"We have a brand name that is the most significant ethnocultural organization in Canada," boasts CJC chief executive Bernie Farber. "If you go outside and say, Canadian Jewish Congress, people know the name."The name certainly resonates in the halls of power.
In fact, not many groups can attract a political lineup like the CJC has for its 90th anniversary plenary and celebration May 31, including Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and the NDP's Jack Layton. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is also expected to be there to collect a human rights award.
But can the CJC, as it approaches the 100-year mark, maintain its direct line to the most powerful people in the country?
Some, like historian Gerald Tulchinsky, are not so sure, saying the group is failing to resonate among increasing numbers of the Jewish community – particularly the young and those who question Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
"The Canadian Jewish community is much more divided than it was 60, 70 or 90 years ago," says Tulchinsky, a professor at Queen's University and author of several books on Jewish history in Canada.
But for the time being, few politicians would dare ignore an organization like the CJC, which Farber says has more clout in the halls of power than most minority groups even though it represents only 360,000 people across the country.
Bernie Farber boasts about the power and influence of the CJC
You don't represent me, Fernie Barber. Let the politicians fawn all over you. Jews have survived worse than you.
It's outright bragging, not just boasting. Ironically, if anyone were to talk about the "Jewish lobby" he would call them an anti-semite. What a farce.
Nonetheless, this is one of the first articles I have seen which questions the legitimacy of the CJC as the voice Jews in Canada. That is progress.
There has been some progress. I've actually noticed that the MSM has been acknowledging a divide within the Jewish community over Israel, recently. You wouldn't have seen that 5 years ago - they would've have just assumed all Jews were behind Israel and their so-called "leaders."
Farber says his group represents 360,000 Jewish Canadians. I wonder how many members the CJC actually has? I have yet to meet an actual member.
Many of those who attend the CJC event May 31 in the afternoon will likely be attending the 'Spirit of Hope' Benefit that same evening, Bob Rae MP included since he is a director. Look who else is coming...
http://www.fswc.ca/spirit_of_hope_.aspx
"resonates in the halls of power" indeed.
Is it a bad that they'd back the Wiesenthal Center?
I don't know that doing that is the same as supporting the Occupation.
Perhaps a better question would be, how many of those politicians attending the CJC anniversary would have spoken out against the "one would be too many" policy on Jewish immigration to Canada after World War II if they'd been around at the time. Jack obviously would have, but Harper and Ignatieff? Not so sure.
John Bolton? Michael Chertoff? John Howard? Marvin Hier? If this is the 'spirit of hope' then what's the hope? World War 3?
Yeah, you would hate to see what the "Spirit of Suicidal Despair" dinner would be like next to them.
Maybe the spirit of hope is that the Canadian government will help Israel to gain the entire land it needs to fulifill Biblical prophacy? And given the infiltration techniques of the CJC, and all the other anti-democratic stull they pull, who would dare go against them?
They're giving Stephen Harper a human rights award?
Can anyone think of one thing Harper has done to promote human rights?
With Harper in charge of human rights, there'll be no humans left.
The museum in Winnipeg, labelling of people terrorist orgs, except for Israel and the CJC, extending the power of patriarchy back over women, getting rid of the court challenges program...
They're giving Stephan Harper a human rights award? Good lord, are they on crack??
No "human rights" is being given new meaning is all.
The museum in Winnipeg,
That's been going on for a while... I remember talk of it at least back to Martin, probably Chretien.
Harper promised a 100 million in initial capital and another 22 million per year. Then he designated it a Crown Corporation, and without it, it would not have gone ahead. He also took over the project himself, hence he basically bought his Human Rights award from the CJC.
The Asper siblings—Leonard, David, and Gail--are very happy with Harper for advancing their father Izzy’s dream of building a Canadian Museum for Human Rights.Last March, the Harper government designated the museum as a Crown corporation under the Museums Act. The federal government is looking for a new CEO.
According to the report in today’s National Post, Harper and his two children joined the museum’s main proponent, Izzy Asper's daughter Gail Asper, for the sod-turning ceremony yesterday.
The federal government will fund the estimated $22-million annual operating costs, and earlier this year passed legislation creating the museum, making it the first national cultural institution to be built outside of the Ottawa region. It is also the first national museum in Canada to be built in more than four decades.Ottawa is also contributing $100 million in capital costs. Manitoba is in for $40 million in capital, and the City of Winnipeg has approved a $20-million contribution in cash and an in-kind donation in the form of land, infrastructure and forgiveness of property taxes.
Meanwhile the operating budget was to have been 9-12 million a year, but we tax payers are going to give 10 million more.
The government is expected to announce Friday that the proposed Winnipeg-based Canadian Museum for Human Rights has won federal operating funding of between $9-million and $12-million.Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who took over the controversial dossier this year from Heritage Minister Bev Oda, is expected to join Vic Toews, the Treasury Board President, for the announcement.
Senator Serge Joyal, who calls himself an early supporter of the project, observed: “It's surprising that this private initiative is becoming a public museum, while public museums such as the Portrait Gallery of Canada are having to turn to the private sector. It's backwards.”
Frankly there should have been rioting in the streets over this action.