student, so they told people to file complaints against me with the immigration system so it would not renew my study permit or my student visa. My friend Anastasia—she's here too—and I had to hire private security to protect ourselves. I will never forget the moment in November 2023, after the November 8 incident, when I got a phone call from my mother, and she said to come back to Israel because it was safer there than in Canada. That's all I have to say.
Thank you, guys.
Student, As an Individual
Thank you for giving me the opportunity.
I just wanted to end my speech with an invitation. If you don't like what you're seeing here, I would love to have you help me. Last year the institution offered to have a menorah lighting in a side room, so let's do that next year. Come and join me to light a menorah. Bring your trees.
I believe that French‑Canadian and English cultures aren't valued by university administrations. This must change.
I think that the Canadian culture is tired of this, so bring your trees. Let's light some menorahs and let's make campuses safe for Christians, Jews and every other student who doesn't feel safe now.
Director, Hillel Queen's, Hillel Ontario
Thank you very much.
One question that was asked before was, why is all of this happening? I just want to talk about a few other pieces.
Firstly, Jew hatred is obvious. Anti-Semitism exists in society. We swim in it. It's just systemic; it's always been there. It's 2,000 years old. It's going to take a long time to get rid of it.
That's why we at Hillel talk about pushing anti-Semitism to the margins of campus, not getting rid of it, because it's not reality, and that we have to ground ourselves in the reality that there will always be extremists and always be people with terrible opinions. However, the thing that most concerns me is the rampant misinformation and disinformation spreading among young people, driven basically by young people not engaging with critical thinking.
A great phrase I learned recently refers to “the constellation of beliefs”. If I can pinpoint one star of one of your beliefs, then automatically I can know 20 other beliefs of yours, because you don't think for yourself. You just rely on domino theory dogma: If I believe this, I believe that. I saw a video that came out of an American encampment where a student said, “You should know that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is training Palestinians, and they've always been standing with Palestinians”, the inference being that North Korea are the good guys because they support Palestine and Palestinians are the good guys.
That is what's happening. It's a complete breakdown in critical thinking among our young people. The way I see, really, is that it falls on the people organizing the educational systems: How are you creating this situation where young people don't need to know history? Things of basic history, like really basic things, are shocking to me....
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
I'm going to give the same opportunity to Ms. Pressman and then Ms. Nashen.
Founder, Canadian Union of Jewish Students
Anti-Semitism has always been a conspiracy myth. It puts the Jew in the position of what is considered evil in society. Society has changed, and what we consider evil changes. I think it's great that we have more of a cultural awareness of discrimination and of hatred toward all people, but Jews, because of the way anti-Semitism functions, are put as the oppressor, which is what is considered evil in our society.
That's a good thing that we're being aware of discrimination and oppression, but Jews are put in the position where we are seen as helping that. That's why, I think, there's a lot of anti-Semitism in society and how it continues to be that way.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Thank you, Mr. Garrison.
We will now go to our second round.
We will start with Madam Lantsman for five minutes.
Conservative
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Thank you.
First of all, thank you for coming. I think there are going to be a lot of people who look up to you from now on, and I hope that you give them the voice and the courage that you've had today to come here.
I appreciate that some people don't want to make this partisan, but I want you to know that there are members of the House of Commons who have been at those encampments, and there are people who have a voice and actually sit at the table who have made it more dangerous to be a Jew in this country. There are some people who speak out of both sides of their mouth that sit in the powers of government and there are some people who do not have a seat at the table who say all of the right things in the right venues—and do not be fooled by them.
Now, I want to know, with just a quick yes or no, do you feel safe on campus, Rachel?