Cotler wants apology for Tory leaflets insinuating Liberal anti-Semitism

During a press conference last week at his riding office, Cotler reacted to the leaflet distributed in ridings across Canada, including Mount Royal, where there are high concentrations of Jewish constituents.

The flier, which compares the Conservatives’ and the Liberals’ records on the defence of Israel, claims the Tories “led the world in refusing participation in Durban II hate-fest against Israel,” while claiming the Liberals “willingly participated in overtly anti-Semitic Durban I.”

The issue is an especially sensitive one to Cotler, who was present at Durban I in 2001 as an official observer. He maintains the flier is illegal, because it was partly designed to look like an election ballot and solicited political support, in contravention of the federal elections act. Those reading it were asked to check off the name of the federal party leader they believe best represents Canada’s Jewish community.

Cotler, who will be appearing before the House of Commons’ procedure committee on Tuesday, said he will be asking “that the Conservatives publicly acknowledge the wrong and injury caused by this flier. Number two, that they issue a public apology for this wrongful and injurious act. Number three, that they make restitution by conveying to each of those to whom they sent the initial flier a corrective so that the public record is corrected.”

Cotler also wants the Conservatives to be ordered to restore to the public treasury the funds that were used to produce the fliers. The Conservatives issued them using a special House of Commons rule, which allows MPs to send out free mailings to voters in ridings other than their own.

Known officially as the World Conference against Racism, Durban I took place under the auspices of the United Nations. Although it was held to discuss unfair racial treatment in general, significant time was spent focusing on Israel and a resolution was drafted singling out Israel and comparing Zionism to racism. Israel and the United States walked out.