Canadian universities take a stand on anti-Semitism

(Ottawa) The presidents of Canada’s leading universities say any call for genocide of the Jewish people violates their institution’s code of conduct, but they remain cautious about whether this ban also extends to statements in favor of “elimination of the State of Israel”.

Five federal Liberal MPs asked this question to the leaders of 27 universities in December, faced with the resurgence of anti-Semitic speeches since the attacks perpetrated by Hamas militants against civilians in southern Israel on October 7.

Israel responded in a war that Hamas officials in Gaza say has left more than 25,000 Palestinians dead, including many children.

Since the start of this war, police across Canada have reported a sharp increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes. Local leaders say they live with fears that the Jewish people have not experienced for generations.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, himself Jewish, was among five MPs who wrote to the heads of Canada’s largest universities last month asking pointed questions about their policies on anti-Semitism on campus.

The other signatories were Montreal Liberal MPs David Lametti and Anna Gainey, Winnipeg MP Ben Carr and Torontonian Marco Mendicino.

The deputies asked the rectors to provide, by January 20, written answers to a series of questions, including whether a call for the “genocide of the Jewish people” or the “elimination of the State of Israel” would violate their code of conduct on campus.

The responses, published Wednesday by Mr. Housefather, all affirm that calling for genocide would violate their code of conduct, “regardless of the context,” rejoices the Montreal MP.

These clear positions contrast sharply, moreover, with the responses provided by certain American university leaders last year during Congressional hearings on anti-Semitism on campuses.

Former University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill ultimately resigned after initially telling elected officials that decisions about what would violate an institution’s code of conduct “depend on context.”

More nuance on the “elimination of the State of Israel”

On the question of how Canadian universities could respond to calls for the “elimination of the State of Israel,” the responses were fewer and more nuanced, Mr. Housefather noted. Only eight of 27 university leaders addressed the issue, some more directly than others, he said in an interview Wednesday. “Sometimes it’s a little more subtle. »

What was clear, he said, was that some rectors and principals saw the issue as more “complex” and therefore tried to be more careful in their responses. “I hope that the call for the eradication of a nation, which is a form of genocide, will also be addressed,” said Mr. Housefather.

The rector of the University of Montreal, Daniel Jutras, explained that “the Canadian and Quebec Charters and the Criminal Code, which condemn incitement to racial hatred as well as any discriminatory expression, apply on our campuses and to all members of our university community.

“These laws prohibit the call for genocide of the Jewish people, the Palestinian people, as well as any other identifiable people or group,” underlines Rector Jutras. “As violence continues in Israel and Gaza at the cost of human lives, the University of Montreal and the members of its community will continue to play their fundamental role of producing and transmitting knowledge, with rigor, openness, the tolerance, delicacy and empathy that this difficult period requires. »

The rector of the University of Quebec in Montreal, Stéphane Pallage, first responded to the deputies’ letter with a more general missive in which he indicated that “calling to hatred was not tolerated” at UQAM .

When Mr. Housefather pointed out that he was not clearly answering the questions raised by MPs, Mr. Pallage responded briefly: “A call for genocide violates all of the values ​​of the University, as well as our policies and the Charter of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Under no circumstances can it be tolerated.”

Concordia University, which experienced violent incidents last fall, denounced the “call for the genocide of the Jewish people” without mentioning the “elimination of the State of Israel”, as did the University of Sherbrooke and McGill University, which condemn “any form of call to genocide”.

Some come forward

Only three leaders unequivocally indicated that direct statements demanding the “elimination of the State of Israel” would violate their establishment’s code of conduct.

The rector of Laval University, Sophie D’Amours, responded that “the call for genocide against the Jewish people or the elimination of the State of Israel” effectively constituted a violation of the university’s code of conduct .

The head of Queen’s University wrote in his January 18 letter that “a call for the elimination of the State of Israel would be considered a form of discriminatory harassment.”

Patrick Deane, director and vice-chancellor of this establishment in Kingston, Ontario, adds that “the call for genocide is a call for violence and death”, and “there is no doubt that such a call is unequivocally erroneous and entails sanctions beyond the jurisdiction of the university.”

University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch wrote that “the call for the elimination of the State of Israel, or any other state, can reasonably be interpreted as a call for violence against the population of this State and, as such, would constitute a violation of our policies.”

By making these letters public, Mr. Housefather hopes that people will better understand each university’s position on issues related to anti-Semitism, including their specific efforts to protect Jewish students.

“There was great fear and discontent at all levels” among students, faculty members and their families – and “it didn’t magically change” over time, he said. he declares.

The MP maintains that he still hears about problems that arise almost daily on university campuses. This can be remedied by educating people and establishments by implementing their existing policies,” he added.

“Do I think things are a little better? Yes, I think things are generally a little better, but there are still a lot of problems. »

A parliamentary committee should undertake a study on anti-Semitism overall, not just on post-secondary campuses, he added.

With information from the Associated Press