Anthony Housefather

Liberals win Mount Royal, Outremont, St. Laurent

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The federal Liberal strongholds in the west end of Montreal maintained that status Monday night, although for a large part of the evening, the Mount Royal race was quite tight.

Anthony Housefather was declared the winner at around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday, but the evening started off as a nailbiter between him and Conservative candidate Neil Oberman. The riding has been Liberal since 1940, but has previously come out strong for the Conservatives, particularly when Stephen Harper was Prime Minister. As of Tuesday morning, with 203 of 204 polls reporting, Housefather had 50.9 percent of the vote to 40.67 percent for Oberman, 4.65 percent for the NDP and 3.3 percent for the BQ. In 2021, Housefather won with 57 percent of the vote to 24.46 percent for the Conservatives.

“Thank you to the people of Mount Royal for once again putting their trust in me, serving my riding and country is the honour of a lifetime,” Housefather posted.

Oberman, reacting to the call during the evening of a Liberal minority government, told The Suburban, ”people have a vote, they have a voice, they have a choice and they want change.

“This is not a referendum on a single person,” he added. “This is a referendum on a party, on their policies and on their politics.”

At Housefather headquarters, his supporters reflected on the short but intense campaign in Mount Royal.

“I thought the campaign at times was not as respectful as I would have liked,” said Côte St. Luc councillor Steven Erdelyi. “Anthony Housefather has been an excellent MP, the best MP I’ve ever had the chance to work with.”

Also at his headquarters were CSL Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, Marvin Rotrand of United Against Hate and former D’Arcy McGee MNA Lawrence Bergman, the co-chair of Housefather’s campaign.

“We reached a lot of people throughout the campaign, and had a great group of volunteers,” Bergman told The Suburban.

The Liberals won more easily and quickly in the St. Laurent and Outremont ridings, where Emmanuella Lambropoulos and Rachel Bendayan respectively were declared the winners before midnight. As of Tuesday morning with 170 of 171 polls reporting, Bendayan won with 55 percent of the vote, to 12.6 percent for the Conservatives, 12.2 percent for the BQ, 10.6 percent for the NDP and 9.67 percent for the Green Party and its co-leader Jonathan Pedneault.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust,” Bendayan posted along with a video showing her reaction to her victory.

In St. Laurent, with 164 of 166 polls reporting Lambropoulos was the winner with 59.1 percent, to the Conservatives with 28 percent, the BQ at 5.7 percent, the NDP at 4.5 percent and the Green Party at 1.6 percent. n

Liberals win Mount Royal, Outremont, St. Laurent Read More »

Cotler home split in Mount Royal election

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

As those who follow politics know, it’s not unusual for close family members to differ on who they support in elections, but that is usually expressed within the confines of a home or perhaps amongst close friends and relatives.

The most famous case of a very public family split, and a good-natured one, has been between James Carville, the folksy and sometimes wild campaign strategist for former President Bill Clinton; and his wife Mary Matalin, who served under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and his son George W. Bush. They’ve appeared on TV together over the years to express their differing opinions.

The Mount Royal riding has its own prominent husband and wife who are voting different ways, and are expressing their choices publicly.

Former federal Justice Minister and former Mount Royal MP Irwin Cotler has been quoted as supporting his successor, Anthony Housefather, for re-election. Housefather posted the quote and a picture of himself and Cotler on April 6.

The Irwin Cotler quote says, “Anthony Housefather has been an exemplary Member of Parliament. His business and legal career, as well as his time as a councillor and Mayor, prepared him to truly deliver for his constituents. He fights for the communities he represents and does so with commitment and integrity. It is my pleasure to work closely with him and to endorse his reelection.”

(Notably, Cotler made another personal – not party – endorsement of Bloc Québécois Lac Saint-Jean MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, saying he “has been an outstanding member of Parliament, a leading voice for the struggle for human rights domestically and internationally, and one who works across party lines in search of the common good. His candidacy warrants support regardless of party affiliation.”)

But on April 8, Conservative Mount Royal candidate Neil Oberman posted a video on Instagram featuring himself and Cotler’s wife Ariela, on her lawn, both holding an Oberman poster.

“So happy to be here on this snowy April day, on my lawn, and with you,” Ariela says.

“Today everybody, your voice, your choice, will be heard for Neil Oberman and Ariela Cotler,” Oberman says. “I want you to come out on April 28, I want to make sure we take our voice back, that we’re safe, secure and prosperous, because there are no more choices. Do not stay at home, come out and we will have a better country and a better community.”

Ariela then says, “I add my words and I urge you, come out and vote, it’s the future of our families, our children, our grandchildren, and about all of Canada.”

Oberman then says, “I guess it’s going to be voting for Neil Oberman, and voting for the Conservative Party!”

Ariela adds, “Of course it is! Vote, of course, for Neil Oberman and the Conservative Party, and I wish you luck!”

“Thank you,” Oberman replies.

On April 9, Oberman posted a picture of himself shaking hands with Irwin Cotler, posting, “thank you Irwin Cotler for taking the time to share your wisdom and guidance on humanitarian issues that do and should matter and to your dear wife Ariela for joining our Canada First Conservative voices for change.”

The political differences, since this story first appeared April 9, became national news. Irwin Cotler, in terms of his and his wife’s voting choices, says he lives in a “pluralistic household.” n

Cotler home split in Mount Royal election Read More »

Election 2025: Mount Royal

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Mount Royal riding has elected Liberals since 1940, but some elections in recent years have seen fairly close results, particularly as Côte St. Luc and Hampstead voters came out strongly for the Conservatives, because of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s strong support of Israel.The riding encompasses Côte St. Luc, Hampstead, part of Côte des Neiges and the Town of Mount Royal. The Liberal vote has been stronger in the latter two areas. In the 2021 election, the Liberals won Mount Royal with 57.71 percent of the vote.

Liberals

Anthony Housefather has been the Liberal MP for Mount Royal since 2015. Before that, he was Mayor of Côte St. Luc, a CSL councillor during the merger era from 2002 to 2006 and a Hampstead councillor in the 1990s. Housefather considered leaving the Liberals after his party voted for what many considered an anti-Israel motion, but ultimately stayed with the party. He was also the only MP to vote against Bill C-13, the revision of the Official Languages Act that by reference recognizes Quebec’s language law and gives it application over federal areas of jurisdiction, for which he was briefly demoted. Last year, Housefather was appointed the Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations to former Prime Minister Trudeau.

Conservatives

Neil Oberman, a lawyer with Spiegel Ryan, is a partner in the firm’s civil and commercial litigation group and his practice is focused on commercial and civil disputes. Oberman is best known for successfully obtaining numerous injunctions to keep anti-Israel and antisemitic protesters well away from Jewish institutions. This followed a blockade of Federation CJA by protesters in 2024 and his work resulted in over 45 Jewish institutions being protected. Oberman has also successfully taken up the cases of Jewish students encountering harassment and antisemitism at Concordia and McGill.

NDP

Adam Frank was born in Canada, educated in Britain and France, and was a volunteer at an orphanage in Kenya. He has been a teacher of history, music, English and French at international schools in several different countries. “It was always my dream to become actively involved in politics once I returned to my native land,” he says.

Bloc Québécois

A Mount Royal candidate has not been named yet as of press time..

Green Party

Jacqueline Chamberland is the party’s candidate for Mount Royal.

People’s Party of Canada

Daniel Gervais was born in 1984 in Laval and is now a Town of Mount Royal resident. Gervais studied economics, business, and political science, and left university to help grow a family and friend-run private company, which was later successfully acquired. Gervais also co-founded a Canadian pet care company and, in China, managed operations and quality control for a prominent dog waste bag brand before returning to Montreal. Locally, Gervais serves on the EMSB parent committee and the Dunrae Gardens Elementary School governing board. n

Election 2025: Mount Royal Read More »

CSL Mayor, longtime volunteers awarded King Charles III medal

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By: Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and longtime volunteers Susie Berkson-Schwartz and Joy Rodgers were presented with the King Charles III Coronation medal during a ceremony at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium recently.

The award is given for outstanding achievement in public service to the community and to Canada.

The medals were presented by Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather. CSL council was on hand, as well as longtime councillor Glenn Nashen, the founder of volunteer Citizens On Patrol and Emergency Medical Services, and Brownstein’s wife Elaine.

Brownstein, who was first elected to CSL council in 1990 and became Mayor in 2016, was honoured for his achievements on council, including establishing the CSL Dramatic Society, co-chairing the CSL Demerger Committee, promoting Canadian unity through a Staying Canadian resolution just after the 1995 Quebec referendum, and introducing the Fun Card providing access to recreational facilities. His was also the first city to legislate that masks be worn in public places during the COVID pandemic in 2020. Brownstein has also called on Montreal to take strong action against anti-Israel agitators.

Brownstein said Elaine has always been there for him, whether for personal, health and business issues.

“If anybody needs an advocate, just call her,” the Mayor added, to loud applause.

Brownstein also thanked his parents for instilling in him the value of community and becoming involved at a young age.

“Whether it was with Federation CJA, or politics at the federal, provincial or municipal level, I was always inspired to do more….I always say ‘enjoy every moment of life.’ That’s all we can do and do the best we can by trying to make other people happy.”

Brownstein said the award also goes to the CSL council and city directors.

“I can’t be a good Mayor without the staff and the council behind me. I am really lucky because all the directors who were there are still with me nine years after I became Mayor.”

Berkson-Schwartz was honoured for being a part of the volunteer Citizens On Patrol since 2006. She is also at almost all CSL council meetings.

Housefather said that in her role with vCOP, “Susie has taken on many important tasks, including organizing the vCOP presence at major events such as the Winter Carnival, Ruth Kovac Blood Drive, Canada Day celebrations, and Remembrance Day activities. She also coordinates the vCOP representation at local events in places like Trudeau Park and Ashkelon Gardens. Susie works closely with city staff to make sure these events run smoothly and are enjoyable for the public, making her a key figure in the community.

“Susie’s exceptional service and commitment to her community make her a very deserving recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.”

Rodgers was honoured for her 26 years at CSL’s Emergency Medical Services, having joined at the age of 18 after working at local pools.

“She’s always had service to her community in her blood,” Housefather said. At EMS, “she is an experienced medic, driver and instructor. She led the quality assurance team and was in charge of recruiting, all while continuing to dedicate hundreds of hours of volunteer service to help others. While not on shift at EMS, Joy is an active mom of two, a wife, an elementary school first aid coordinator, a CPR instructor and a cancer survivor and advocate.” n

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Montrealers commemorate 80 years since Auschwitz liberation

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Gelber Centre was packed Monday night for the Montreal Holocaust Museum’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp where more than a million Jews were slaughtered.

On hand were the Consul-General of Germany, the Deputy Consul of Italy, federal Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland; former federal Liberal Pablo Rodriguez, who plans to seek the Quebec Liberal leadership; Liberal MPs Anthony Housefather, Anna Gainey, Alexandra Mendès and Rachel Bendayan; and D’Arcy McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass. UFC star Georges St-Pierre was on hand earlier in the evening.

MHM president Jacques Saada thanked the large audience for attending, saying “it means so much — today, especially, as we are going through a revival of antisemitism around the world.”

Rodriguez asked the community to work together “for a future in which such atrocities like the Holocaust never, never happen again. Let us commit ourselves to transmitting this memory to future generations so that history does not repeat itself and human dignity is preserved for all.”

The main event at the commemoration was an interview of Holocaust survivor George Reinitz by longtime CBC journalist Peter Mansbridge. Born in Hungary and now in his 93rd year, Reinitz came to Canada in 1948, and became a world class wrestler and a successful businessman with Jaymar Furniture, founded by Reinitz in 1956.

Reinitz, who was deported to Auschwitz at the age of 12 in 1944 and was the only member of his immediate family to survive, told the harrowing story of his daily battles to find food to eat — this included risking his life to leave his barracks at night to find discarded potato skins, which he shared with others. One time, he was caught, but an intoxicated guard let him live.

Asked by Manbridge if he was worried that history could repeat itself, especially with the current level of antisemitism, Reinitz said that education is the way to counter this.

“There are always going to be people who want to kill you, whether it’s because you’re a Jew or a Christian” he said. “We came a long way from those days when I was a kid. Antisemitism is going to be here forever. We’re lucky we have an Israel where we can go and fight and try to survive.”

Mansbridge told Reinitz that one way to counter antisemitism is to “make sure people like you tell their story.

“Without you reminding us of what happened, people will forget….The answers are education and leaving behind a record, which you’ve done many times.”

Reinitz later received a surprise, a wrestling sweater from longtime Concordia wrestling coach Victor Zilberman and a letter of tribute from Wrestling Canada read by Zilberman’s son David, a Canadian Olympic freestyle wrestler. n

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Mount Royal federal election: Undecideds dominate, Tories ahead of Libs

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Suburban conducted a small poll of 150 people in the Hampstead, CSL, CDN and TMR areas of Mount Royal riding last week regarding the upcoming federal election that could be held as early as this year if the minority Liberal government loses a confidence vote. The riding has been a Liberal stronghold since 1940.

The results demonstrate an interesting split between the incumbent, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, Conservative candidate Neil Oberman and those who are undecided, and some out of left field choices. Over the years, many have lamented that they cannot vote for Housefather and against Trudeau.

According to our straw poll results, Oberman had the support of 31.3 percent of respondents, Housefather had the support of 25.3 percent and 37.3 percent were undecided, with three percent for whoever the NDP candidate will be. Those who were undecided were split between Housefather and Oberman in CSL, Hampstead and TMR, and generally between Housefather and the NDP in Côte des Neiges.

Some comments from residents in TMR:

One undecided voter who is leaning towards Oberman said, “I voted for the Liberals for 30 years. Do I vote for the Liberal trainwreck or study what Oberman is doing? This is what many Townies are thinking.”

Said another resident: “Housefather is not my choice, but I’ll vote Liberal anyway.”

“I’ve always been Liberal, but I don’t like either candidate,” said another.

“I’ve given up on Trudeau, he’s had his time,” said an undecided voter. “Let’s see what he does [in terms of staying on as leader] and then I’ll decide.”

One TMR resident said he’ll vote for the Bloc Québécois.

“They have the best interest of the province at heart,” said the English-speaker.

The responses in Côte des Neiges were more split between the Liberals and NDP, with at least one respondent expressing a dislike for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Another said, “unfortunately I love Housefather, but I can’t stand Trudeau.”

A Housefather voter said, “I don’t know anything about Oberman.”

There were also some out of the ordinary responses.

One anglophone undecided voter said, “I’m not voting for Housefather, he’s anti-French. Anglophones should get out of their enclaves and learn the French culture.”

“I’m done with Trudeau,” said an undecided voter. “he acted badly during the pandemic, like a dictator. F–kin’ Trudeau.”

In Hampstead, many chose Oberman and others were undecided.

“I’m allergic to Trudeau,” said a voter. “Anthony is a good representative, but he’s in the wrong party.”

“If Trudeau wins, I’m leaving Canada!” said another.

One couple, originally from Vancouver, chose the Green Party.

Another couple chose the NDP.

“They’re the only ones talking about Gaza,” they said.

In Côte St. Luc, the Housefather-Oberman-undecided vote was split.

“There’s no doubt in my mind I’m voting for Oberman, I will not vote for Liberals again,” said CSL resident Steven White. “As much as I like Anthony as a human being, I do not like the leader he represents and I cannot in good conscience vote the Liberals in again.” n

Mount Royal federal election: Undecideds dominate, Tories ahead of Libs Read More »

McGill will only tolerate peaceful and time limited protests:Saini

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

McGill will only tolerate peaceful protests on campus going forward, and not situations like the pro-Palestinian encampment that was on the university grounds from April 27 to July 10, McGill president Deep Saini said Aug. 28.

The encampment was cleared by a private company hired by McGill while the SPVM, as well as the SQ, surrounded the area around the campus.

Saini was interviewed at a virtual Zoom town hall by Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, who is also the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism. Hundreds of people listened in.

Saini said McGill’s actions during the encampment were not perfect, “but did we handle it as well as we could have under the circumstances, I think more or less, yes. The rear view mirror is always very instructive….We are working without a playbook, we’re learning from every experience, and saying ‘how do we do the next thing better?’”

Housefather then asked if there will be enhanced security at McGill this semester, and what will the university do to ensure people feel safer and not have to hear antisemitic chants and have incidents like an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hanging from the Roddick gates or the occupation of a university building and terrorizing its occupants, as took place.

Saini replied that if there is a peaceful protest on campus “that is not also engaging in targeted hate against a particular community or individual, and it’s an expression of your political opinion, by all means, do that.

“But a protest has a time limit on it. You can’t say ‘I’m going to set up an encampment and that’s my form of protest,’ or ‘I’m going to take over a building.’ Time limited, specified subject in a specified place, you express your views and you move on and you have a debate.”

Housefather said, “and not carrying symbols of terrorist organizations, not chanting things that a terrorist organization would chant.”

Saini replied that “once you cross the line, then we have multiple levels of security now — I don’t want to go into the details of it — but what we have put in place is that depending on the nature of an offence, we will deploy security. We have our own security, we have access to additional help from outside and we have a better understanding with the Montreal police — of what the Montreal police can and cannot do.”

Saini said he feels “we have all the right steps in place that give us the best, at this moment, tools to deal with a disruption.”

Housefather also asked about alleged “abuse of podium” situations in which professor expresses his or her view of the Israel-Hamas war in a class where the subject is not relevant, or where students feel uncomfortable if they take a position contrary to that of the educator.

Saini replied that this past Aug, 22, a note was sent to all faculty and staff “laying out the rules of engagement going forward.

“They include a clear message to our faculty of what is permissible under academic freedom and freedom of speech, and what constitutes abuse of podium, particularly when you’re in a position of power. Nobody would be allowed to abuse their position or podium to make a statement projecting their own beliefs to the people.” n

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Mount Royal riding residents receive King Charles III Coronation medal

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Twenty-one Mount Royal federal riding residents were honoured with the King Charles III Coronation Medal during an Aug. 29 ceremony hosted by Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather and held at the Ashkelon Gardens behind Côte St. Luc city hall.

The honourees were recognized for outstanding achievement in public service and volunteerism. Mount Royal includes Côte St. Luc, Hampstead, Town of Mount Royal and part of Côte des Neiges-NDG.

More than 100 people were in attendance at the ceremony, including the recipients, Housefather, D’Arcy McGee MNA Elisabeth Prass, CSL Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and other elected officials, as well as numerous community notables. The medal is awarded to those who have “made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region of, or community in, Canada, or attained an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.” Community members nominated recipients and 30,000 people are receiving or have received the medal.

The honourees included Town of Mount Royal councillor Antoine Tayar, who is involved in numerous community organizations; Côte St. Luc councillor, and longtime lawyer and activist Dida Berku; Nida Quirapas, president of the Filipino community organization FAMAS, a long-time educator and a helper of the needy and bereaved;; and Hampstead councillor and Dawson College president Michael Goldwax, who started Hampstead’s annual blood drive and has volunteered in the community since the 1990s.

Other honourees included financial security advisor and founder of the Montrealers Helping Montrealers group Leah Lipkowitz; Côte des Neiges-NDG councillor Stephanie Valenzuela; longtime dentists and community volunteers Andrew Toeman and Peter Safran; chartered accountant Ariel Sabbah, a leader in the Sephardic community; Natalie Olarte Pelausa, 97, creator of the Philippine Benevolent and Scholarship Society of Quebec; longtime community activist Maria Peluso; TMR entepreneur Tania Naim; Federation CJA president and CEO Yair Szlak and Eta Yudin, vice-president, Quebec of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, recognized for their tireless fight against antisemitism, particularly after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel; Mount Royal Volunteer Centre president Caroline Emblem; former Hampstead councillor Lillian Vineberg, who is deeply involved in community organizations and in activism; Brian Blumer of the Knights of Pythias; Sharon Nelson, first vice-president of the Jamaica Association of Montreal; student activists Jamie Fabian, also an EMSB commisioner, and Nicole Nashen, who have also been countering anti-Israel protests; and former Côte St. Luc councillor and longtime St. Richard’s Church volunteer Joe Panunto.

Tayar, who was born in Lebanon, came to Canada in 2015 and became a citizen in 2019 and a TMR councillor in 2021, is very active in the community, including with the Saint Joseph of Mount Royal parish where he is involved as warden and extraordinary minister of communion; with the Breakfast Club of Canada, which provides students with free meals as one in three children in Canada do not eat regularly; mentorships for students; and being in leadership roles of several chambers of commerce across the country.

“I really believe in giving back,” he told The Suburban. “I’m committed to working with people in the community. You have to be an active part of where you live. I was always active, even before coming to Canada, in every community in which I lived, including Lebanon and Dubai. This is because of my education, personality and values.”

Regarding the honour bestowed upon him last week, “I’m very excited, thrilled and honoured. It sends a good message for everyone who comes to Canada that, if you are part of the community, you do the necessary things for people and you share their concerns and you help them — if your values are the same as that of the host country, the sky’s the limit.” n

Mount Royal riding residents receive King Charles III Coronation medal Read More »

Week of antisemitic incidents includes posters and cemetery vandalism

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By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

A dozen posters with swastikas seen in Outremont saying the federal Conservatives and Liberals, and provincial CAQ, and Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, are aligned with Nazis because of their support of Israel, have been roundly condemned.

The posters related to Housefather, taped up at several corners in Outremont and the Mile End, says the MP declared “we helped build this country” and features an Israeli flag with a swastika instead of the Star of David. The poster also features a Nazi flag attributing the building of the Autobahn and “much more” to the Third Reich. Housefather is then equated to a neo-Nazi, and encourages him to “get out of Canada.”

The MP posted a response last week, saying on X “my family has been here since the 19th century and we have indeed helped build this country. I am not going anywhere. Sorry antisemites. You may not like what I have to say but I will keep saying it and I will keep being a proud Jew and a Zionist.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted, “Anthony, I’m angry that this happened to you. It’s antisemitic, and it’s disgusting. Jewish Canadians indeed helped build this country and will always have a home here. We stand with you, and the entire community, against this hate.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs stated on social media, “thank you Anthony Housefather for always wearing your Jewish and Canadian identities proudly. Antisemitism and hate directed towards public officials (or anyone) has no place in Canada.”

Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Special Envoy For Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, wrote, “this sign is not only targeting Anthony Housefather, “but all Jewish Canadians, 90 percent of whom could be defined as Zionists. Our country has gained so much from the contributions of our Jewish community; it is past time for the rest of us to come together and say ‘no more.’ It is our duty to stand in front of them to protect them, behind them to support them, and beside them in true friendship.”

Late last week, Trudeau named Housefather his Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism. Housefather’s role will be to “advise the Prime Minister and ministers on the development and co-ordination of the Government of Canada’s work to combat antisemitism.”

On Canada Day, the stones on top of several gravestones at the Kehal Israel cemetery in DDO were rearranged in the shape of a swastika.

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi commented that, “it is absolutely abhorrent and revolting to defile the dead with swastikas. This desecration at the Kehal Israel cemetery in Montreal is beyond contempt. Justin Trudeau, step aside and get out of the way so we can reclaim our country.”

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre retweeted Levi’s post and wrote, “we cannot close our eyes to the disgusting acts of antisemitism that are happening in our country every day. The Prime Minister must finally act to stop these displays of antisemitism. If he won’t, a common sense Conservative government will.”

CIJA posted, “should we therefore ask ourselves whether the vision of Valérie Plante is that of a metropolis where antisemitism can flourish freely, to the detriment of the tranquility and success of its citizens and its entrepreneurs? Is it that of a city where one can calmly and without consequence come and defile a Jewish grave with a filthy swastika?”

B’nai Brith Canada stated that, sadly “this is not an isolated incident, but part of a disturbing pattern of unchecked and unmitigated antisemitism plaguing the city. Such acts of hatred cannot be tolerated. The Jewish community in Montreal deserves safety and respect. Not enough is being done! Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante must do more than offer words of condemnation. We demand immediate and concrete action to combat antisemitism in the City of Montreal. The time for passive responses is over.”

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre also reacted, posting “this incident is another reminder of what Canadian Jews are up against. What will it take for Plante and all leaders to take concrete action to confront this hatred that’s invading our communities?” n

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Housefather to remain with Liberals

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By Joel Goldenberg and Suburban Staff
The Suburban

The Liberals and NDP co sponsored a motion in the house of commons calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and a halt in arms exports to Israel. The government has in fact halted arms sales to Israel for its defence. Liberal MPs Anthony Housefather, Ben Carr and Marco Mendicino were the only Liberals to vote against. The Conservatives unanimously opposed the motion. Housefather said he felt isolated and that the revised motion was too hurriedly passed. After this event Housefather began a period of self-reflection.

The Trudeau government, currently low in the polls, has also gone through a series of scandals in recent years, regarding ethics issues on the part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the SNC Lavalin judicial interference affair, the WE charity scandal, the alienation of India after a disastrous visit, the revelation Trudeau wore blackface as a teen and as an adult, the $60 million dollar overspending on an APP (arrivescan) where people who did no work received cheques for an App that malfunctioned, and, most recently, revelations about the government’s lack of action regarding Chinese government interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.

Housefather said that the NDP-Liberal motion overwhelmingly passed in March “was a blow not only to me but to many within the Jewish community. It followed a wave of antisemitism across the world that over the last five months has left many Canadian Jews feeling bewildered and intimidated and fearful for their future in this country.” The MP added that he heard from thousands of constituents and that his feelings about the resolution “are widely shared,” including by “many Jewish Canadians who have previously voted Liberal, who have been particularly impacted by the events of the last five months. But notwithstanding his anger over the NDP-Liberal resolution he decided to stay in the Liberal party.

The community reacted:

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) reacted, posting, “Anthony has long been a determined voice for the Jewish community and his decision to stay in the Liberal caucus is one we hope will result in meaningful action on the part of the Government of Canada to address the toxic levels of hatred towards Jews and the Jewish state that have infected Canadian society.”

But Housefather’s decision has been a source of some criticism and debate in his riding. Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, who has been publicly pushing for Housefather to cross the floor to the Conservatives, says that while he agrees with the goals for Canada in Housefather’s statement, “…it seems these aspirations better resonate with Conservative values rather than contemporary Liberal ideals. Anthony, an industrious MP, undoubtedly prioritizes his constituents. Nonetheless, I find the optimism surrounding Anthony’s task somewhat unrealistic in achieving success. I’d rather be represented by a party currently aligned with these values, instead of attempting to sway the views of the Liberals. The fact that the Liberal party previously ignored Anthony raises the question: what has prompted a change now?”

Mount Royal constituent Dan Vigderhous addressed Housefather on social media, posting, “I’ve always voted Liberal, and having you as the MP made it even easier. But you’ve been kicked around, insulted and disrespected by Trudeau. He is reactive instead of proactive. The thought of losing the strongest Liberal riding in the country is obviously what spurred him to placate you.”

Community activist Joannie Tansky commented that, “…as a Jew, nothing in the Liberal Party aligns with Anthony Housefather’s professed love of Israel. Nor does it align with Quebec Anglos who Anthony also professes to love, who were tossed under the bus by Justin.”

Former Mount Royal Conservative riding president Jeff Joseph had this to say: “Anthony ultimately acted in the best interests of himself. Ultimately, he will have to defend the interests of his party and NDP coalition partner to voters. Best of luck.”

CSL city councillor Lior Azerrad said, “All the community leaders are going to represent the interests of our community and the interests of Canada. Each of us must choose for ourselves where we stand and whom we stand next to.” n

Housefather to remain with Liberals Read More »

Judge extends injunction against anti-Israel protests

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By Beryl Wajsman, Editor
The Suburban

Superior Court Justice Chantal Masse extended the injunction against pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests near Jewish institutions until April 10. The injunction was originally granted by Justice Serge Gaudet. Attorney Neil Oberman, Spiegel Sohmer senior partner, had originally obtained a 10-day provisional injunction.

The proceedings before Justice Masse March 15 were attended by a dozen political and community leaders including Amb. Deborah Lyons,Canada’s Special Envoy on Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, D’Arcy McGee MNA Elizabeth Prass, Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, City Councillor Sonny Moroz, Federation CJA CEO Yair Szlak and CIJA Quebec Vice-President Eta Yudin.

The extension maintains the ban on protests within 50 metres of the sidewalks in front of the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue on St. Kevin Ave., the Federation CJA building on Côte Ste. Catherine Rd., the YM-YWHA building on Westbury Ave., Herzliah High School on Mountain Sights Ave. and United Talmud Torahs of Montreal on St. Kevin.

The injunction is against Montréal4Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement Montreal, Alliance4Palestine.QC and Independent Jewish Voices, and Bara Iyad Abuhamed. The latter faces charges of assaulting a police officer during a trespassing protest by an anti-Israel mob inside Carrefour Laval.

On March 5 an anti-Israel mob of some 100 protested in front of the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal against the synagogue hosting a trade fair called The Great Israeli Real Estate Event. The day before, some 60 anti-Israel protesters barred the doors to Cummings House on Côte Ste. Catherine Rd. for four hours during an event with three Israeli speakers. Audience attendees were yelled at, spat on and shoved while the mob blocked the entrance, yelling antisemitic threats.

Federation CJA CEO Yair Szlak said he was pleased with the extension. “Justice was done once again,” he said. “We’re very happy that the court recognized the urgency and importance of protecting the Jewish community. While freedom of speech and protests are part of our democratic rights, doing so while seizing a Jewish building and preventing Jews from living a free Jewish life is not acceptable in this country.” n

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