Canadian Heritage will ensure multiple government officials review funding applications and obtain better training about how to vet social media posts after a scandal involving Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) consultant Laith Marouf. .“This incident reflects a failure in the system,” said Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen in a letter to B’nai Brith Canada. .“The fact the funding was allowed to flow to this organization in the first place is a slap in the face to the Jewish community, the francophone community, and many other groups he has continuously attacked with his hateful comments, and for that, I sincerely apologize.” .Hussen said on August 22 the CMAC will no longer be working on an initiative for the Canadian government after it was discovered Marouf had made antisemitic comments. .READ MORE: Anti-racism director fired from Canadian government project for antisemitism.“The antisemitic comments made by Laith Marouf are reprehensible and vile,” said Hussen. .“We have provided notice to the CMAC their funding has been cut and their project has been suspended.” .Hussen said Marouf “slipped through the cracks during the review of the CMAC application.” He outlined changes the Canadian government will make, vowing money will not be doled out until these measures are enacted. .The measures include enhanced vetting training for all program officers, ensuring multiple officers review each application before funding can be approved, and enhanced social media vetting training towards for people and organizations. .The Canadian government promised to implement improved diversity and inclusion training for program officers, “including anti-racism and antisemitism awareness training, with an understanding of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, to ensure they continue to champion the values reflected through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.”.Funding recipients will be held to the same standards..The letter said there would be conditions in funding agreements “that would allow the federal government to take immediate action, should any organization or individual be identified as having promoted or shared hate, racism and discrimination in any form.”.If an organization’s funding is cut, it will never again be eligible for funding from Canadian Heritage..It said applicants must commit to implementing measures to eliminate harassment, abuse, and discrimination. .B’nai Brith Canada national director Marvin Rotrand said the measures in the letter were more concrete than what the government promised before. .“We’re generally very satisfied, although it doesn’t meet all our demands,” said Rotrand. .“We’re particularly delighted the lens through which these types of grants will be evaluated in the future will be the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.”
