Pierre Poilievre Criticizes Liberal Government at Antisemitism Commemoration Ceremony

During a commemoration ceremony held in Ottawa to mark the first anniversary of the October 7th attack on Israel, Canada’s political leaders took the opportunity to address the troubling rise of antisemitism in the country. The event, organized by the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, saw speeches by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, each offering differing perspectives on addressing this complex issue.

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party, directed his remarks towards the Liberal government, accusing them of fostering an environment that contributes to antisemitic incidents. “This ideology that seeks to divide our people based on race and ethnicity, that has led to these horrifying outbursts of hatred, are not from the bottom up. They are from the top down,” Poilievre asserted.

Poilievre further criticized the Liberal administration for incidents such as controversial appointments and federal contracts, suggesting these as examples of governmental failings. He vowed that if his party forms the government, they would take measures such as defunding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and withdrawing federal contributions from universities perceived to spread antisemitism.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who spoke before Poilievre, emphasized the importance of a unified stand against antisemitism. “What makes this barbaric attack that much more agonizing is the fact that you’re reliving this nightmare every single day,” Trudeau stated, acknowledging the ongoing threats faced by Jewish communities. He called for a collaborative effort to “stop this rising hate and to reverse its spread.”

The commemoration also included remarks by Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, who lauded Canada as a steadfast ally of Israel while also questioning some of the Canadian government’s recent decisions. Moed acknowledged new Canadian measures, such as designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, as positive steps.

The political tensions were underscored by further developments in the House of Commons following the ceremony. Conservative Leader Poilievre was barred from speaking in the House for the day after he accused Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly of “pandering to Hamas supporters.” This was the third instance of Poilievre defying Speaker Greg Fergus‘s rulings on parlance, leading to his temporary silencing on procedural grounds. Fergus issued a statement urging members to uphold parliamentary decorum.

This incident followed Poilievre’s questioning of Minister Joly during a heated session in the House, where he asked her to categorically condemn antisemitic chants at Canadian protests, which Joly sidestepped, focusing instead on the victims of the October 7th attack.

These tensions manifest deeper divisions within Canadian politics, underscoring the challenges of addressing such deeply rooted societal issues amidst a politically charged environment. Each side accuses the other of failing to take adequate action, setting the stage for ongoing debates as the country grapples with rising antisemitism and its political ramifications.