Omar Alghabra is a spit in the face to all Canadians!

Petition to Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, and Prime Minister Mark Carney:

Remove Omar Alghabra from Canada’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion (Council against Antisemitism)

We, the undersigned Canadian citizens, call on Minister Marc Miller and Prime Minister Mark Carney to immediately remove former Liberal MP Omar Alghabra, P.C., from the newly formed Ministerial Advisory Council tasked with combating antisemitism and supporting Canada’s Jewish community. 

Including Mr. Alghabra in this role represents a profound conflict of interest and undermines the council’s credibility and mandate. His past leadership and advocacy raise serious questions about his suitability to advise on antisemitism, particularly at a time when Canadian Jewish communities face unprecedented levels of hate and violence following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and subsequent events. 

Key Concerns:

•  Past associations with the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF): As a former chair of the CAF, Alghabra was linked to positions that opposed the designation of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as terrorist organizations. The group described these entities as “legitimate political parties” and criticized the Canadian government for allegedly yielding to the “pro-Israel lobby.” 

•  Public statements downplaying threats: In a 2006 interview with the Jewish Tribune, Alghabra stated he did not believe Hamas wanted the elimination of Israel. He has faced criticism for earlier reluctance to fully denounce certain terrorist tactics. 

•  Lobbying allegations: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has publicly stated that Alghabra lobbied him, prior to entering politics, to keep Hezbollah legal in Canada. 

While Mr. Alghabra has in later years described Hamas as a terrorist organization in parliamentary debate (2016), his earlier record and associations create an appearance of bad faith. Appointing someone with this history to a council specifically addressing antisemitism—amid surging incidents against Canadian Jews—sends a troubling message. It risks alienating the very community the council claims to protect and erodes public trust in the government’s commitment to genuine action against Jew-hatred. 

Prime Minister Carney and Minister Miller have emphasized the importance of addressing the post-war surge in antisemitism and upholding Canada’s civic compact with Jewish Canadians. Placing Mr. Alghabra in this position undermines that stated goal. Credibility demands that members of such a council have unambiguous records of opposing antisemitism, terrorism, and the groups that perpetuate them, without a history of advocacy that can reasonably be seen as sympathetic to Hezbollah or Hamas.

We urge you to act swiftly: remove Omar Alghabra from the Council and ensure its membership reflects broad consensus and integrity in the fight against antisemitism. Canadian Jews deserve leadership on this issue that unites rather than divides, and that prioritizes their safety and dignity without compromise.

Sign this petition to send a clear message that appointments to bodies combating hate must be beyond reproach.