Jewish advocates say details around investigation into human-rights chief murky
Three weeks after the federal Liberals promised to do a "formal, independent review" of the appointment of Canada's new human-rights commissioner, the government hasn't provided any details about what that review will entail.
Birju Dattani, former executive director of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, was named as the new head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on June 14.
On Aug. 8, he is set to start a five-year term in the new job, as the first person of colour and the first Muslim man to hold the role.
But his appointment fell under scrutiny after media reported that he made anti-Israel comments as a graduate student under different names that were not flagged during the vetting process.
The Privy Council Office, the administrative arm of government that serves the Prime Minister's Office and cabinet, oversees the screening process of federal appointees.
It says an "administrative oversight" occurred that meant the vetting process didn't include all of Dattani's aliases. They have since been shared with the RCMP and CSIS, which "are now completing necessary reviews," said spokesman Daniel Savoie.
A new directive has also been issued within the Privy Council Office to ensure this problem doesn't happen again.
But prominent Jewish organizations have demanded the government reconsider the appointment, and both the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois say Dattani should withdraw or be replaced. The Tories have also said they will rescind the appointment if they form the next government.
Dattani has previously called the allegations against him unfounded and said he stands by his record working in human rights.
He has not responded to a request for comment, but his lawyer said in a statement last week that he would challenge any attempt to have him removed.
In late June, the office of Justice Minister Arif Virani said it would be doing an investigation. Since then, it has provided no indication that any kind of review has begun.
"I have not heard anything about the investigation, and I have not even seen the terms of reference," Richard Marceau, vice-president for the Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs, said in an interview.
"It's a bit fuzzy about what's happening."
Jaime Kirzner- Roberts, director of policy and advocacy at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, said her organization is disappointed it hasn't heard from Virani.
"How is it possible that the minister, after his appointment, was unaware of some basic facts that were dug up by a simple Google search?" said Kirzner- Roberts.
"These are just among the questions that we would like answered by an investigation."
Richard Robertson, B'nai Brith Canada's director for research and advocacy, said he met with Virani's office and was told the investigation would be completed before Dattani's scheduled start.
Virani's office confirmed Thursday that the review is "expected to conclude" by Aug. 8, but would only add that "additional information will be forthcoming shortly."
With less than a month until that time, a government source said Ottawa is looking at ways to delay Dattani's arrival. The source spoke under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Virani's office previously committed that it would make the results of any review public.
At issue are some now-deleted posts Dattani made under the name Mujahid Dattani while he was a graduate student in London almost a decade ago.
Dattani has said that in 2014, he shared an article titled "Palestinians are Warsaw Ghetto Prisoners of Today" on social media. He recently told CBC News and The Globe and Mail that he did not agree with its argument.
He has rejected accusations that he posted articles comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, as an article published in 2015 suggested.
An appearance that Dattani made around the same time on a panel alongside a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic fundamentalist group, was also flagged as a concern.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims has defended Dattani, saying it expects "any independent and fair process to fully exonerate" him.
It accused those calling for his ouster as "smearing" him for writing about political science topics such as terrorism.
NDP MP Randall Garrison said his party has yet to receive a clear timeline for when CSIS and the RCMP will complete its review.
"New Democrats strongly urge that this review be done as quickly, as thoroughly and as transparently as possible," he said in a statement.
Marceau said the incident raises questions about how the human-rights commission can be trusted to deal with antisemitism at a time when online hate is increasing and police are reporting a spike in related crimes.
"Can we really trust ... the setup by the government to tackle antisemitism online? That's a fair question."
Earlier this year, the government proposed legislation that would allow the Canadian Human Rights Commission to hear complaints of online hate speech.
The Online Harms Act, which also proposes stiffer penalties for hate crimes and seeks to hold social-media giants to account for harmful content, is still in the early stages of House of Commons debate.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2024.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Airlines' challenge of Canada's passenger protection rules rejected by Supreme Court
The airlines have failed in their challenge of federal passenger protection rules.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
WestJet failed to convince a B.C. tribunal that a woman whose flight was delayed for three days spent an "excessive" amount on a hotel room, and the airline has been ordered to pay her full bill.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
RCMP recovered 115 out of 205 lost firearms, 2 machine guns still missing
More than half of the 205 firearms lost by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police since 2020 have been recovered, but two machine guns remain missing.
Economic experts call it 'terrible policy,' but most Canadians support expansion of Old Age Security benefits: Nanos survey
Amid new polling indicating most Canadians support boosting Old Age Security benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74, a former Liberal finance minister and former Bank of Canada governor are warning the government not to pursue the policy change.
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Parliament 'ground to a halt' over Conservative allegations of Liberal corruption
Government business has been put on indefinite pause in the House of Commons and the Conservatives say it will stay that way until the Liberals hand over documents related to misspent government dollars.
A DoorDash driver who was caught on camera appearing to spit into an Ontario man’s drink has been removed from the platform, the food delivery company has confirmed.
Local Spotlight
From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.
A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.
The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.
A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.
On Saturday night at her parents’ home in Delaware, Ont. the Olympic bronze medallist in pole vault welcomed everyone who played a role in getting her to the podium in Paris.