MPs wanted an explanation after Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, said that the Israeli Defence Forces were sowing “the seeds of genocide” in Gaza.According to Blacklock’s Reporter, some MPs, including Jewish MPs, were alarmed by what Singh said.“Resist the call for revenge,” Singh told the Commons in an evening debate on events overseas. “Surely we must demand the same of the Israeli government.”“Canada must call for a ceasefire to end the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza immediately,” said Singh. “We cannot allow for the continuing dehumanization of an entire population. When we stop seeing each other as human, when we stop believing each life has value, this is when the seeds of genocide take hold.”MPs pressed Singh to explain his remark. “Yes or no, do you believe Israel is committing or is about to commit genocide?” asked Liberal MP Anthony Housefather (Mount Royal, QC). “I understand there are very real emotions,” replied Singh.“Perhaps I misunderstood him, but it sounds to me that he was suggesting Israel is committing or on the verge of committing genocide,” said Liberal MP Ben Carr (Winnipeg South Centre, MB). “The definition of genocide has a particularly important adjective, ‘deliberate.’”“I am going to ask him one more time if he believes – and this is a serious matter – that Israel is committing or is about to commit genocide?” asked Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, ON). “We know there are innocent people in Gaza,” replied Singh.The debate went on in Parliament after they found out that at least eight Canadians were killed during the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists.“Now is the time for moral clarity,” said Conservative MP Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James, MB).“Already, there are calls for Israel to de-escalate. I cannot believe I am hearing this, even from the NDP. I ask, would any country de-escalate after having its people slaughtered in cold blood?”“Excellent speech,” replied Housefather.Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg-Haute St. Charles, QC) told the Commons that legislators must “tell the whole truth” about the killing of Jews. “Why deny reality?” asked Paul-Hus.“The members of Hamas are terrorists. There is ample evidence of that. It is time to tell the whole truth about these violent criminals. This is not merely a conflict between two peoples. These are acts of terrorism and war crimes.”A Bloc Quebecois MP agreed. “This does not happen often, but for once, we are in agreement,” said MP René Villemure (Trois-Rivières, QC). “The members of Hamas are terrorists. Hamas is seeking the annihilation of Israel. Hamas is evil. We all agree on that.”
MPs wanted an explanation after Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP, said that the Israeli Defence Forces were sowing “the seeds of genocide” in Gaza.According to Blacklock’s Reporter, some MPs, including Jewish MPs, were alarmed by what Singh said.“Resist the call for revenge,” Singh told the Commons in an evening debate on events overseas. “Surely we must demand the same of the Israeli government.”“Canada must call for a ceasefire to end the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza immediately,” said Singh. “We cannot allow for the continuing dehumanization of an entire population. When we stop seeing each other as human, when we stop believing each life has value, this is when the seeds of genocide take hold.”MPs pressed Singh to explain his remark. “Yes or no, do you believe Israel is committing or is about to commit genocide?” asked Liberal MP Anthony Housefather (Mount Royal, QC). “I understand there are very real emotions,” replied Singh.“Perhaps I misunderstood him, but it sounds to me that he was suggesting Israel is committing or on the verge of committing genocide,” said Liberal MP Ben Carr (Winnipeg South Centre, MB). “The definition of genocide has a particularly important adjective, ‘deliberate.’”“I am going to ask him one more time if he believes – and this is a serious matter – that Israel is committing or is about to commit genocide?” asked Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman (Thornhill, ON). “We know there are innocent people in Gaza,” replied Singh.The debate went on in Parliament after they found out that at least eight Canadians were killed during the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists.“Now is the time for moral clarity,” said Conservative MP Marty Morantz (Charleswood-St. James, MB).“Already, there are calls for Israel to de-escalate. I cannot believe I am hearing this, even from the NDP. I ask, would any country de-escalate after having its people slaughtered in cold blood?”“Excellent speech,” replied Housefather.Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg-Haute St. Charles, QC) told the Commons that legislators must “tell the whole truth” about the killing of Jews. “Why deny reality?” asked Paul-Hus.“The members of Hamas are terrorists. There is ample evidence of that. It is time to tell the whole truth about these violent criminals. This is not merely a conflict between two peoples. These are acts of terrorism and war crimes.”A Bloc Quebecois MP agreed. “This does not happen often, but for once, we are in agreement,” said MP René Villemure (Trois-Rivières, QC). “The members of Hamas are terrorists. Hamas is seeking the annihilation of Israel. Hamas is evil. We all agree on that.”
