Canadian Heritage committee  I think that is something that the House is intending to grapple with through online harms legislation. That's a really important issue. I'm on the board of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. That is what we track: anti-Semitism and hate of various kinds, and racism in Canada, including what's disseminated by the platforms. It's an important issue. I don't want to diminish or make fun of the importance of the issue.

Canadian Heritage committee  I will try not to take up too much of your time, other than just to preface my remarks by saying that I speak to you in two capacities—one as the chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and the other in a much more personal capacity as a child of a Holocaust survivor. My father was the sole survivor of his Polish town, the sole Jewish survivor out of 750 Jews.

Public Safety committee  Thank you very much. My name is Evan Balgord. I'm the executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. We're an anti-fascist and an anti-racist non-profit organization. Our mandate is to counter, monitor and expose hate-promoting movements, groups and individuals in Canada.

Canadian Heritage committee  In accordance with our routine motion, I am informing the committee that all witnesses have completed the required connection tests in advance of the meeting. I now would like to welcome our witnesses. The witnesses are, from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, Bernie Farber, chair; from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Richard Marceau, vice-president; and from the Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization Leading to Violence, Roselyne Mavungu, executive director.

Public Safety committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. My first question is to Mr. Balgord from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. Mr. Balgord, would you say that your organization is an objective organization?

Public Safety committee  With us today by video conference we have Evan Balgord, executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network; Barbara Perry, director, Ontario Tech University, Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism; and Dr. Heidi Beirich and Wendy Via, Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. Welcome to all.

Emergencies Act  In 2016, when Motion No. 103 was moved, the movement engaged some 10,000 people on Facebook, according to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. They spread their message and, at one point, they had almost 200,000 subscribers, which was unheard of. They hit gold. They now have what is estimated to be over a million people on Facebook.

Questions on the Order Paper  This included holding separate meetings with members of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, and the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at the Ontario Tech University, to discuss issues related to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The advisory panel has regularly met with the minister’s office to update and brief it on their progress.

Status of Women committee  I am here in my personal capacity as a human rights advocate who “wears many hijabs”, as I like to say. I'm a founding board member of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, an organization that monitors hate in Canada, as well as a board member with the Silk Road Institute, an organization that fosters cross-cultural and interfaith understanding.

Justice committee  Since 1995, I've been working with non-profits, educators and law enforcement to raise awareness about the dangers of hate groups. I'm currently on the advisory boards for the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and Parents for Peace, which is an American organization that provides support for families of radicalized individuals. Back in the nineties, when I was an extremist myself, I quite literally communicated hate by telephone.

Justice committee  In the room with us, as an individual, we have Ms. Elizabeth Moore, educator and advisory board member of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and Parents for Peace. Welcome. From the Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council, we have Mr. Faisal Khan Suri, president, and Mr. Mohammed Hussain, vice-president of outreach.

Justice committee  We have always stated at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network that leaders have to lead. It's as simple as that. I have no problem with the leader of the opposition attending the convey and giving out his message. I think that it was important for politicians to do that.

Justice committee  Very good. We'll now turn to Bernie Farber from the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. You have eight minutes.

Justice committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Honourable members, thank you for inviting me today. Good morning, my name is Bernie Farber. I am the past CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress, where I worked for almost three decades. I am also the son of a Holocaust survivor, a survivor who was the sole Jewish person to survive in his village of over 1,500 Jews, so I have some visceral understanding of what hate is.