August 23, 2022
Hon. Pablo Rodriguez
Minister of Canadian Heritage
Government of Canada
Dear Minister Rodriguez;
The incredibly insensitive, over the top, bigotry on display by Laith Marouf, in his social media posts, says a great deal about the man, and his antisemitic attitudes. But it also says a great deal more about the organization that hired him, the government staff who funded him, the entire bureaucracy which rewards organizations and consultants with grants without checking their social media and requiring confirmation of their qualifications and quality to do the job.
We respectfully request that an investigation be done into the organization, Community Media Advocate Center, which received the funds and contracted Mr. Marouf to provide, supposedly, equity and diversity services. We request an investigation into the funding office that chose to provide a grant to CMAC, and we respectfully request revisions to the criterion such that a true anti-racist, anti-antisemitism lens be applied before any government funds are allocated. We also suggest that the investigation consider other organizations with which Mr. Marouf has worked, in which he may have spread his poison.
Should it be found that CMAC in any way supports the ugly racist statements of its consultant, repeated them, distributed them, or simply clicked agreement on his social media, or that this was done by any individual associated with CMAC, we ask that the organization be rendered ineligible for future government funding. We assume this so-called consultant will personally be reprimanded and ineligible to work for any NGO in Canada that receives any government funding.
We expect a public statement to be issued by CMAC, which has to date been inexplicably silent after news broke of their disgustingly vulgar, antisemitic consultant’s diatribe. They have not shown their own commitment to inclusion by their silence. This is intolerable and unacceptable.
The Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation reminds the Minister that the Government of Canada has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism; now we ask that you implement it, and require the education of your staff and all funded recipients to be guided by it.
Sincerely,
Andria Spindel
Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation
cc. Minister Ahmed Hussen
Mr. John Nater, MP
Mr. Matt Jenoroux, MP
Mr. Blake Desjarlais, MP
Mr. Peter Julian, MP
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