Ontario NDP MPP Sarah Jama (Hamilton Centre) has sent a cease and desist letter to Premier Doug Ford after he accused her of antisemitism. “Please note that these published statements have done and continue to do serious harm to Ms. Jama’s reputation,” said Stephen Ellis Barrister and Solicitor lawyer Stephen Ellis in a letter to Ford. “It is also our considered opinion that the above statements easily meet the test of defamatory statements as contemplated by the Libel and Slander Act of Ontario, and damages have been occasioned as a result.”.Jama said on October 10 Israel’s treatment of Palestine amounts to apartheid. READ MORE: UPDATED: Ontario NDP MPP says Israel committing apartheid against Palestinians“We are seeing this definition of apartheid in real time through the continued violation of human rights in Gaza through the use of white phosphorus chemicals; the withholding of access to food, fuel, electricity and water; and the destruction of the only exit from Gaza that isn’t controlled by the State of Israel — the Rafah border,” she said..Especially with this context in mind, she said the news coming out of Israel and Palestine is problematic. For 75 years, she said violence and retaliation rooted in settler colonialism “have taken the lives of far too many innocent people.” Jama said on October 11 she heard many opinions about her tweet about Israel. READ MORE: Ontario NDP MPP apologizes for accusing Israel of apartheid“I hear them — and above all, I understand the pain that many Jewish and Israeli Canadians, including my own constituents, must be feeling,” she said. “I apologize.”.Ellis went on to say it has come to his attention Ford denounced Jama for supporting Palestine. Ford accused her of having a long, well-documented history of antisemitism. “Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP have proven time and time again that they tolerate these hateful views and actions by keeping Ms. Jama in their caucus,” he said. “As premier, I’m doing what Ms. Stiles won’t and calling on Sarah Jama to resign immediately as a member of the Provincial Parliament.”.To date, Ford’s statement has been viewed 1.5 million times, received 7,167 likes, and had 2,108 retweets. In his statement, he said she has a long, well-documented history of antisemitism, hateful views, and supported the rape and murder of Jews. Ellis said he implied she is racist, particularly towards Jews; sympathetic to terrorism; and unfit to represent her constituents. She demands he cease and desist from publishing the defamatory remarks. Additionally, she wants an immediate retraction of the statement and the publication of an unequivocal apology. The letter will serve as notice for the purposes of Section 5(1) of the Libel and Slander Act. A legal proceeding could follow in defamation pursuant to it. He called for Ford to “understand that tarnishing Ms. Jama’s reputation in such a public manner will not be tolerated under any circumstances.” Ellis concluded by saying Ford will “retract the posts and publicly apologize within the next seven calendar days, failing which Ms. Jama has instructed us to escalate matters further, which may include, without limitation, issuing a statement of claim against you personally.” “Govern yourself accordingly,” he said.The Office of the Premier of Ontario could not be reached for comment in time for publication.
