The CPCCA: a threat to free speech in Canada

The CPCCA website (www.cpcca.ca), without providing evidence, states that “The extent and severity of antisemitism is widely regarded as at its worst level since the end of the Second World War.” However, it is clear that this committee’s primary interest is not antisemitism as it is traditionally understood, i.e., discrimination against or denial of the right of Jews to live as equal members of society. Instead, the Coalition’s focus is on something it calls “the new antisemitism,” which is defined as improper or excessive criticism of the State of Israel.

The CPCCA was initially comprised of 22 Parliamentarians, including members from all four parties in the House of Commons. However, the Bloc Québecois members recently resigned from the Coalition, stating that they have come to see it as biased. Jason Kenney (the Harper government’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multi-Culturalism) and Irwin Cotler (former Liberal Justice Minister) are leading members of the CPCCA.