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Green Party Moves to Expel Holocaust Denier Monika Schaefer

By Aidan Fishman
Campus Advocacy Co-ordinator
B’nai Brith Canada

Fewer than 24 hours after B’nai Brith Canada exposed and condemned a Holocaust denial video made by former Green Party of Canada candidate Monika Schaefer, GPC officials announced their intention to terminate her membership.

“I condemn [Schaefer’s] terribly misguided and untrue statements,” Green Party leader Elizabeth May said in a statement. “Ms. Schaefer does not represent the values of the Green Party nor of our membership”.

The Green Party’s press release noted that an individual’s membership can only be terminated by a resolution of a General Meeting of members or the party’s Federal Council. Green Party leadership has opted to put Schaefer’s fate before the Federal Council, even though a General Meeting will be taking place on August 5-7 in Ottawa.

Paul Estrin, former President of the Green Party, reacted to the press release on his Facebook page, saying: “For those who are congratulating the GPC for sending out a media release, I understand your desire to believe that this has been dealt with, and I wish I could join you, but the fight is far from over.”

Estrin, who is Jewish, has stated that he was pressured into resigning as GPC President in 2014 after he expressed pro-Israel sentiments in a blog post.

B’nai Brith regards Schaefer’s impending expulsion as a positive first step in repairing the Green Party’s troubled relationship with the Canadian Jewish community.


B’nai Brith has received many calls and emails in the past 48 hours from concerned Canadians who have asked how they could help to ensure that Canada’s public discourse is not poisoned with antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

Here’s how you can help:

  1. Please consider making a donation in support of B’nai Brith to help us continue this important work.

  2. Please join our group of volunteers.

  3. Please like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

For more information contact:

Marty York
Chief Media Officer
B’nai Brith Canada
[email protected]
416-633-6224 x163