Readers discuss surging antisemitism, the crumbling carbon tax and why it's Alberta laughing now
Re: The extreme rise in antisemitism is hardening the Jewish community — Avi Benlolo, Nov. 3
The Jewish community has been grappling with a distressing surge in hate crimes over the years, and the recent Hamas terrorist attacks against Jews have triggered an even greater wave of antisemitism.
Each day, our streets and the airwaves are filled with disturbing messages that suggest Jewish lives hold little value, that Jews are colonizers, and shockingly, that Hamas terrorists were somehow justified in targeting innocent children, the elderly, and teenagers, solely because of their Jewish identity.
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I am a retired public servant who worked for over two decades for the Canadian Human Rights Commission. When growing up, my father told me about the antisemitism he experienced living in Winnipeg. He cautioned me that “they,” meaning most non-Jews, were still antisemitic. I told him he was wrong, that Canada had changed, that it had become a tolerant, welcoming society that prohibited discrimination. For decades I was convinced I was right. I did not think that Jew hatred had been eliminated but I believed it had been relegated to the fringes of society.
Few of the Jewish Canadians of my generation experienced the discrimination and antisemitism that our parents regularly encountered. Modern Canada was, after all, a country where a young lawyer, Bora Laskin, who could not get an articling position in the 1930s because he was Jewish, went on to become the Chief Justice of Canada. It was a country of opportunity for all. When I retired from the CHRC in 2013, I could look back on my two decades at the commission knowing that complaints based on antisemitism were relatively rare.
Today I am less optimistic. In public schools, the public service, and on social media, Jewish Canadians are increasingly reporting that they are being targeted by hate and antisemitism. The current situation in Gaza has exacerbated an already serious problem. It’s undeniable that it’s a difficult and fearful time to be Jewish in Canada.
In recent days many politicians and institutions have expressed their commitment to fight hate and intolerance directed at Jews and other minority communities, including importantly Muslim Canadians. That is good. But much more needs to be done. Canadian governments at all levels need to redouble their efforts by ensuring that we have strong human rights laws, well-funded human rights institutions, and effective enforcement and prosecution of hate crimes.
Harvey Goldberg, Ottawa
As a retired journalist, having covered politics at all levels for more than 50 years, there are precious few things that shock me. An exception, however, is witnessing the widespread outbreak of antisemitism in Canada in response to the barbaric butchery by Hamas of innocent Israeli citizens. The politics of that region are, of course, extremely complicated, and none of the players is completely blameless. But there’s nothing complicated about applauding the medieval slaughter of defenceless men, women and children.
It is distressing to watch the collective hate-mongering, all under the guise of defending “human rights.” And, at least in part, it is the inevitable end product of years of propagating the twisted ideology of identity politics and critical race theory, which dictates that certain groups are victimizers and others are victims, no matter what they do. So sad.
Claire Hoy, Toronto
Re: The carbon tax is collapsing and could take Trudeau down with it — John Ivison, Oct. 30; and Knives out for Trudeau’s fatally injured carbon tax — John Ivison, Nov. 1
It’s seems Justin Trudeau’s religiously promoted climate emergency isn’t nearly as consequential as the polling emergency the Liberal party is facing in Atlantic Canada. By eliminating the carbon tax on home heating fuel because of the “costs,” the prime minister has laid waste to his entire net-zero narrative. On one hand, there’s planetary climate change and the existential threat to all life as we know it. On the other hand is the existential threat to the re-election hopes of the Liberal Party of Canada. Trudeau’s actions and words make it very clear which threat is more important.
Paul Baumberg, Dead Man’s Flats, Alta.
Canadians are figuring it out — subsidized windmills that don’t rotate on quiet winter nights, subsidized solar panels that generate nothing after darkness sets in and subsidized heat pumps whose efficacy collapses in Canada’s frigid weather are not the trifecta that we seek in December, January and February. So please, stop charging us carbon tax on all conventional heating fuels — including natural gas and propane.
John P.A. Budreski, Whistler, B.C.
Re: What we can learn from the obscene celebrations of Hamas brutality — Terry Glavin, Oct. 25
We all know the expression “fog of war” from a documentary by that name. But what also emerges from this fog is a fog of words. Ceasefire? Humanitarian pause? Cessation of hostilities?
Gaza is a fog of tunnels and civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, deployed by Hamas as a shield and an operational base. So good luck deploying any of the above words to meet the situation.
Finally, there is the fog of words unsaid. Israel has been accused of genocide against Palestinians. There’s a word as stark as it is clear. But when Palestinians and their supporters proclaim that “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” the word genocide isn’t used. Nevertheless, is there any doubt what it means?
Howard Greenfield, Montreal
Re: Gary Clement cartoon — Oct. 28
I commend Gary Clement on his very “on the nose” panel. I look forward to one where the rest of Canada is begging Albertans to continue their supersized contributions to the federal treasury.
Even if Alberta’s share of the pension fund is not quite 53 per cent, it’s a lot closer to that than the hilariously small number thrown out by the other “now sweating under their collars” provincial premiers and our hapless PM. For decades, Alberta’s younger, highly educated, very productive citizens have played by the rules and funded the federal government vote-buying scheme of equalization while our higher average salaries meant a much greater per capita contribution to the pension system.
Under severely onerous regulatory and tax burdens designed to smother our economy and feed Justin Trudeau’s net-zero fever dream, Albertans are being inundated by cries of “play fair” and “Canadians must stay united on the pension plan.” Well, the Trudeau government has failed us and we want our money back.
David Korchinski, Calgary
Re: The carbon tax is dead. Trudeau did it in — Rex Murphy; and Liberal stalwart calls for new party leader, predicts Trudeau will decide soon whether to quit, both Nov. 1
I was delighted to open up the National Post on Thursday and see that Rex Murphy was back. He was at his alliterative best in his brilliant description of Justin Trudeau’s incompetent government when he questioned, “What’s left of this shambling, shifting and scandal-adhesive government?” It is pretty apparent that Trudeau is on the ropes and will soon go down for the count. It is also pretty apparent that Mark Carney is jockeying to take over as leader. Sadly for him he will inherit a supporting cast that has failed Canadians at every turn. This is a party that clearly deserves to be booted from power.
Bob Erwin, Ottawa
Sen. Percy Downe blames Justin Trudeau for economic naïveté and profligacy and sees an electoral defeat for the Liberals if he continues as leader. While I agree wholeheartedly with the conclusion, Downe also thinks that another leader can arise from the “impressive caucus.” In that, I beg to differ. In almost every area of responsibility, foreign or domestic, the Liberal government has failed. They have diminished our country and have not earned another chance, even with a shiny new leader.
John Harris, Toronto
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