The Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen sent an update to Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel about the steps that the federal government has taken in response to inappropriate funding that has been received by Laith Marouf and the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC). "This is a great example of how - when government and stakeholders work together - real progress can be made," Fogel said in a statement.
...and the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC). The clear policy changes and measures they put in place are substantial and will ensure such a situation does not happen again. #cdnpoli 2/2 pic.twitter.com/caitL4rseX
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) September 13, 2022
Canadaian journalist Jonathan Kay revealed that Syrian-Palestinian Laith Marouf, a senior adviser and project leader for CMAC, had made controversial comments wishing for American military deaths and that Israelis were to be expelled from Israel. Heritage Canada's Anti-Racism Action Program had been funding the CMAC so that they can work on projects promoting minorities in Canadian media.
The CIJA has tweeted a video with the caption, "Great to see our friend, colleague and former MP Michael Levitt of Candian FSWC question Twitter about Laith Marouf and why he is able to continue to spew hate on their platform as part of the Inter-Parliamentray Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism hearing."
Great to see our friend, colleague, and former MP @LevittMichael of @CanadianFSWC question @Twitter about Laith Marouf and why he is able to continue to spew hate on their platform as part of the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online #Antisemitism hearing. pic.twitter.com/FQdYYvBXTp
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) September 16, 2022
Founder of the Canadian Telecom Summit, Mark Goldberg, has tweeted a screenshot of Marouf's deleted Twitter accounts saying, "Concrete results from Michael Levitt and Anthony Housefather participation in yesterday's Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism in Washington."
Concrete results from @LevittMichael & @AHousefather participation in yesterday's Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism in Washington@Twitter suspended @LaithMarouf's mirror accounts: @Laith_Marouf, @MaroufLaithThank you @_MicheleAustin @TwitterCanada pic.twitter.com/XRAnKsLPPo
— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) September 17, 2022
The CIJA is grateful
"We are also deeply appreciative of Anthony Housefather for his advocacy on this matter and to Mark Goldberg adn Jonathon Kay for first flagging this issue," the CIJA wrote on Twitter.
We're pleased that, after engaging with CIJA and other representatives from the Jewish community, Minister @HonAhmedHussen announced steps the federal government has now taken in response to the inappropriate funding received by Laith Marouf...#cdnpoli 1/2 pic.twitter.com/VB11C5vRsp
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) September 13, 2022
The Jerusalem Post has contributed to this report.