Flawed Definition of Antisemitism Comes to Queen's Park: Jewish Group Urges MPPs to Reject Bill 168
Press Conference
Tuesday, February 25, 9:00am
Queen's Park Media Studio, 111 Wellesley St. W., Toronto
With participation from:
Suzanne Berliner Weiss, Holocaust survivor and member of Independent Jewish Voices-Toronto
Azeezah Kanji, Legal Scholar and writer, Noor Cultural Centre
Sydney Nestel, Independent Jewish Voices-Toronto
Jim Turk, Centre for Free Expression - Ryerson University
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) is urging Ontario's MPPs to reject Bill 168, the Combating Antisemitism Act, which would implement a controversial definition of antisemitism that has divided the Jewish community. Introduced as a private member's bill by MPP Will Bouma in December, Bill 168 would require that Ontario be guided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
IJV firmly rejects the IHRA definition because it conflates antisemitism with legitimate criticism of Israel. As such, it represents a threat to the many Ontarians who support or work for Palestinian human rights, and to the freedom of expression of all in the province. Of the 11 examples of antisemitism listed in the IHRA's working definition, 7 of them make specific mention of Israel. IJV argues that the definition itself is vague, while the examples given by the IHRA have been used to silence dissent regarding Israeli policies vis-à-vis Palestinians.
IJV is currently running a national campaign to challenge the adoption of the IHRA definition by public bodies across the country. Montreal recently became the third city in Canada to reject the definition following its adoption by the federal Liberal government as part of its "Anti-racism strategy" in June. Similar motions failed last year in both Vancouver and Calgary. This was due in part to the work of IJV members and allies in those cities who campaigned their local municipal councils to reject the IHRA's dangerous definition.
IJV applauds all members of the Ontario Legislature who wish to do more to fight antisemitism. However, adopting the IHRA's definition is wrong. We are urging MPPs to commit to combating antisemitism, but to vote against Bill 168 in the name of protecting free speech and an open debate on Israel-Palestine.
SOURCE Independant Jewish Voices
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