September 16, 2025
MONTREAL – CBC/Radio-Canada must conduct a full review of its editorial policies after it aired a segment Monday during which its very own reporter invoked age-old antisemitic conspiracy theories.
“It is simply outrageous that Canada’s public broadcaster allowed these comments to be disseminated,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy. “Such discourse is deeply irresponsible and dangerous at a time such as this, when antisemitism is at an all-time high and political violence is becoming increasingly normalized.”
In a clip of the broadcast, which aired in French, reporter Elisa Serret can be heard alleging that “the Jews” finance much of U.S. politics. She also asserts that Jews run major U.S. cities and Hollywood.
“No effort was made by the host to correct, contextualize or cut off the speaker,” B’nai Brith Canada wrote Tuesday in a letter to the CBC’s ombudsperson. “[The reporter’s] statements are textbook antisemitic conspiracy theories…claims which have historically fuelled antisemitic violence and social scapegoating.”
B’nai Brith Canada is calling on the CBC to:
1. Conduct a full review of the segment in which these comments aired, including identifying the editorial and production staff responsible.
2. Issue an on-air correction and apology, making clear that these statements are false, hateful, and unacceptable.
3. Clarify what editorial standards failed in this instance and what corrective measures will be taken to prevent future occurrences.
4. Implement mandatory training for all relevant staff on antisemitism, including the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism and the harms of unchallenged conspiracy rhetoric.