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Mayor Refuses to Rescind Recognition of Antisemitism-Spouting TV Show

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie Presenting Certificate to Lama Aggad (Facebook)

Feb. 24, 2022

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – B’nai Brith Canada is deeply concerned after a Canadian mayor awarded a certificate of recognition to Lama TV, which has a history of antisemitic content.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie honoured Lama TV with the certificate last November. The show and its founder, Lama Aggad, have made numerous antisemitic remarks including describing “Jewish Zionists” as people who “break agreements.” Lama also has referred to Israel as a “terrorist state,” and called for an “electronic intifada.”

On social media, Aggad falsely and misleadingly insisted that the perpetrator of the murder of a Muslim family in London, Ont. was Jewish, based on the sound of his surname. Her remarks came in response to a B’nai Brith tweet clarifying the attacker was in fact not Jewish and had no connection to Israel.

When asked by B’nai Brith to rescind her certificate due to Lama TV’s antisemitic comments, Crombie said she regretted the incident but rejected our request.

“While I’m unable to retract a certificate of this nature, I’ve asked my team to review our vetting process for these requests to avoid situations like this in the future,” Crombie told B’nai Brith in an email. “At the time (of awarding the certificate) I wasn’t aware of the antisemitic comments posted on Lama TV’s social media accounts. If I had been aware, I can assure you I wouldn’t have given them a certificate.”

B’nai Brith approached Rogers, the Canadian media giant, about Lama TV’s troubling history. A Rogers spokesman said his conglomerate had not broadcast Lama TV since December of 2020 for “production reasons,” but went on to pledge that it would never work with the program again in light of its antisemitic rhetoric.

“Rescinding the certificate Mayor Crombie apparently granted in error to Lama TV, on behalf of Mississauga, should be as simple as sending an email or making a public statement,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “We advised Mayor Crombie and Mississauga City Councillors that Lama TV is leaning on this certificate to whitewash its damaged reputation and secure a new platform for itself. While the Mayor may have been unaware of Lama TV’s antisemitism prior to granting the certificate, the damage unintentionally caused is ongoing and needs to be quickly addressed by both the Mayor and City of Mississauga.”