Toronto (August 31, 2022) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is calling on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which studies the Department of Canadian Heritage’s policies and programs, to conduct a thorough review of the government’s vetting process and to put forward recommendations to address its shortfalls. This follows disturbing revelations that Canadian Heritage had provided funding for an organization whose founder has publicly expressed antisemitic and other hateful views.

Last week, FSWC voiced approval of the decision of the Hon. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, to cut government funding for and suspend a Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) anti-racism project involving Laith Marouf, who had posted a series of antisemitic and anti-French-Canadian tweets. Marouf was listed as a senior consultant for the organization and was a member of the organizing committee for the project. Reports have revealed that he is also the co-founder of the organization.

Yesterday at a media availability, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed the government is “in the process of doing a complete review to make sure that this organization is not getting any funding from the government” and “making sure that we’re putting in place procedures that ensure that this never happens again.”

FSWC has called for more answers regarding how and why Canadian Heritage provided more than $133,000 in funding to CMAC, given Marouf’s previously exposed history of antisemitism.

In a letter sent last week to members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, which consists of MPs from all major political parties, FSWC Director of Policy Jaime Kirzner-Roberts stated that while FSWC was relieved when Minister Hussen announced funding to CMAC would be cut, “there has not yet been sufficient clarity provided about how this could have possibly happened in the first place.”

“We are living through a moment of dramatically increasing antisemitism, and very sadly we have too often seen the ugliest types of antisemitic tropes and narratives being peddled by individuals and groups who attempt to shield themselves from criticism for their views by purporting to be committed anti-racists,” said Kirzner-Roberts. “However, we do expect the federal government to see this absurdity for what it is and to be able to distinguish between an organization committed to advancing a genuine anti-racist agenda and a group peddling antisemitism or other forms of hate. The funding given to Laith Marouf and his CMAC has called this ability into question, a fundamental breach of public trust which must be addressed squarely and transparently.”

“We urge you, as Chair and Vice Chairs of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, to undertake a study of how this unacceptable outcome was allowed to occur and to lay forth clear recommendations for ensuring that nothing similar takes place again in the future,” she stated in the letter.

MPs Anthony Housefather, John Nater, Peter Julian and Melissa Lantsman have called for the Standing Committee to review the lack of due diligence that led to CMAC receiving government funding and to get answers from Minister Hussen and Canadian Heritage.