Montreal suburb passes non-confidence motion on federal Liberals

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The Hampstead town council, located in a suburb of Montreal, passed a unanimous resolution on Monday expressing no confidence in the government of Justin Trudeau.

The Hampstead council’s non-confidence measure cited the federal government’s decision to distance itself “from the longstanding policy of support for Israel” as contributing to a “major spike in antisemitism across Canada.” The resolution says “the rise of antisemitism poses a significant threat to the safety, security, and well-being of Jewish communities within our Town and across the country.”

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“It is imperative for municipal governments to express their concerns and stand in solidarity with communities facing discrimination and persecution,” the document continues.

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“Actions speak louder than words,” Mayor Jeremy Levi told the National Post via email. “Justin Trudeau excels in rhetoric, but falls short in action. The Canadian Government must promptly take concrete steps to shield our communities from further harm.”

At the meeting, Levi cited examples of antisemitism, such as a cartoon in La Presse that portrayed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a vampire, which Trudeau and several other politicians condemned as antisemitic.

“Justin Trudeau has tremendously failed Jews across Canada and we are proud that we can take such a strong position on this,” Levi said at the meeting. “It is a very strong message to Justin Trudeau and the Liberal  partythat we do not support you and we are not confident in your ability to tackle antisemitism.”

In his email, Levi pointed to Hampstead’s recent legal initiative creating a new bylaw prohibiting the removal of hostage posters with a $1,000 fine as an example of the small gestures other politicians can pursue to combat antisemitism and send the signal that Canadian Jews are not alone. Last December, Levi made headlines for a video that went viral, in which he responded to a series of hypothetical questions from Montreal author and activist Yves Engler, explaining his unwavering support for Israel.

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“Due to the lack of government support at all levels, every Jewish institution in the country has had to fortify its security measures,” Levi wrote in his email. “Our community has resorted to securing five separate legal injunctions against pro-Hamas protestors who targeted synagogues — a troubling testament to the state of affairs in Canada. It’s disheartening when private citizens must resort to legal recourse because those in power have failed in their duty.”

Hampstead is close to the Montreal Holocaust Museum, located in the neighbouring suburb of Snowdon, which pro-Palestinian activists protested outside of in early March. The demonstration was organized by Concordia University’s student chapter of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, a group which called the October 7 massacre “an unfaltering desire for liberation,” explaining that they “hold the Israeli regime fully responsible for the escalating violence.”

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“To the Pro-Hamas demonstrators who gathered outside a Montreal Jewish community building, spreading anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiments: your disgrace is inappropriate and misplaced,” Levi wrote at the time.

Almost 75 per cent of Hampstead’s residents are Jewish. The neighbourhood is represented by Anthony Housefather, who is Jewish and a vocally pro-Israel voice within the Liberal caucus. Last week, Housefather released a statement denouncing a recent House of Commons motion introduced by the New Democratic Party, which initially called for the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state as well as an arms embargo of Israel.

“The motion passed by the House of Commons on March 18 was a blow not only to me but to many within the Jewish community,” the MP wrote in a public statement on April 5. “It followed a wave of antisemitism across the world that over the last five months has left many Canadian Jews feeling bewildered and intimidated and fearful for their future in this country.

“As a result of the motion being adopted and the way in which it happened, I have been in serious reflection about whether I should remain in the Liberal caucus,” Housefather warned at the time.

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The Liberal MP ultimately decided to stay within the party caucus.

“My core values remain Liberal ones and after serious reflection, I believe my greatest value to Canadians is staying in caucus,” Housefather said in a statement last Friday.

This decision drew a mixed reaction from Levi, who voiced his support for the Conservative party and encouraged Housefather to cross the floor and change political allegiances.

“Anthony, an industrious MP, undoubtedly prioritizes his constituents. Nonetheless, I find the optimism surrounding Anthony’s task somewhat unrealistic in achieving success,” he wrote following Housefather’s letter. “Given the likelihood of the Conservatives forming a majority government in the next election, I’d rather be represented by a party currently aligned with these values, instead of attempting to sway the views of an opposition party.”

Levi reaffirmed his support for Opposition Leader Pierre Poilevre and underscored his confidence in the Conservative Party’s “ability to act decisively.”

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