B'nai Brith 1996 Press Releases Page

B'NAI BRITH CALLS FOR GAUTHIER'S RESIGNATION

For Immediate Release

Toronto, September 12, 1996... In a statement released today, the B’nai Brith Canada League for Human Rights called for the resignation of Bloc Quebecois leader Michel Gauthier for calling on Jewish groups to dissociate themselves from Howard Galganov, a Quebecer who is in New York today to 'expose' Quebec's separatists. The League referred to Mr. Gauthier's appeal as "Gauthier's Gift to Galganov", pointing out that "it is well timed to highlight the ethnocentrism and chauvinism that poisons the separatist vision".

The Quebec Chairman of the League, Maitre Allan Adel said that "Gauthier exposes the pretence of many separatists who on one day claim that we are all Quebecers and on the next day call on an ethno-religious group to denounce the political activities of an individual who just happens to share that religious background. We cannot condemn strongly enough, as being contrary to fundamental principles of equality, these views held by individuals like Gauthier who still think in ethnic terms on political questions".

B'nai Brith Canada Vice-President, Professor Stephen Scheinberg termed Gauthier's request "more injurious to Quebec than one hundred trips to New York by English rights protesters. There is nowhere else on this continent where a 'responsible' political leader would approach Jewish group with such an outrageous demand. Let us not forget that Jewish groups were also asked by Gauthier's political associates to denounce Mordecai Richler. We said then that 'Richler speaks for Richler'. Mr. Galganov has stated clearly that he is not a spokesman for any organization and certainly not for Jewish community."

"It is an absolute disgrace for our country to have someone of such poor judgment as the leader of the Official Opposition, and all elected officials should denounce Gauthier's gesture", added Rochelle Wilner, National Chair of the League for Human Rights.

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