Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism
Encyclopedia
Formed in March
2009, the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA) is a group of Canadian parliamentarians organized for the stated purpose of confronting and combating antisemitism in Canada. In particular, the CPCCA focuses on what it calls the "new antisemitism," which it sees as the revival of classically antisemitic beliefs in the guise of anti-Zionism
.
The CPCCA comprises former and sitting Members of Parliament from the Conservative Party of Canada
, Liberal Party of Canada
, New Democratic Party
and initially Bloc Québécois
, but is not an official committee and was not established by the Canadian government or Parliament as a whole.
On July 7, 2011, the CPCCA released its final report on antisemitism in Canada.
(ICCA) which had its innaugral conference in London
, England
in 2009. The ICCA released a Declaration on Combating Antisemitism, which lead to the formation of the CPCCA.
Noting that while antisemitism is not a new phenomenon, there has been recently a resurgence of antisemitism both internationally and in Canada, so much so that, according to the CPCCA, "Jewish students...are fearful to wear a Jewish skull cap
or Jewish star of David
around their necks" on Canadian university campuses.
On 9 March 2010, the Bloc Québécois
decided to withdraw from the CPCCA because the CPCCA refused to meet with many groups and individuals who opposed the view that criticism of Zionism of the Israeli government is not antisemitism. The Bloc Québécois
claimed that the Coalition was biased in favor of Israel
i policies and noted that they "consider that the Coalition is tainted, partisan and presents a single side of the coin. We desired a much more moderate approach, more consensual, and still with the outlook to find peace."
The CPCCA hosted the Second Annual Inter-parliamentary Conference to Combat Antisemitism which was held in November 2010 in Ottawa
, Canada
.
Secretariat
has accused the unofficial parliamentary committee of an unwillingness to hear diverse voices. When the party withdrew from the committee, it criticized "the inequality of opinions presented before the coalition" and "the refusal of the steering committee to hear groups with opposing viewpoints." Bloc parliamentarian Michel Guimond
has said that the committee's approach "was not sufficiently balanced."
A number of critics have asserted that the Coalition's goal is to conflate criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism. For example:
Rebuttals
The CPCCA has denied any intention to limit legitimate criticism of Israel. In particular, it has stated that, while it affirms others' alarm at "the resurrection of the old language of prejudice and its modern manifestations – in rhetoric and political action – against Jews, Jewish belief and practice and the State of Israel", nonetheless "dissent and opposition to individual actions of the Israeli government are both permitted and encouraged in and outside of Israel, just as political dissent is permitted and encouraged with respect to any democratic nation."
Steering Committee chair Scott Reid rejected the suggestion that the group's focus on antisemitism is misdirected, since he argued that these will not use up all of the goodwill that exists on the part of Canadians for resolving issues related hate directed at minority groups: “I think the best way to think of this is [that as a result of our hearings into antisemitism, Canada's] anti-xenophobic, anti-racist, anti-bigotry muscle gets exercised and the more it gets exercised, the stronger it is for dealing with all of those other forms of racism, xenophobia and bigotry.”
announced the release of the CPCCA Final Report. The Final Report was the product of the Inquiry Panel of the CPPCA. The committee recommended that police forces across Canada be better trained to deal with anti-Semitism; that universities host conferences to counter events such as "Israeli Apartheid Week
” which fell under the Panel's definition of antisemitism; and that there should be a clear definition of what anti-Semitism entails. The panel also recommended that Canada curtail immigration from African, Middle Eastern and South Asian countries deemed too critical of the state of Israel; that Canada engage the international community within various UN institutions to reduce criticisms directed against the State of Israel; and that the Canadian government cut funding to human rights organizations which are critical of the state of Israel.
March
March is in present time held to be the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is one of the seven months which are 31 days long....
2009, the Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA) is a group of Canadian parliamentarians organized for the stated purpose of confronting and combating antisemitism in Canada. In particular, the CPCCA focuses on what it calls the "new antisemitism," which it sees as the revival of classically antisemitic beliefs in the guise of anti-Zionism
Anti-Zionism
Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionistic views or opposition to the state of Israel. The term is used to describe various religious, moral and political points of view in opposition to these, but their diversity of motivation and expression is sufficiently different that "anti-Zionism" cannot be...
.
The CPCCA comprises former and sitting Members of Parliament from the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
, Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
and initially Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
, but is not an official committee and was not established by the Canadian government or Parliament as a whole.
On July 7, 2011, the CPCCA released its final report on antisemitism in Canada.
History
The CPCCA was founded in association with the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating AntisemitismInter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism
The Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Antisemitism is an international coalition of Parliamentarians from around the world that work together to combat antisemitism...
(ICCA) which had its innaugral conference in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 2009. The ICCA released a Declaration on Combating Antisemitism, which lead to the formation of the CPCCA.
Noting that while antisemitism is not a new phenomenon, there has been recently a resurgence of antisemitism both internationally and in Canada, so much so that, according to the CPCCA, "Jewish students...are fearful to wear a Jewish skull cap
Kippah
A kippah or kipa , also known as a yarmulke , kapele , is a hemispherical or platter-shaped head cover, usually made of cloth, often worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the customary requirement that their head be covered at all times, and sometimes worn by both men and, less frequently, women...
or Jewish star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
around their necks" on Canadian university campuses.
On 9 March 2010, the Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
decided to withdraw from the CPCCA because the CPCCA refused to meet with many groups and individuals who opposed the view that criticism of Zionism of the Israeli government is not antisemitism. The Bloc Québécois
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
claimed that the Coalition was biased in favor of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i policies and noted that they "consider that the Coalition is tainted, partisan and presents a single side of the coin. We desired a much more moderate approach, more consensual, and still with the outlook to find peace."
The CPCCA hosted the Second Annual Inter-parliamentary Conference to Combat Antisemitism which was held in November 2010 in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Steering Committee
The steering committee of the CPCCA consists of the following current or former Canadian Members of Parliament:- Scott ReidScott Reid (politician)Scott Jeffrey Reid is a Canadian politician. He has served in the Canadian House of Commons since 2000, and currently represents the Ontario riding of Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington as a member of the Conservative Party....
, Chair
- Mario SilvaMario SilvaMario Silva, is a Canadian politician and a former Canadian Member of Parliament. Silva is a former a Toronto City Councillor and acting mayor."Acting Mayor" is a non-elected position. For example, the sets out the duties and powers of their Acting Mayor. Other cities will no doubt have somewhat...
, Vice Chair
- Raymonde FolcoRaymonde FolcoRaymonde Folco is a Canadian politician.Born in a Jewish family in Paris, she hid with Christian families during World War II. She emigrated to Toronto with her family in 1950s...
- Bob RaeBob RaeRobert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
- Candice HoeppnerCandice HoeppnerCandice Hoeppner is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the electoral district of Portage—Lisgar in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections. She is a member of the Conservative Party.-Background:...
- Peter StofferPeter StofferPeter Arend Stoffer is a Canadian politician.Stoffer is currently a member of the New Democratic Party caucus in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Sackville—Eastern Shore. He represented Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore after the 2000 election, and after the...
- Pat MartinPat MartinPatrick "Pat" Martin is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Canadian House of Commons since 1997, representing the riding of Winnipeg Centre for the New Democratic Party.-Career:...
- David SweetDavid SweetDavid S. Sweet is a Canadian politician who began serving his first term of office in January 2006. He is a former CEO of Promise Keepers Canada.-Political career:...
- Irwin CotlerIrwin CotlerIrwin Cotler, PC, OC, MP was Canada's Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 2003 until the Liberal government of Paul Martin lost power following the 2006 federal election. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Mount Royal in a by-election...
, Ex-officio
- Jason KenneyJason KenneyJason T. Kenney, PC, MP is Canada's current Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. He has represented the riding of Calgary Southeast in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997....
, Ex-officio
Secretariat
- Corey Lerman, Director
- Dan Rabkin, Senior Advisor
Criticism
The Bloc QuébécoisBloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois is a federal political party in Canada devoted to the protection of Quebec's interests in the House of Commons of Canada, and the promotion of Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc was originally a party made of Quebec nationalists who defected from the federal Progressive Conservative...
has accused the unofficial parliamentary committee of an unwillingness to hear diverse voices. When the party withdrew from the committee, it criticized "the inequality of opinions presented before the coalition" and "the refusal of the steering committee to hear groups with opposing viewpoints." Bloc parliamentarian Michel Guimond
Michel Guimond
Michel Guimond is a Canadian politician. From 1987 to 1993 he served as a city councillor in Boischatel, Quebec. After this, he ran in the 1993 federal election for the Bloc Québécois. He was elected into the Canadian House of Commons as the member from Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans...
has said that the committee's approach "was not sufficiently balanced."
A number of critics have asserted that the Coalition's goal is to conflate criticism of Israeli policy with antisemitism. For example:
- Joanne Naiman, a former Professor of Sociology at Ryerson UniversityRyerson UniversityRyerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
has argued that the CPCCA "is effectively a done deal" and that it aims "to create a serious chill on university campuses and in the media" as a deterrent to criticism of Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people. In an article posted on The Socialist Project, Naiman sharply criticized Jason KenneyJason KenneyJason T. Kenney, PC, MP is Canada's current Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. He has represented the riding of Calgary Southeast in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997....
and Irwin CotlerIrwin CotlerIrwin Cotler, PC, OC, MP was Canada's Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 2003 until the Liberal government of Paul Martin lost power following the 2006 federal election. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the constituency of Mount Royal in a by-election...
for their roles in the CPCCA. - University of WaterlooUniversity of WaterlooThe University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
Professor Michael Keefer has charged that the CPCCA is "an attempt to curtail freedom of speech and academic freedom across Canada, and to possibly criminalize certain kinds of human rights discourse.” - Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) has likewise described the CPCCA as an "attempt to attack free speech and silence criticism of the Israeli government's oppressive and illegal policies" and "to label criticism of Israel and its behavior, as well as organized efforts to change them, as anti-Semitic and to criminalize both."
- Ben White, a freelance journalist and author of "Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner's Guide", describes the CPCCA as being part of Israel's recent worldwide propaganda efforts.
- Canadian writer, journalist, and researcher John Baglow asks: "Who can doubt that the ultimate aim of this little inquisition is to criminalize criticism of Israel?"
- Trevor Purvis, an assistant professor of international law and human rights at Carleton UniversityCarleton UniversityCarleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, has stated that the CPCCA is “odious” and “sinister” in what he argues is its attempt to silence criticism of Israel. - Alan Sears, a professor of SociologySociologySociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Ryerson UniversityRyerson UniversityRyerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
, saying that when the Palestinian solidarity movement started to gain traction in Canada “this was set up to put the brakes on that and to use the language of anti-Semitism to try to shut down the movement.”
Rebuttals
The CPCCA has denied any intention to limit legitimate criticism of Israel. In particular, it has stated that, while it affirms others' alarm at "the resurrection of the old language of prejudice and its modern manifestations – in rhetoric and political action – against Jews, Jewish belief and practice and the State of Israel", nonetheless "dissent and opposition to individual actions of the Israeli government are both permitted and encouraged in and outside of Israel, just as political dissent is permitted and encouraged with respect to any democratic nation."
Steering Committee chair Scott Reid rejected the suggestion that the group's focus on antisemitism is misdirected, since he argued that these will not use up all of the goodwill that exists on the part of Canadians for resolving issues related hate directed at minority groups: “I think the best way to think of this is [that as a result of our hearings into antisemitism, Canada's] anti-xenophobic, anti-racist, anti-bigotry muscle gets exercised and the more it gets exercised, the stronger it is for dealing with all of those other forms of racism, xenophobia and bigotry.”
2011 Release of Inquiry Panel Report
On July 7, 2011, Conservative MP Scott Reid and former Liberal MP Mario SilvaMario Silva
Mario Silva, is a Canadian politician and a former Canadian Member of Parliament. Silva is a former a Toronto City Councillor and acting mayor."Acting Mayor" is a non-elected position. For example, the sets out the duties and powers of their Acting Mayor. Other cities will no doubt have somewhat...
announced the release of the CPCCA Final Report. The Final Report was the product of the Inquiry Panel of the CPPCA. The committee recommended that police forces across Canada be better trained to deal with anti-Semitism; that universities host conferences to counter events such as "Israeli Apartheid Week
Israeli Apartheid Week
Israeli Apartheid Week is an annual series of university lectures and rallies held in February or March. According to the organisation "[t]he aim of IAW is to educate people about the nature of Israel as an apartheid system and to build Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigns as part of a...
” which fell under the Panel's definition of antisemitism; and that there should be a clear definition of what anti-Semitism entails. The panel also recommended that Canada curtail immigration from African, Middle Eastern and South Asian countries deemed too critical of the state of Israel; that Canada engage the international community within various UN institutions to reduce criticisms directed against the State of Israel; and that the Canadian government cut funding to human rights organizations which are critical of the state of Israel.