(Ottawa) Opposition Conservatives are promising that a future government led by Pierre Poilievre would remove the man the Liberals just appointed to head the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Birju Dattani is set to take up his post as chief commissioner next month for a five-year term, but Melissa Lantsman, one of the party’s deputy leaders, said in a statement that the Conservatives would rescind the appointment.
She says Mr. Dattani has “a long history of anti-Israel statements,” including “justifying terrorism,” and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should demand that Mr. Dattani resign or “fire him.”
PHOTO FROM BIRJU DATTANI’S ACCOUNT
Birju Dattani
After some Jewish advocacy groups expressed concerns about the appointment, Justice Minister Arif Vriani launched an independent investigation into allegations surrounding Mr. Dattani’s online activities dating back nearly a decade.
Dattani’s lawyer, Muneeza Sheikh, said in a statement today that his client could not comment given the ongoing investigation, but said “any bad faith or improper removal” of Dattani from office “will be challenged in accordance with the law.”
Mr Dattani had previously called the allegations unfounded.