Watch: ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler's opening remarks before the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights on Bill C-9
- ALCCA Staff
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
ALCCA Chair Mark Sandler appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights to deliver opening remarks on Bill C-9 and Canada’s response to hate-motivated crime and extremism.
Following his opening remarks, Sandler also participated in a question-and-answer session alongside representatives from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, and B’nai Brith Canada.
Watch his remarks or read the transcript below:
Statement Transcript
(modified for clarity)
“Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm here today in several roles. First, as Chair of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, a non-partisan coalition of 70 community organizations, Jewish and non-Jewish.
Second, as a trainer of police and prosecutors across the country, training that has extended to officers from at least 40 police services.
Third, as the non-policing member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Special Purpose Committee on Hate Crimes. You heard from Deputy Chief Johnson about the work we are now doing to create a module for national police training that addresses some of the issues you identified in your questions.
We are also discussing how to best educate police on the symbols associated with terror entities to provide them with some direction, and ensure consistency in approach.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I am here as a proud Jew.
I've been fighting antisemitism and all forms of hatred in Canada for over 40 years. If you had told me back in 1985 that 40 years later, I'd be witnessing a celebration, on the streets of major Canadian cities, of the barbarities perpetrated on October 7. Or that we would see a crowd in downtown Toronto chanting ““Sinwar, Sinwar, we have bullets for you,” promoting the terror activities of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7th slaughter, I admit to you, perhaps with some naivete, that I would have been shocked.
If I'd been told that some professors and teachers, not marginalized fringe actors, would deny altogether or justify the vile sexual violence perpetrated against women in Israel, or that a protester in a largely Jewish neighborhood would display a poster of a hook-nosed Jew reminiscent of 1930’s Nazi propaganda, I would have been shocked.
Or if I'd been told that social media posts would demonize Jews by comparing us to subhuman vermin, and openly call for the killing of all Zionists, I would have been shocked – not by the all-too-familiar content which we were also dealing with in the 80s, but by its pervasiveness.
And finally, if I had been told that Canada would face repeated terror plots targeting Jews inspired by ISIS or white supremacist ideology, that the RCMP would describe six foiled terror plots in Canada within a six-month period with more that followed that RCMP report, I would have been shocked by the sheer number of extremists operating in Canada.
But that's where we are.
Criminal law is an important tool to address extremism in Canada. Bill C-9 represents an enhancement to the existing criminal law tools. It has substantially evolved, as you have heard, as a result of the hearings conducted in the House. I and others collaboratively proposed amendments to the legislation, most of which were adopted. The legislation is not perfect, but I support its passage in its current form. I also observe that 34 of ALCCA's member organizations advised the House committee that they too endorse the amendments that I put forward. And as you have already heard, the legislation is also supported by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
I recognize that in a five-minute presentation, I am unable to explain why each component of the current version of Bill C-9 is legally sound and worthy of passage.
I have set out the reasons for that view in my detailed written submissions. Not surprisingly, I commend them to you. But I look forward to the opportunity to answer any questions about the details surrounding the legislation, including suggestions of redundancy or unconstitutionality.
In my view, Bill C-9’s provisions are modest measures indeed. The most important amendment to the Criminal Code has yet to come. In collaboration with a number of organizations, including those represented on this panel and now with the support of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, I have advocated for the creation of a new offence, wilful promotion of terror. Such an offence would avoid debate about which identifiable groups are targeted by focusing on the promotion of terror activities and terrorist entities. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms offers up no constitutional protection for support for terrorism. Rather than delay passage of Bill C-9, I hope that this Committee and Parliament will turn their minds to this important deficiency in the law, once Bill C-9 has been passed.
Thank you.