Toronto (October 7, 2022) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is calling on the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to make a firm, public commitment to permanently sever all ties with Laith Marouf and his organization, the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC), given his history of posting antisemitic and other hateful tweets.

In August, the Canadian government announced it had cancelled anti-racism funding for CMAC after the vile and violent antisemitic tweets by Marouf, who co-founded and serves as a senior consultant for the organization, were exposed publicly. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously stated, “It is absolutely unacceptable that federal dollars have gone to this organization that has demonstrated xenophobia, racism and antisemitism.”

Since then, the public learned that the CRTC has paid some $500,000 to CMAC to participate in the Commission’s proceedings since 2016. Despite Marouf’s widely condemned antisemitic record, the CRTC told The Globe and Mail yesterday that it will allow CMAC to participate in future proceedings, and it has not made clear whether or not it continues to provide funding to Marouf and his organization.

Today, during a hearing of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen said he is "surprised and disappointed by CRTC’s decision.... Funds should never go to an organization that demonstrates racism, antisemitism and xenophobia."

In a letter to CRTC Chairperson and CEO Ian Scott, FSWC Director of Policy Jaime Kirzner-Roberts has called for clarification over whether the CRTC is continuing to fund CMAC, and if so, a commitment to sever such ties.  

“Following revelations about Marouf’s abhorrent antisemitic statements, it’s alarming that there has not been a clear, public commitment from CRTC to disqualify Marouf and his CMAC from all future contracts,” said Kirzner-Roberts. “We are calling on the CRTC, a Canadian government entity, to assure Canadians unequivocally that it opposes Marouf’s antisemitic views and that its resources will not go toward those peddling hate.”