The appointment in early July of MP Anthony Housefather to a new role as the federal government’s special advisor on Jewish community relations and antisemitism has demonstrated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s very questionable judgment around how to handle the surge in hate against Palestinians across the country.
It also shows that racism and Islamophobia are alive and well at the highest levels of the Canadian government with the appointment of someone who has pushed racist and Islamophobic anti-Palestinian narratives since last fall when Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to the October 7th attack by Hamas. Given that the Palestinian death toll in Gaza has surpassed 47,000 as of the end of July this appeasement to pro-Israel organizations that support Israel’s genocide against Palestinians is inexcusable.
Housefather’s appointment is also indicative of Trudeau’s own anti-Palestinian prejudice and the failure of his government to fight hate as it relates to anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia. Because how can one be committed to fighting hate and racism when racists and Islamophobes sit in influential positions at the top levels of government?
Since it was elected in 2015 the Liberal government has repeatedly demonstrated that it is an unequivocal supporter of Israel by frequently defending it at the United Nations, refusing to condemn Israel’s horrific crimes against Palestinians, and more recently by opposing the International Criminal Court’s investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israeli leaders, as well as opposing and criticizing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Given Housefather’s very vocal support of Israel, its genocidal leadership, and his capacity to run interference for Israel within the Canadian government, his appointment is completely unacceptable and will damage the fight against hate in Canada, as well as fail to uphold the human rights of Palestinians in Canada and occupied Palestine.
Since last fall there have already been numerous instances of Housefather, other Liberal and Conservative Members of Parliament, heads of Canadian universities, and right-wing news media commentators demonizing those protesting the genocide of Palestinians, and demanding that the government suppress their freedom of expression rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Given Housefather’s anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic mindset this is very likely to increase with his appointment by energizing anti-Palestinian racists and Islamophobes across Canadian society
Housefather’s appointment also begs the question why he has been appointed to this new role when Deborah Lyons already holds the position of special envoy to fight antisemitism? Is this new role not redundant since Lyons performs the same functions as this new advisory position? If Lyons has been ineffective then the prime minister should replace her rather than creating a new position for purely political reasons. There is also the fear within Canada’s Palestinian community that Housefather will use the excuse of fighting antisemitism to deny justice to Palestinians and work to suppress their rights at home and abroad.
If any MP had promoted antisemitic narratives or hate targeting Jews, and sided with a foreign government that was committing atrocities against a Jewish population, it is guaranteed that they would never be appointed to a high-profile Canadian government role, much less a senior advisory role on fighting hate. The fact that Housefather was appointed to this new position shows that the prime minister and his government have not only lost sight of what it takes to fight the various facets of hate, but they also seem to care little for the lives or the fundamental human rights of the Palestinian people, whether here in Canada or those suffering atrocities at the hands of the Israeli government.
For the last nine months Housefather has promoted and supported anti-Palestinian racist and Islamophobic narratives (along with Conservative MPs). In addition, he joined with the Conservatives and two Liberal MPs to oppose an NDP motion in the House of Commons calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Palestinians, and criticized those of his Liberal colleagues who supported the motion. The motion also included a number of other important provisions to help the Palestinian people which he opposed, including sustained and unhindered humanitarian aid for Palestinians, ending Canadian arms exports to a state committing atrocities against defenceless civilians, and an end to a genocide being committed against a people who have been enduring the longest and most brutal occupation since World War 2. In addition, Housefather travelled to Israel, along with several other MPs and a delegation of Canadian Jewish community representatives, to stand in solidarity with and defend the Israeli government whose political leaders have called for the extermination of Palestinians from Gaza.
Based on his record since last fall it is practically guaranteed that the platform Housefather’s new role affords him will be used to push pro-Israel narratives within the heart of the Canadian government, making him an agent of Israel. And this is happening at a time when Canada is holding a public inquiry into foreign interference. Judging from his previous actions he will likely use his new position to call for suppressing the freedom of expression rights of Palestinian-Canadians and malign and slander them by labelling their anti-genocide protests as “antisemitic” as they assert their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Thankfully at least one Liberal MP, Shafqat Ali from Brampton-Centre, had the courage to speak the truth about the unsuitability of Housefather in this new role. In a statement given to CBC News MP Ali said, “I think his appointment won’t be helpful in addressing antisemitism or Islamophobia because he lacks judgment and has contributed more in dividing Canadians in the last eight months.”
It is now time for other Parliamentarians to wake up and smell the coffee. Those MPs and Senators who oppose Canada’s amoral response to the genocide of Palestinians need join Ali in opposing Housefather’s appointment. They need to tell the prime minister the folly of this appointment and demand that the position be eliminated given that Deborah Lyons has a similar role, or that he appoint one of the other Jewish MPs who clearly have a more balanced viewpoint on the issue of Israel and Palestine.
In the past when Conservative MPs have engaged with racists and white supremacists, shared racist or Islamophobic messaging on social media, or pushed racist narratives, the prime minister and Liberal MPs have condemned Conservative leaders for not calling on them to resign or removing them from caucus. The same rules should apply to Housefather whose support of Israel shows him to be an anti-Palestinian racist and Islamophobe, and whose words and actions show that he is unfit for this new advisory role let alone to be a Member of Parliament.
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