CJPME Political Blog, June 3, 2015: Many in Canada would be surprised how refugee-unfriendly Canada has become over the last two decades.  For CJPME, the issue was clearly highlighted when we observed the extreme attitudes of the government vis-à-vis Syrian refugees.  And while some would blame the Harper government alone for Canada’s new anti-refugee policies, previous Liberal governments also share much of the blame.

Envoyez un courriel au premier ministre Harper: Plus tôt ce mois-ci, plusieurs Canadiens ont été scandalisés à la lecture d’un article de la CBC qui évoquait l’intention du gouvernement Harper de poursuivre les activistes qui boycottent Israël en recourant aux lois portant sur les « crimes haineux ». Le boycottage d’Israël n’a rien à voir avec la « haine ». Pareille disposition irait à l’encontre de la liberté d’expression et de la liberté individuelle des Canadiens. Utilisez le formulaire qui suit pour écrire à votre député(e) pour lui faire part de votre désapprobation à ce sujet.  

Email Prime Minister Harper: Many in Canada were horrified by the CBC article earlier this month which suggested that Canada’s Harper government may legally prosecute Boycott-Israel activists using “hate crime” laws.  The boycott of Israel has nothing to do with “hate,” and such action would violate Canadians’ fundamental rights of freedom of expression and individual liberty.  Using the form below, please write to your MP, and let him/her know of your opposition to such action by the government.  

Plus tôt ce mois-ci, plusieurs Canadiens ont été scandalisés à la lecture d’un article de la CBC qui évoquait l’intention du gouvernement Harper de poursuivre les activistes qui boycottent Israël en recourant aux lois portant sur les « crimes haineux ». Le boycottage d’Israël n’a rien à voir avec la « haine ». Pareille disposition irait à l’encontre de la liberté d’expression et de la liberté individuelle des Canadiens. Utilisez le formulaire qui suit pour écrire à votre député(e) pour lui faire part de votre désapprobation à ce sujet.

Many in Canada were horrified by the CBC article earlier this month which suggested that Canada’s Harper government may legally prosecute Boycott-Israel activists using “hate crime” laws.  The boycott of Israel has nothing to do with “hate,” and such action would violate Canadians’ fundamental rights of freedom of expression and individual liberty.  Using the form below, please write to your MP, and let him/her know of your opposition to such action by the government.  

Montreal, May 12, 2015  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) repudiates the Harper government’s threat to use “hate crime” laws against BDS activists, as suggested in a CBC article yesterday.  BDS stands for “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” and is a movement to put economic pressure on Israel to – among other aims – stop its unlawful colonization of Palestinian territories.  Like CJPME, many Canadians would view legal action by the Harper government as an attempt to silence legitimate criticism of Israel’s violation of Palestinian human rights and international law.

Montreal, February 23, 2015 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East urges caution in regards to the Conservative government’s new anti-terror legislation, known as Bill C-51. The legislation proposes lowering the threshold for arrest, criminalizing the promotion of terrorism, expanding the no-fly list, and allowing the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) the ability to disrupt and counter-message suspected terror activity. While the Harper government has promoted the bill as way to protect Canadians against “violent jihadism,” many are arguing that the legislation unduly curtails Canadian freedoms and privacy.

Toronto City Council will meet on June 14 to make a final decision about whether or not to adopt a report that has determined that the use of the term “Israeli apartheid” does not violate the City’s Anti-Discrimination Policy. The Council’s decision has profound implications for freedom of expression in Toronto.

CJPME Factsheet 164, published February, 2013: This factsheet provides a historical perspective on how Canada’s federal Liberal Party has reacted to key developments in the Middle East since the Second World War.  There is an emphasis on Liberal policy on Palestine-Israel, but the party’s reaction to other key events is also summarized.

CJPME Factsheet 138, published October, 2011: Occupy Wall Street, or simply the “Occupy” Movement was a movement which started in New York City and quickly spread.  This factsheets discusses the origins of the movement, and its critique of big money and manipulative and controlling international companies.