Canadians May Face ‘Hate Crimes’ Prosecution for Boycotting Israel

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Canadians May Face ‘Hate Crimes’ Prosecution for Boycotting Israel

May 12, 2015 by Richard Edmondson

A report has come out today from the CBC that the government of Stephen Harper is “signalling its intention to use hate crime laws against Canadian advocacy groups that encourage boycotts of Israel.”

If such a policy goes into effect, it could easily solidify Canada’s reputation as the most “pro-Israel” country in the world while securing Harper’s place as the hands-down premier Israeli puppet among Western politicians.

Keep in mind, the CBC is not a radical or alternative media outlet. Here’s a brief excerpt from their story:

Such a move could target a range of civil society organizations, from the United Church of Canada and the Canadian Quakers to campus protest groups and labour unions.

If carried out, it would be a remarkably aggressive tactic, and another measure of the Conservative government’s lockstep support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The news comes in the wake of commitment, voiced in January by Canadian Safety Minister Steven Blaney, to a “zero-tolerance” policy toward all forms of anti-Semitism. Apparently in Blaney’s view this would include those advocating a boycott of Israel:

“Canada has taken a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination including rhetoric towards Israel, and attempts to delegitimize Israel such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement,” Blaney said.

The minister visited Paris days after the deadly attacks on the Charlie Hebdo office and the kosher market. He laid a wreath at the headquarters of the satirical newspaper, and later represented Canada at a massive unity rally in the heart of the French capital.

Here is a bit more from the CBC story:

Canadian civil liberties groups maintain that boycotts are a long-recognized form of political expression, and therefore constitutionally protected.

In March, the Canadian Quakers wrote a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson, expressing concern about Blaney’s speech and protesting the label of anti-Semitism.

Nicholson’s response merely repeated the talking points first used by Blaney at the UN, and the government’s vow not to tolerate boycotts.

But in response to specific questions about what “zero tolerance” of BDS means, and how it will be enforced, Blaney aide Josee Sirois gave CBC News a much clearer picture of the government’s intent.

“I can tell you that Canada has one of the most comprehensive sets of laws against hate crime anywhere in the world,” wrote Sirois.

She highlighted what she termed “hate propaganda” provisions in the Criminal Code criminalizing the promotion of hatred against an identifiable group, and further noted that “identifiable group” now includes any section of the public distinguished by “among other characteristics, religion or national or ethnic origin.”

She also referred to Criminal Code provisions requiring that a judge consider hate, bias or prejudice when sentencing an offender.

“We will not allow hate crimes to undermine our way of life, which is based on diversity and inclusion,” she concluded.

If Canada starts using hate crimes legislation to prosecute those supporting the BDS movement, it will be following in the footsteps of France, which has already begun to do so. Last year the Canadian government revised its criminal code to include an expanded definition of “hate speech,” arousing fears at the time that the groundwork was being laid for prosecution of Israeli boycott supporters. The new definition adds the category of “national origin,” along with race and religion.

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