Canadian Jewish Congress to give Prime Minister Stephen Harper a human-rights award

The Canadian Jewish Congress will present the Saul Hayes Human Rights Award to Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the organization's 90th plenary assembly in Toronto today (May 31).

This is  Harper's third major award from a Jewish organization in less than a year. Last June, Harper was awarded the B’nai Brith International President’s Gold Medallion. B'nai Brith said it was in recognition of Canada's efforts to fight discrimination and uphold human rights in Canada and around the world.  

Harper was the first Canadian to win this prize.

Last December,  the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations presented Harper with its first-ever International Leadership Award.  

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, NDP Leader Jack Layton, and Green Leader Elizabeth May are all expected to speak at the assembly, which takes place at the Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue.

Israel's vice prime minister, Silvan Shalom, will also be in attendance and will make his first North American address.

While Harper has been feted by Jewish organizations, he has also been condemned by  a Vancouver MP  for showing a lack of leadership in dealing with issues in the Middle East.

In an open letter last January during Israel's attack on Gaza, Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies claimed that she received many letters from constituents who complained that Canada  was doing  nothing to bring peace  to the area.

Earlier this month, Davies presented  two petitions in Parliament dealing with Israel's actions during that war.

One from students at a private East Vancouver school called Stratford Hall called  upon  the federal  government to support  a United Nations war-crimes  investigation into an alleged Israeli attack on a UN school in Gaza.

The other petition from Toronto residents sympathetic to the Palestinians urged Canada to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing violations of international law.

Comments

19 Comments

scottm

May 31, 2009 at 11:57am

wow..harper..theres an endorsement you can be proud of...(giggle)

Nota Fan

May 31, 2009 at 8:45pm

Harper shall be known by his friends.

JoeJoe suggests: Read "The Israel Lobby" by notable professors Mearscheimer and Walt. You will be shocked!"

If only Canadians would read and comprehend... sigh.

jim

May 31, 2009 at 11:29pm

I am ashamed to be canadian, seeing how are country support Israeli oppression and war crimes

Wolfdeck

Jun 1, 2009 at 1:55am

Perhaps this is one of the rewards for hosting (May 27-28) Canada's Biggest War Industry Bazaar (Ottawa) thereby promoting war (war-mongering), while turning Canada into a safe haven for war criminals by banning from Canada a five-times elected British MP and peace activist (George Galloway) as “a threat to Canada’s security”, and at the same time this spring granting admittance to war criminals, e.g. George W Bush, Condoleezza Rice and this past week George W Bush (again) and Bill Clinton. According to Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act - "the Attorney General of Canada must prosecute war criminals for torture or provide consent to private prosecution" (if found in Canada) and “to deny safe haven in Canada". The PM acts like the NAU is a done-deal.

Fupi Matata

Jun 1, 2009 at 4:14am

Whilst Jews are are awarding themselves Human Rights awards,They are blind to the Human Rights denied Gazans and Lebanese in Zionist Israel's asssaults!What hypocricy.The Western values Are being challenged

Eric Vaughan

Jun 1, 2009 at 9:00am

For the life of me, I can't figure out if this event is propaganda for Harper, Israel, or both.

george welshins

Jun 1, 2009 at 11:16am

the georgia straight is a zionist ownd newspaper just like the rest

futuretruth

Jun 1, 2009 at 11:21am

OH CANADA OH ISRAEL OH CANSRAEL

DJvaluBALL

Jun 1, 2009 at 1:39pm

Harper turns the other cheek on torture, welcomes war criminals and bans peace activists.
A human rights award ?
Is this article satire ?

Shra

Jun 1, 2009 at 1:51pm

I am goddamned sick of hearing about Israel, absolutely goddamned sick of the fawning of leaders over all things Israel and if a country could have a personality, Israel's would be diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. Ahmadinejad was right, Israel and Zionism and all of the nastiness they represent should (will?) be erased from the pages of history - not "wiped off the map" as the Zionazi media continues ad infinitum to mis-quote. Aaaargh!