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Where the Candidates Stand

B’nai Brith also asked City Council candidates in the City of Vaughan to express their views on issues of concern to Jewish voters. We are pleased to alert the community that many of them responded.

You may consult the candidates’ responses here:

Mayoral Candidates

City Councilor Candidates

York Region District School Board Trustee Candidates

Question 1: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

If elected Mayor, would you introduce a motion at City Council to denounce antisemitism and to
endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism?
That definition can be consulted through the following link.


https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definitionantisemitism

As much as I hate any bigotry or hatred towards any group for any reason. if elected Mayor, I will make it a priority to introduce motions in Council that will eradicate hatred from our city and make the penalties for all hate crime severe. I have always believed that punishment should fit the crime and I think you will be pleased with the way I will deal with this.

 

In the City of Vaughan we have already done this. 

 

 

I feel that the definition that has been developed by the IHRA captures a reasonable expectation of protection against the actions inserted into the definition. I would not have a problem introducing a motion denouncing antisemitism or discriminatory actions against, YOUR, or any group which is under attack.

 

As much as it hurts me to say this since I am Jewish, and a descendant of Holocaust victims, no. This definition needs to be reworked, especially this section: … are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals… Please find a better definition which uses clear direct language. In its simplest definition, antisemitism is Jew-hatred and the hateful actions that follow it. Nothing more, nothing less. 

 

 

Yes, definitely I will stand along Jewish community to fight against anti-Semitism. Our campaign vision is to bring in multiculturalism awareness to bring positive attitude in all communities to fight against racism. Every hate rate, hostility or prejudice starts when people lacks the knowledge of our cultural values. We all need to work together to overcome this hurdle. It is not one person job; I will work with your community to minimize anti-Semitism.

 

Over the years, during my time serving as the local Councillor for Ward 4, I have brought in several Council resolutions denouncing racism and bigotry of all forms and seeking City support for initiatives that champion inclusivity. With the rise anti-Asian racism over recent years, especially during Covid, I worked with many groups to bring forward resolutions, not only denouncing anti-Asian racism but racism of all forms. Here is an example of one such resolution: https://pub-vaughan.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=66856

In reviewing the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism, I am and have been supportive of a motion to denounce antisemitism as defined by the IHRA. The City of Vaughan has already adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The City also observes Jewish dates of religious and historical significance including Jewish Heritage Month, a flag-raising ceremony for Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom HaShoah, and January 27 has officially been proclaimed as Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Additionally, the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism and the City’s adoption of this definition is confirmed in the City’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, formulated and adopted by Council in 2022. View a link to the plan here: https://www.vaughan.ca/cityhall/departments/ochro/diversity-equity-inclusion/General%20Documents/DEI%20Plan%202022%20to%202026.pdf

Yes, I do support the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. On January 28, 2020, Vaughan council adopted and endorsed the definition with unanimous support from all members of council.

 

I would be more than happy to introduce or support this type of motion.

As a City, we must show zero tolerance toward all forms of hate and racism. We can never allow antisemitic acts, symbols, and gestures to go unpunished. As a Mayor, I will stand with the Jewish community shoulder to shoulder to build a safe and inclusive city where residents feel respected and live peacefully with no fear. I have always stood strong against antisemitism and all other forms of hatred and discrimination. I supported the Ontario provincial government’s adoption of the IHRA’s working definition of antisemitism in 2020. As a Mayor, I will reaffirm my commitment to fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate in Vaughan and in the York Region in collaboration with local and regional Councillors, community leaders, places of worship, cultural organizations, and other stakeholders. If elected as the Mayor, I’ll introduce a motion at the City Council to denounce antisemitism and all forms of racism, discrimination, and hate.

I am an ardent supporter of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and was pleased to join my parliamentary colleagues in the Ontario Legislative Assembly in officially adopting this definition at the provincial level of government. I look forward to working towards effective implementation and enforcement at the municipal level of government.

In 2020, the City of Vaughan adopted this definition of antisemitism. I, however, am very concerned that the York Region District School Board has not only not adopted the definition but has voted 11-2 to reject it. I will do everything I can to try to change this by using my influence and helping to organize concerned York Region parents to press the school board on this important issue.

I am not running for Mayor, however as Councillor of Ward 4 in the City of Vaughan I will take every opportunity to endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.

Candidate Lino Mancinella provided the following statement in lieu of completing the survey. His statement in its entirety can be read below: 

Thank you for reaching out. In response to your questions, I can assure you that I have always taken all forms of discrimation whether it be racial, religious or gender very seriously. If elected, I will stand true to my core belief that all forms of discrimination will be addressed. It is important to educate people on who and why discrimation affects our communities. It’s important that leaders in the community partner with each other and with city officials (ex. YRP), as to the best way of doing so. Government funding of any kind should be and needs to be used expeditiously and with purpose. Who better to help do this than community leaders of these groups. Unfortunately, I am not privy to what resources or training have been used in the past, therefore, we need to look at what has been done in the past, what has or hasn’t worked and use this as a framework. 

On my Instagram and Twitter accounts, I made reference to Vaughan’s traffic congestion that we are experiencing currently. It is an issue that is fluid and ongoing. As I mentioned, sitting idly is not an option. I am sure there are items that are already in the pipeline that our current government has queued up. These can only be addressed when elected to truly understand the impact previous decisions can or will have on our current situation. 

You asked about Housing and mentioned the limited tools municipalities have to adequately address affordable housing. A good starting point is to review what has been put in place, what is working and what doesn’t. If certain ideas such as the following are not already in place, then we need to look at implementing them or reviewing them.

Focusing on factors where the municipality has direct influence: (ex. scrutinize the Total Cost of Providing City Services) 

Financial relief is imperative for not only first time home buyers but for seniors who may be downsizing. Piggybacking on tax breaks that the Federal and Provincial governments have implemented are options. These breaks can come in the form of a one time payment, spread out, or on a sliding scale based on home sales 

Possibly suggesting that instead of using CVA (Current Value Assessment) in determining taxes, we move to an AVA (Average Value Assessment). This could possibly level out the volatility of housing prices at a given time. Discussions with MPAC would need to take place. 

Educate people to connect with local service Manager to help find housing options 

Continue to build subdivisions/dwellings that include a mix of affordable housing 

Review  the non Canadian Resident tax and how it may best work in our city 

Review rent control measures solicit community input 

These are by no means the only ways to address this issue and so it is imperative to get community input. I don’t have all the answers to the various issues we face in our city, however, I do pledge to find them with the help of our citizens who live here. 

Thank you, L. Mancinella

Candidate Candidate Parveen Bola provided the following statement in lieu of completing the survey. His statement in its entirety can be read below: 

Hello, As Mayor, I would indefinitely support the IHRA definition of antisemitism to better our jurisdictions and enable our communtiy to be informed about the prejudice against these particular communities in our regions. This will surely enable our communities to be stronger in voice and action against any discrimination as a whole, regardless of any race or gender. Our authoritative figures, such as, the YRP and our municipalites will work towards ensuring that our communities across the country are safe from hate and prejudice. 

Thus, I am in favour of showing public support to the IHRA. 

Sincerely, Parveen Bola

Question 2: York Regional Police Service Hate Squad Resources

What measures would you propose to improve the York Regional Police Service’s ability to
recognize and respond to hate crimes and incidents?


In your opinion, does the York Regional Police Service Hate Crimes have adequate resources?

I have worked closely with the York Region Police unit that addresses hate crimes. Moreover, I have assisted the police to fully appreciate the unique issues relating to the Jewish Community. A few years back, prior to the High Holidays, I organized a session with the Senior officers of the police with all Jewish institutions in York Region.

We are extremely fortunate in York Region to have a knowledgeable and experienced police force on issues relating to hate crimes.

 

It is my opinion that in order to effectively deal with any situation, the responding officer must be adequately trained to be able to understand and recognize not only the infractions being committed but also the history behind any negative sentiment. Ensuring competency may include a refresher course or new training.

Any new training should be developed with the consultation of community leaders or experts on the subject matter.

At this time, I am sure that the police resources that deal specifically with hate crimes are stretched very thin. It appears that there is an increase against many different faiths, ethnicities and groups.

If elected I would recommend a review of the resources which are dedicated to hate crimes and recommend additional resources, re-training, or both if required.

 

Yes, they do have the resources, but lack the willpower. 

We will need more local police department involvement in identify hate crimes and incidents. Police departments are created for all communities, when we all will work together by acknowledging each other values it will ultimately help’s police department to resolve these issues faster instead of working on it individually. 

What they truly need is us, we can spend trillions of dollars on security cameras or weapons but it will not bring any resolution unless all communities stand up for themselves to bring in awareness of their cultural values and traditions. People need to learn about us through us not through news.

One of the first orders of business, if elected Mayor, would be to sit with York Regional Police senior staff to understand their budget and resource allocation. YRP does have a full-time investigative Hate Crimes Unit as well as specialized hate crime investigators across the region, providing support to all community members. York Regional Police also provides hate crime training to other law enforcement agencies, and community and school groups to effectively fight hate crime, and to expand the work being done beyond York Region. However, it would be important to understand their resources at hand and what more may be required to help deal with the rise of hate crimes in recent years.

The YRP’s Diversity and Cultural Resources Unit develops partnerships with many communities, organizations, schools and more across the Region. The City of Vaughan has often partnered with YRP on many diversity and inclusivity initiatives, as education is a key component of combatting hate crimes and bias-related incidents. I would like to explore additional opportunities among the City, YRP and the community to continue to build educational opportunities for our youth, as well as partnerships within the community to help build accessible resources in this area.

York Regional Police have instituted a Hate Crimes Unit to deal specifically with antisemitism and other hate crimes. York Regional Police is also proud to provide hate crime training to other law enforcement agencies, community and school groups to effectively fight hate crime. I am strong advocate for the police and would support any additional funding or resources they require to ensure the safety of our community and all its ethnic and religious groups.

Police services and training within the City of Vaughan falls under the mandate of York Region. I would be more than happy to work with both the Regional Councillors and the York Regional Police to insure that there is effective training in place so that our police force can properly recognize and respond to hate crimes and incidents. I believe that hate crimes can never be tolerated within the City of Vaughan and we need to be vigilant to insure that those people who engage in hateful behaviour must be held accountable for their actions. I also believe that Canada’s hate crimes are too vague and that more pressure needs to be applied to the Federal Government to tighten up these hate laws to insure successful convictions.

While the York Regional Police’s Hate Crimes Unit continues to work diligently to keep our communities safe, I believe that the City of Vaughan and the York Regional Council can do more to help YRP to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate crimes. As the Mayor of Vaughan and a member of the York Regional Council, I will advocate for providing the York Regional Police’s Hate Crimes Unit with appropriate training and resources so that they can collaborate with a broader range of community groups, cultural organizations, and other partners to recognize dynamic patterns of hate crime, prevent them and raise awareness on reporting such incidents. I will also fight for making it easier for residents of the York Region to report hate crimes in real-time so that they can protect themselves, minimize harm and get access to justice rapidly.

I have organized several meetings with York Regional Police, representatives of the Jewish community and my office to discuss this very issue. Constable Rosa Sposato and Constable Dinnesh Kulasekaran shared many of our concerns.

 If there are continuing and frequent issues in the City of Vaughan, then no, there are obviously inadequate resources, or the current resources are not being utilized properly.  There is a lack of focus by the YRP on the Jewish hatred issue and it is unknown why, however it needs to change.

As an example, when the school board, which is made up of members of the wider Vaughan community, refuses to see antisemitism for what it is, i.e., Jew hatred, and declines to support that definition put forward by the IHRA, then obviously the problem may be greater than we had thought, and this suggests that we are not doing enough on ANY level to combat antisemitism.  This would include police resources.

York Regional Police have been responsive. However, they lack the resources to pursue, capture, charge and implement the necessary punishment when it comes time to prosecute. I would encourage the YRP to increase a awareness programs for any form hate crimes. Let’s start them from grades 7.

With and increase of traffic fatalities, home invasions, gun, hate crimes along with the hundreds of calls dealing with other issues demanding their efforts, the YRP should encourage and promote programs that will combat hate crimes at the source.

I have it on my list of current Vaughan issues that examining the role of police and expanding their ability to do their job is very important. Part of this job expansion is providing police with the necessary training to judiciously do their jobs while maintaining a sensitivity to underlying reasons for a person’s actions. I believe that through education we will have a better prepared security force.

Question 3: Employee Training to Recognize Antisemitism

How would you improve the ability of municipal employees to recognize and counter
antisemitism?

Currently, within governments and many human resources departments of large organizations, there are mandatory training courses on various human rights issues that must be taken as part of employee training.

If elected I would ensure that a component of the training for municipal employees would include the definition of Antisemitism and how to recognise it.

Explain to them that “Free Palestine” actually means to “Free Palestine of the Jews”. It’s just dog-whistle for another holocaust.

All employees should get training on anti-Semitism regardless of their business; Anti Semitism should be compulsory part of their training. Every year, employees should go through this training again to make sure they understand the importance of Anti-Semitism.  

The City of Vaughan did hire a Diversity and Inclusion Officer as part of our mandate to counter racism, sexism and inequality of all types in the workplace and to encourage an inclusive environment. This Officer works within our Human Resources Department and has been responsible for developing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and multi-year action plan. The purpose of this plan is a continuous commitment to identifying forms of discrimination that create barriers to equity and inclusion in the workplace and working with equity-seeking groups to counter historical, attitudinal, structural, systemic and institutional practices that inhibit inclusivity.

Addressing all forms of racism, discrimination and bigotry is central to the City’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and multi-year action plan, including anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, as well as religious intolerance, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The strategy also includes a plan for achieving gender parity in management and senior leadership levels at the City of Vaughan. Over the past year, several mandatory employee training modules have been implemented, including modules on Human Rights, Racism and Discrimination, and Reconciliation. We will continue moving forward with the work that the Diversity and Inclusion Officer has been mandated to do and continue implementing training guides and modules, as well as other recommendations in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy, to ensure a fair and equitable workplace.

Over recent years, we at the City of Vaughan have worked diligently to combat antisemitism and provide a respectful, safe and inclusive work environment. Under the leadership of our Diversity and Inclusion Officer, we have developed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and multi-year action plan as well as a Diversity and Equity task force who’s mandate is to continue to advise and develop ways for the City of Vaughan to recognize and counter antisemitism or other breaches to our diversity and equity policy.

 

Those who spread antisemitism have become increasingly sophisticated at hiding their antisemitism behind political activism against Israel. I would be more than happy to propose and serve on an antisemitism task force within the City of Vaughan to insure that employees within the City of Vaughan are able to both recognize and counter this type of hateful behaviour.

To recognize and counter antisemitism, as the Mayor of Vaughan, I will ensure that municipal employees receive periodic training to help them be aware of the evolving patterns of antisemitic and hateful actions, practices, and behaviors. Additionally, I will expand access to learning materials and activities for staff members of the City to help them become allies and support members of the Jewish community to live, work and worship in Vaughan with comfort, safety, peace, and no fear. I firmly believe that collaboration is the key to building an inclusive and safe community. Therefore, I will work on developing solid relationships among municipal employees and members of the Jewish community to advance partnerships, trust, confidence, and cooperation as well as to facilitate the prevention of all types of hate crimes and antisemitism.

Of course, I pledge to continue working in an official capacity to educate municipal employees on a more formal level. However, it is also important to offer education and information on a more casual basis. This can be equally productive, and I remember my time explaining issues pertaining to Ontario’s Jewish community to my parliamentary colleagues very fondly.

Fortunately, in the GTA there are many resources available to provide this kind of training and awareness.  For example, The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre has a program specifically to confront this problem as does La’ad Canada. B’nai Brith Canada has a long history of providing resources and personnel to increase awareness and sensitivity to this important problem.

 I would make use of all these resources for public servants and elected officials, teachers, administrators, students, and elected school board members to ensure that antisemitism is recognized and confronted.

Vaughan is well recognized as a diverse city. Our Mayor has often said we are a city of 105 languages (Hebrew and Yiddish included). Our Jewish nation is an amazing one and we are strong and proud. We have different levels of Judaism that can be confusing. We have the State of Israel (B”H) which is constantly under attack in every way. We need to consistently educate and promote awareness. I would promote awareness and inclusion by having the city elevate all of the Jewish holidays at City Hall. Let’s start by having a better Chanukah evening celebration and promote it so all can come!

Effectively training city staff to be sensitive to Antisemitism and all other manner of hateful attitudes is a long road and one that should be reinforced by education, every year. It is going to take a long time to eradicate centuries old bigotries from our society, but that does not mean we should stop moving ourselves forward towards this goal. 

 

Without a doubt employee training on diversity, human rights and the issues important to our many communities is the most basic way to assist staff to understand issues such as antisemitism. As well, by the city recognizing important Jewish events such as Hanukkah, staff become sensitized to the community.

Question 4: National Plan to Combat Antisemitism

Recently Statistics Canada released its 2021 annual report showing that police reported hate
crimes had reached their highest level since reporting began. Jews representing 1.25% of the
Canadian population were 56% of those victimized in hate aimed at religious minorities.
There is a substantial Jewish population in Vaughan and the report has caused concern in the
community.


Last year in response to the staggering upsurge if violence and hate targeting Jews, the
Government of Canada convened a National Summit on Antisemitism. One of the avenues
proposed as a solution was a more active response to hate by municipalities.


Do you accept the need for a national plan to combat antisemitism as endorsed at the National
Summit on Antisemitism and in which municipalities would play an active role?

Actually, I think there needs to be a worldwide plan, not just a Canadian plan. 

Yes, it is crucial for all municipalities to play active role to combat Anti-Semitism. I accept the need for a National plan to combat Anti-Semitism as endorsed at the National Summit. I would purpose all religious worship places to work together as one to combat this issue. Together we are stronger, it will show unity and it will bring positive attitudes among people. 

I do support municipalities playing an active role in a national plan to combat antisemitism. I have always been a proponent of all levels of government working cooperatively and in unison to work towards resolutions of larger issues. Combatting problems that affect residents on a national scale will require municipalities working with other levels of government and various police forces to collaboratively and effectively make any plan work.

Increasing public awareness and enhancing community security are both mandates of the National Summit on Antisemitism, and they are both priorities where municipal and regional governments can assist, through local resources. Additionally, education is a key component for fighting all types of hate crimes, racism and bigotry, and I have been meeting with local community groups to discuss options for awareness and education.

Ultimately, I would be interested in seeing how discussions and mandates from the National Summit evolve and having the municipality be involved in a future summit if elected as Mayor.

 

Yes, I accept the need for a national plan to combat antisemitism as endorsed at the National Summit on Antisemitism. In the previous questions, I have addressed some of the initiatives that we have enacted at the City of Vaughan and the Region of York; however, incidents of antisemitism and other hate crimes are on the rise. I believe a national plan would provide us with even better tools and guidance to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish community.

I believe we need to properly investigate and better understand why antisemitism is increasingly in Canada and in the City of Vaughan. Once we understand where antisemitism is coming from we will be better equipped to put a municipal, provincial and national plan in place to deal with it. There is no place for political correctness when it comes to hate crimes. While I do realize this is a very sensitive topic for many people within Vaughan, we need to be more open and honest about the sources of hate crimes, call out who is perpetuating these hate crimes and hold these people directly accountable.

The rise in antisemitism across the country is extremely alarming and absolutely unacceptable. There is no place for any form of hate, violence, and discrimination against the Jewish community or other ethnic or religious communities in Vaughan or elsewhere in Canada. I demonstrated over and over again my commitment to acting decisively against antisemitism, standing up for the Jewish community, and advancing safety, and inclusion for people of all racial, ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. I strongly believe that municipal leaders – being the closest form of government to residents of a community – can play an active role in combatting antisemitism and all forms of hate crimes. As the Mayor, I will work tirelessly with the rest of the members of the Vaughan City Council and York Regional Council to coordinate efforts of all three levels of government at the local and national levels to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate crimes. That involves partnering with local community leaders and members of the community to listen to their concerns and challenges, identify potential avenues to address those concerns, and strengthen local institutions to develop programs and services that promote social cohesion and harmony.

I vehemently accept the need for a national plan to combat antisemitism in Canada, and I look forward to working with Jewish advocacy organizations like the B’nai Brith Canada League for Human Rights on developing and implementing an effective strategy.

Yes, of course I do. In fact, Vaughan has directly experienced antisemitic acts from graffiti on religious and educational institutions to outright confrontations by individuals spewing antisemitic slurs and threatening bodily harm. 

Antisemitism serves as the “canary in the coalmine” for all forms of ethnic, racial, or religious hatred.  Lessons learned from the study of and rooting out of antisemitism can be easily applied to all other forms of hatred.

Yes, I believe that a National policy must be adopted and adhered to. The ratio of hate crime is higher amongst the Jewish population because we are a minority and easily targeted. Again, I say that we need education as to who we are and what we represent. Israel and the Jewish nation are one of the most diverse countries and people in the world, yet we are targeted by media and attacked by organizations daily.

Absolutely. We are not on a secluded island. Vaughan is part of a much bigger whole and we need to take part in any initiative that the rest of the country deems important. Vaughan will not be left behind and as Mayor, I expect to lead and make Vaughan the example that others should follow. This is especially true of hate crimes which have no place in a modern society. 

Absolutely. A plan without the participation of municipalities is just tokenism. The reality is that it is the local authorities who need to deal with manifestations of antisemitism and hate crimes.

I fully accept that there is a need for a national plan to combat antisemitism. The plan should be national in order to avoid confusion and different interpretation by the Provence’s, Municipalities and Cities.

I, in particular am running for the position of Local and Regional Councillor for the City of Vaughan, as such my advocacy would be to the residents of Vaughan and a voice for the residents at regional meetings. I would ensure that the Mayor raises any concerns or recommendations at Mayoral meetings and hopefully the Mayor’s would work with the Province to fully develop and implement a plan.

Question 5: Online Hate

Modern day hate often originates online. Canada’s legislation to control hate online has been
outstripped by technology. A recent report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on
Public Safety and National Security proposes measures to address both online hate and rampant
antisemitism.


The recommendations can be consulted through the following link:


https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/SECU/report-6/page-18


B’nai Brith has urged municipalities to endorse the recommendations and invite the Government of
Canada to swiftly enact legislation and regulations to make the recommendations operational.


If elected Mayor, would you introduce a motion at City Council to support the House of Commons
Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security to confront online hate?

Yes, definitely I will for sure introduce a motion at City Council to support the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security to confront online hate. Online hate touches most of the individuals every day, it is everyone duty to regardless of their background to confront this issue.

I recognize that there has been a large rise in hate crimes, and online hate crimes, since the onset of Covid-19. I have witnessed a large increase in hate crimes directed at the Asian community as well, and I have already brought in resolutions to Council to denounce all forms of Anti-Asian hate crimes, as well as other types of hate crimes, including Antisemitism and Islamophobia. As an Asian immigrant and long-standing politician, I do support legislation and regulations to confront online hate.

However, recognizing a large part of the work being done here is federally regulated and controlled, I do support in principle the recommendations made by the federal government, and I have already asked staff to review these recommendations in their entirety to bring a suitable motion forward for the City of Vaughan. I have also had a conversation with the City’s Diversity and Inclusion Officer several weeks ago to look at crafting a motion denouncing racism and hate crimes related to antisemitism and Islamophobia, and I expect to be able to bring this motion forward in the new term of Council.

Yes, I would introduce a motion at City Council to support the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security to confront online hate. I believe due to its anonymous nature and speed at which its disseminated, online hate is one of the most substantial issues facing our community. The solution is a complex one as technology is constantly changing but I would fully support my provincial and federal colleagues as they create legislation to battle online hate.

 

I would be more than happy to introduce or support such a motion.

Those who want to create division among us and spread hatred and bigotry continue to devise new techniques and approaches to fulfilling their evil objectives. Nowadays they take advantage of the anonymity that various social media and online platforms offer. Hate-motivated activities on digital platforms are rising and are deeply concerning because of the pace at which misinformation and disinformation can spread online. Thus, these individuals and groups who are driven by hate continue to harm people of Jewish background and other communities irreparably. I am glad to see that political leaders of all stripes and backgrounds have started to take note of this issue. The decision made by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security to study this issue and propose measures to address both online hate and rampant antisemitism is a step in the right direction. However, we must go further than that. As your Mayor, I will call on the federal government to enact legislation and regulations rapidly to make the recommendations operational. Furthermore, I will introduce a motion at the City Council to support the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security’s effort to fight online hate.

Although I am supportive of combating hatred in digital spaces of any kind, I am very cautious to maintain the delineation between various levels of government and their corresponding jurisdictions. It is imperative that I do what I can to connect with fellow municipal leaders in Vaughan and York Region in the pursuit of a solution that will be of benefit to all.

While I agree in principle with many of the recommendations, I am exceedingly cautious about the suppression of free speech.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has shown us that the best-intentioned legislation and regulations can be used for government overreach that violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

I stand in support of ensuring that hate is not propagated online, but I am not sure that this legislation will deal with the issue.  As long as social media providers continue to allow the hateful Iranian regime and organizations like Black Lives Matter that spew antisemitic rhetoric and foment hate against Jews to continue their online activities, I am not sure that this action will solve the problem.

As Councilor I would endorse any legislation and legal ramifications to meet and defeat all forms of antisemitism and other hate crimes.

Censorship is a very slippery slope. In a democracy you need to acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who’s standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. That is the corner stone of free speech. Yes, online hate is awful, it is despicable, but we must not censor it. Where does it stop? Who gets to decide what is acceptable to say or not to say. Now, the very minute that this hatred come out of the basements of these agitators, that is when we can act, and we will act in decisive and severe ways. 

Absolutely – and I would have support by the other members of Vaughan Council.

 

If elected I would introduce a motion endorsing the House of Commons Standing Committee recommendations, would be an advocate, and YOUR voice in the City of Vaughan and in York Region.  

I would raise any issues or recommendations at a Regional level and attempt to ensure the Mayors of the Regions bring any concern or recommendations forward to their Provincial counterparts.  

Failing participation and implementation of any plan from the Federal and Provincial Governments, I believe that some of the recommendations may be addressed at a local level through by-laws. By –laws could be used as a tool to discourage unacceptable behaviour by penalizing any contraveners.

 

Yes. 

Question 6: Threats to Religious Institutions

Do you support action to combat the increasing security threat to religious institutions such as
synagogues, churches and mosques? What specifically would you propose to do to address this
threat?

The right to be treated equally based on religion, and the right to practice freely one’s religious beliefs, are fundamental human rights in Ontario, protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Recognizing that the rise in prejudice, Antisemitism and Islamophobia is often shaped by international events and online hate forums, this can and does lead to security threats to religious institutions. I do support action to combat these increased security threats, and the municipality would have to work with York Regional Police and local religious and cultural organizations to determine appropriate courses of action.

Ultimately, the City of Vaughan will work with all communities in Vaughan to support opportunities to build awareness and educate the public to work effectively toward the elimination of all forms of intolerance, discrimination, and bigotry, including those that pose a risk to all religious institutions.

I most definitely support initiatives that would protect our religious institutions from increased security risks. I believe active communication between religious groups and our local law enforcement is imperative as well as regular and comprehensive threat assessments.

 

Everyone within the City of Vaughan should feel safe to practice their religion within their places of worship in a safe and secure manner. I believe in zero tolerance for any individual or group who threatens the safety and security of our religious institutions and I will work aggressively with York Regional Police to better understand what additional measure can be put in place to eradicate these types of threats. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our democracy and one of the things that makes Canada and the City of Vaughan such a wonderful place to live. You can be assured that I will treat any threats to these freedoms as paramount.

The presence of people of a wide variety of religions in Vaughan enriches our social experience. Yet, quite often the places of worship of the faith-based communities continue to be attacked and vandalized. Religious institutions such as mosques, churches, synagogues, or temples act as anchors in our communities. They act as a critical unifying element in our lives and help us form strong social bonds. As your Mayor, I will have zero tolerance for any threat to places of worship and cultural/religious institutions. I will work with my fellow Councillors at the City of Vaughan and the York Regional Council along with York Regional Police to help faith-based communities to strengthen the security of their religious institutions through the application of a variety of techniques such as regular police patrols, installation of security cameras or erecting fences. I will bring faith leaders from all backgrounds together to foster a culture of collaboration to combat hate collectively as a united community. I will also advocate for legislative changes at the federal and provincial levels that will result in steep fines and penalties for perpetrators who threaten the safety of worshippers at religious institutions or disrupt their events or prayers.

One of my first meetings as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Thornhill was with representatives from York Regional Police, specifically to speak about this issue and to ensure that they continue to do everything they can to provide security. It is the responsibility of all levels of government to work together with religious institutions of all faith communities to make sure that each one of us can practice our beliefs in a safe, supportive and enjoyable environment.

Yes, I do.  I believe that the government of Canada made important steps under the leadership of Stephen Harper by creating the SIP program which helped to fund security solutions for religious and cultural institutions across Canada.  This program was continued and expanded under the Liberal government. 

 It is sad commentary in this day and age that we need such programs, but I believe that they must continue and be expanded if necessary to ensure that Canadians of faith are protected from those who would persecute them for that faith.

 In addition, I would urge the City of Vaughan to consult with faith communities in the City to ascertain their specific needs. Most communities want nothing more than to worship in peace, send their children to their faith-based schools in peace and to live in their communities in peace.  It is the duty of the City of Vaughan to provide a safe and accepting environment for all of its citizens. If this requires additional resources, so be it.

It is very difficult to take measures that would meet the threats and at the same time create a welcoming image.

 

I have been to many religious institutions that have security measures in place. Some of them are done correctly while others have security guards which do not represent a deterrent. I would encourage a better security representation. This starting point would be a far better deterrent that now exists.

 

There are religious restrictions that prevent the use of electronic devises and in such cases more “trained” guards are required.

The best way to combat hatred of any kind is to shine a light on it. Look at what happened to the crime rate in London (UK) when they introduced a city-wide surveillance system. Yes there were those that complained about Big Brother and loss of privacy but that is not what happened. Would it surprise you to know that London has just over 800,000 cameras installed? Would it also surprise you to know that those cameras produced a 40% drop in crime? As a pilot project I would suggest installing cameras around sensitive arears like Synagogues and Mosques and see where that leads us. This would be part of the police expansion plan.

As noted above a few years ago I arranged a meeting with the Senior officers of the York Region Police and all Jewish institutions in the Region. The primary purpose was to assist the community institutions to establish direct contact with the police. It also allowed the police to gain a better understanding of the concerns of the community. Finally the meeting was a good forum for the police to describe how they work to protect the Jewish community.

If elected there are two actions that I believe can be enacted quickly which may help to reduce the number of security threats that are presently happening. The first action that can be taken would be increasing police presence in areas where people are worshiping during the “high holidays” and on a regular basis during times of regular religious observance.

Secondly, I think, more has to be done with respect to public service announcements. Ads should portray inclusiveness of all faiths, ethnicities and groups congregating at various events, side by side. People need to be taught that no matter what your beliefs, people are people, and everyone should be treated equally.

I would like you to consider this. Mr. Racco, in his election brochure states; “Self-employed business owner, providing legal services, accounting, management and tax services”. My question to you is this; do you, as a Taxpayer, not deserve a full time Councillor? How will Mr. Racco REPRESENT YOU and be YOUR VOICE when he will be busy providing 4 other services to clients for a second paycheck. This also raises conflict of interest concerns.

Furthermore, his partner (Sandra Racco) is running for Mayor, although not a conflict, if you were following both campaigns most of the photographs that were posted, and have since been taken down, showed them doing almost everything together.

If (Sandra Racco) gets elected as Mayor and Mario Racco gets elected as Local and Regional Councillor, will you get two independent positions on issues that may affect you directly?

Over and above this, I imagine she would also be his boss, something that would never be allowed in private industry.

Personally, I will not vote for a husband and wife to hold two of the top jobs in Vaughan. I would want independent thought and voting on issues of importance to occur.

As far as the other three long standing Local and Regional Councillors, they are responsible for any complaints you have about your community. They have been in their positions for years and you have nowhere else to look except to them for any community problems you are dealing with. Now that it election time, I am sure they will promise all kinds of change and action, but they had many, many years to change things and did not. If they were interested to change anything, it would have been done during the many terms they have already served.

a) Absolutely. b) There are too many things that need to be done. I cannot possibly list them in a simple sentence or two.

My vision is to replace “I” with “WE”. If we all really want to protect our values, our next generations, and our communities and to avoid wars, terrorism and Anti-Semitism we all need to bring in multiculturalism awareness. Let’s uplift all communities and save lives. 

york region district school board

B’nai Brith invited candidates in select districts of the York Region District School Board the opportunity to complete a survey or provide other information that they feel would be of interest to voters and to the Jewish community in particular.

In some cases, we are providing information from publicly available sources of information.

Question 1: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

If elected as a Trustee, would you endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism?

That definition can be consulted through the following link.

https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism

My answer is absolutely, unequivocally, YES. As a Jew and a local resident, I am all too aware how unsafe this world is for Jews. This is something that all too many people fail to recognize, because the many “incidents” that happen on a daily basis rarely make it into the news.

It’s a sad fact that seemingly innocuous acts like Antisemitic graffiti, memes and so on will, if ignored, lead to more extreme acts, including violence. All Antisemitism must be stopped before it finds expression in words and deeds.

Endorsing and adopting the IHRA’s definition is only one small part of that battle. The recent decision by the YRDSB to not update the definition is appalling and unacceptable.

I will definitely endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism. I attended, virtually, the last YRDSB Trustee meeting where David Sherman presented a strong case for the IHRA definition. When all but one trustee other than David voted to, “indefinitely hold off the vote”, for “further research” I was extremely saddened and disappointed.

One of my missions, if I am elected in area 3, wards 4 and 5, will be to bring a motion to once again put the definition back on the table and gather support.

Question 2: Employee Training to Recognize Antisemitism

How would you improve the ability of York Region District School Board employees to recognize and counter antisemitism?

Education, training and professional development are critical to combating Antisemitism. This includes raising awareness among students, because they must be educated early, but also among staff, administrators and trustees themselves. Recent events indicate there is a lot to do in this area. It should be raised as often as possible, with policies pushed hard. A critical element will be enlisting public support, because without public pressure, people in politics will not take action.

I would work together with Jewish organizations such as B’nai B’rith and Simon Wiesenthal Centre to develop PD for all staff and workshops for all students in order to break down ignorance in the schools and communities. Staff and students need to understand what the different layers of Jewish hate looks like in order to fight against it. Also, they need to have more education around the history of antisemitism and how to deal with it if they hear slander. I would encourage the Board to also integrate antisemitism into the current anti-racism education as has been done for other minorities.

Question 3: National Plan to Combat Antisemitism

Recently Statistics Canada released its 2021 annual report showing that police reported hate crimes had reached their highest level since reporting began. Jews representing 1.25% of the Canadian population were 56% of those victimized in hate aimed at religious minorities.

There is a substantial Jewish population in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham and the report has caused concern in the community.

Last year in response to the staggering upsurge of violence and hate targeting Jews, the Government of Canada convened a National Summit on Antisemitism. One of the avenues proposed as a solution was a more active response to hate by municipalities by school boards.

Do you accept the need for a national plan to combat antisemitism as endorsed at the National Summit on Antisemitism and in which school boards would play an active role?

Again, my answer is a loud, unequivocal YES. Every possible effort should be made to battle Antisemitism, including at the federal level. I would like the YRDSB to be a national leader in this fight.

I do accept and will advocate a plan to combat antisemitism as endorsed at the National Summit on Antisemitism where school boards would actively be involved. One of my roles when I worked for the TDSB was in the area of mediation. One of the challenges was to bring people together who refused to sit in the same room. Over the years, I developed skills to help everyone feel heard and realize that all parties can have a seat at the table and be safe. I had great success in helping people learn to respect and meet in the middle. I am truly hoping to inspire a change where I can bring Trustees together and work towards a common ground. My goal is for all of our children to  have an identity and feel safe in our schools.

Question 4: Online Hate

Modern day hate often originates online. Canada’s legislation to control hate online has been outstripped by technology.

A recent report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security proposes measures to address both online hate and rampant antisemitism.

The recommendations can be consulted through the following link:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/SECU/report-6/page-18

B’nai Brith has urged municipalities and school boards to endorse the recommendations and invite the Government of Canada to swiftly enact legislation and regulations to make the recommendations operational.

If elected as Trustee, what measures would you propose to support the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security to confront online hate?

If elected as Trustee, what measures would you propose to support the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security to confront online hate?

My two children, aged nine and eleven, are limited in what they can do online, and yet even they have been exposed to Antisemitic memes and comments. It is vital to ensure that educators and students are aware not only of hateful online content, but the methods by which it is created and disseminated. We need to talk about the bad actors, the hate groups, the hostile powers that generate that content. It’s outrageous that topics like these are still not discussed in journalism or education. That must change.

I would organize petitions and letter writing campaigns. I would encourage lobbying with reputable groups like B’nai B’rith and other Jewish organizations. I would build coalitions with other racially diverse groups.

Question 5: Diversity

York Region reflects the diversity of modern-day Canada

Do you have any proposals as to how York Region District School Board can promote dialogue and harmony in its heterogeneous student population?

Vaughan is an extraordinarily diverse community, and the key to getting along is to embrace one another’s humanity. That requires patience, listening and understanding. There are countless points of potential conflict that can only be smoothed over with empathy.

In just one example, in my neighbourhood there are many people who were born in Russia, and many of them are married to people who were born in Ukraine; there are neighbours living on both sides of the warring sides. And yet we don’t have shootings or street fights. Why? Because we are Canadians who want to live in peace. Similarly, we have residents who moved here from Israel whose kids go to school with children of Palestinian extraction. Every conflict in the world has the potential to spill over into Vaughan, and we have to work hard to prevent that.

All the steps listed above for fighting Antisemitism can be expanded. One of my parents was Black, so I also care deeply about anti-Black racism, which is deeply rooted and very pervasive. Yet I don’t have to belong to a community to care about the lives of its members. I’m also incredibly concerned about anti-Asian racism, and Islamophobia, and the hatred of all things LGBTQ+.

It takes constant vigilance, unremitting pressure, empathetic advocacy, professional development and training, constant communication with every member of the community.

As an Adult English as a Second Language teacher, as well as an ESL Manager of approx. 20,000 students per year at the TDSB (the largest school board in Canada), I worked with my staff to promote inclusion and harmony among students from many countries who sat side by side in classrooms. We developed two basic strategies. First, we established rules in the classroom that included, for example, “No discussion of religion or politics.” In addition, we built community by sharing stories of our families, hobbies and skills. This way students learned to bond and earn respect for one another instead of relying on preconceived prejudices. We also held group celebrations where students shared food from their countries, presented their traditional clothing at fashion shows and enjoyed talent shows demonstrating native dance and song. Here we learned about celebrating commonalities and diversities at the same time.

Question 6: Your qualifications

Can you tell us something about your background and work that would bring value to the York Region District School Board?

Do you have any platform proposals which you wish to share with B’nai Brith’s readers?

● I have never been elected to public office before

● I am an OCT-certified teacher, though I have not taught in a classroom since 2012, when I taught computers at Bnei Akiva Schools

● I spent most the past ten years as a stay-at-home dad

● My current job is training special needs kids in the YRDSB to use assistive technology

● For my whole adult life, I have worked to help my community, in paid and unpaid work

○ I have received a certificate of appreciation from the Yellow Brick House women and children’s shelter

○ I volunteered for Habitats for Humanity in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005

○ I volunteered for Journalists for Human Rights in Ghana to assist in their human rights reporting after years of military dictatorship

○ I taught English in rural China in the late 1990s

In terms of proposals, I have three priorities, as mapped out on my website:

1. Drastically improve communication with the community. Our outgoing trustee is infamous for being impossible to reach … even city councilors have told me their calls and emails were not returned. During the depths of Covid, when parents were desperate for information and guidance, our trustees were MIA. It is an utter disgrace. There are so many communication channels these days! A trustee should be easily accessible. At the same time, a trustee should keep their constituents fully informed on all business conducted by trustees and the board, keep them informed of new initiatives, and solicit ideas, concerns and experiences from the public. Refusing to do this constitutes a catastrophic failure of public service.

2. Raise awareness of, and constantly battle, all forms of Antisemitism. Canadians have become far too complacent about the virus of Antisemitism. It is the duty of all of us as Jews, especially those of us with family legacies of suffering at the hands of those who hate us, to stand up. The YRDSB has been horrifyingly lackadaisical on this subject, and that must end. If elected trustee, I will never, ever stop pushing hard for education, training and programs to fight this fight. Battling apathy must be a priority.

3. Embrace diversity and fight all forms of discrimination. We must utterly reject all forms of hate, mockery and bullying based on race, faith, language, or sexual/gender expression. No one can be overlooked. Yes, there are countless groups and individuals that experience discrimination. Yes, it will take constant vigilance and hard work to address it all. Too bad. That work must be done. Whatever it takes. Our kids need to be safe.

I have had the following roles over 30 years at the TDSB:

1. Elementary teacher

2. Adult English as a Second Language teacher

3. ESL co-manager

4. Mediator and Investigator with the Human Rights Department

All of these experiences have given me an excellent foundation to support equity, diversity and inclusion at YRDSB schools and in our community at large