Mathew Kassel
Jewish Insider, July 21, 2021
“The Green Party leader has also found herself increasingly alienated by members of her own party following the recent flareup in the Middle East.”
A national summit on antisemitism is scheduled to be hosted by the Canadian government today in a virtual gathering whose attendees will include a diverse array of activists, academics, political leaders and Cabinet members, according to an announcement.
But it seems as if the federal government was insufficiently exhaustive in conducting Jewish outreach for the event.
On Tuesday, Annamie Paul, the recently elected Green Party leader, disclosed on social media that she had not yet received an invitation with less than a day remaining until the virtual summit — a curious omission given that Paul is the first Jewish woman to helm a federal party in Canada as well as the first Black party leader in Canadian history.
“The government is hosting a National Summit on Antisemitism tomorrow. MPs, govt officials & Jewish civic leaders were all invited. I wasn’t,” Paul wrote in a pointed Twitter message to her nearly 30,000 followers. “I am the only Jewish Leader of a federal party and a constant Target of antisemitism. The government knows I should be there.”
In a phone interview with Jewish Insider late Tuesday afternoon, Paul expressed further exasperation with the apparent snub, arguing that her exclusion from the summit was a missed opportunity for all involved. “I certainly would rank high on the list of Jewish people in Canada who receive regular antisemitic attacks,” said the 48-year-old lawyer and party leader. “Being able to share my experience and being able to hear from me about what some of the solutions I think might exist based on my experience, my lived experience, I think, would be beneficial to everyone.”
“The whole thing beggars belief,” Paul sighed, making no effort to mask her frustration. SOURCE
