Miller Defends 7-Member Faith Council as Conservatives and B'nai Brith Challenge Its Antisemitism Role
Updated
Updated · CBC Sports · Jun 2
Miller Defends 7-Member Faith Council as Conservatives and B'nai Brith Challenge Its Antisemitism Role
3 articles · Updated · CBC Sports · Jun 2
Summary
Marc Miller said the new seven-member Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion is meant to foster frank, non-polarizing discussion, rejecting demands that it immediately solve antisemitism.
The defense came after Conservatives and B'nai Brith questioned both the council's authority and some appointees, with Pierre Poilievre attacking former Liberal MP Omar Alghabra's inclusion and B'nai Brith saying the body lacks the mandate and expertise.
Miller declined to scrutinize individual members such as human-rights lawyer Avnish Nanda, saying lawyers are entitled to do their jobs and warning against holding the panel to a standard of perfection.
Mark Carney unveiled the council at a Toronto synagogue on Monday, saying its first task would be to examine the drivers of anti-Jewish hatred after declaring Canada's civic compact has failed Jewish Canadians.
The panel's broader remit reaches beyond antisemitism: when first announced in February, it was positioned to replace two shuttered federal posts and advise on racism and hate including Islamophobia.