Send this page to someone via email

The Liberals are facing calls to revoke funding granted through the Canada Summer Jobs program to an Islamic organization whose leader Conservatives have accused of spreading “hatred” by calling for Israeli soldiers in Gaza to be sent home in “body bags.”

Over the last two years, the Liberals have approved the Islamic Humanitarian Service for more than $50,000 in federal grants.

It was also funded by a Conservative MP under the former Stephen Harper government prior to the comments in question — though received substantially less.

COMMENTARY: Either scrap the Canada Summer Jobs program, or scrap the politics around it

Peter Braid, the former Conservative MP for the riding, approved $5,966 in funding for two jobs through the program in 2015, while Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre was the federal employment minister overseeing the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Story continues below advertisement

Poilievre retweeted a tweet by Conservative Senator Linda Frum earlier this month in which she criticized the decision to grant funding and called the group “vicious Jew haters.”

He told Global News the government should refuse to fund the group in future given the comments and revoke any funding set to go to the group this year.

“Sheikh Shafiq Hudda’s comments are despicable. We should have zero tolerance for anti–Semitism and incitement of violence,” Poilievre said.

“If he had made these comments while I was Employment Minister, I would have banned any group associated with him from receiving Canada Summer Jobs funding. What’s disturbing is that Justin Trudeau is now aware of these comments and refuses to strip away summer jobs funding from Sheikh Shafiq Hudda.”

WATCH BELOW: Conservatives, Liberals trade jabs over Canada Summer Jobs program attestation

1:09 Conservatives, Liberals trade jabs over Canada Summer Jobs program attestation Conservatives, Liberals trade jabs over Canada Summer Jobs program attestation

Sheikh Shafiq Hudda, who runs the organization, gave a speech at a Quds Day rally in Toronto on June 9 that called for “the eradication of the unjust powers, such as the American empire, such as the Israeli Zionists.”

Story continues below advertisement

“The same body bags that you have caused for the Palestinians, your army, the Israeli Defense forces will leave from Palestine in those same body bags.”

Hudda did not specifically reference eradicating Jews in his speech and said calling for the eradication of the state of Israel should not be considered anti-Semitic.

“Why, you’re saying that it’s anti-Semitism? It’s anti-Judaism? Then I would say why are my Jewish brothers and sisters here today and every year?” he said.

“It’s not a matter of Semitism or anti-Semitism, it’s a matter that the government of Israel, the state of Israel has committed acts that no other country and no other nation, no other entity has committed. Against innocents, against children, against the vulnerable, against the elderly. You will see them, everywhere around you. Those who are the most vulnerable get attacked by the Zionist.”

Story continues below advertisement

Global News made several attempts to contact the Islamic Humanitarian Service over the course of a week to request clarification of its leader’s comments as well as whether the organization itself supports them, and how much money it had requested in grants through the program for this year.

The organization did not respond.

COMMENTARY: Liberals will win the fight on Canada Summer Jobs program

Former public safety minister Steven Blaney also condemned the funding of the group, which is registered as a federal charity, and questioned whether it should have been approved.

Blaney characterized the decision as “a case of incompetence.”

When asked whether he believed the previous funding of the group was a mistake, he did not say.

“Conservatives strongly condemn hate speech in all its forms and believe that those who engage in terrorist activity and advocate genocide belong in prison, not cashing government cheques,” Blaney said in a statement provided to Global News.

Yesterday at a hate rally, Sheikh Shafiq Huda called for the eradication of Jews. It turns out his organization is approved for Canada Summer Jobs funding – courtesy of the Government House Leader in Waterloo. Why on Earth is this organization approved for funding in her riding? — Steven Blaney, MP (@HonStevenBlaney) June 11, 2018

Through CSJ program, Liberals fund hatred and antisemitism. Where is ministerial responsibility? Do Liberals agree with this organization, or is it simply a case of incompetence? @PattyHajdu @bardishKW https://t.co/3NLMT1VVZs@bnaibrithcanada @CPC_HQ pic.twitter.com/MkcirQLMID — Steven Blaney, MP (@HonStevenBlaney) June 12, 2018

Trudeau government gives a summer job grant to a group of vicious Jew haters. This is not my Canada. https://t.co/eYSogULNAI — Senator Linda Frum (@LindaFrum) June 14, 2018

Veronique Simard, press secretary for Employment Minister Patty Hajdu, said the grant amount for 2018 is still subject to change and is not yet finalized.

Story continues below advertisement

WATCH BELOW: Trudeau says no religious group will be barred from summer jobs grant

3:30 Trudeau says no religious group will be barred from summer jobs grant Trudeau says no religious group will be barred from summer jobs grant

She did not say whether the government considers comments such as those made by Hudda as grounds for revoking a group’s funding.

“We unequivocally condemn anti-Semitic, homophobic, Islamophobic and hate-filled speech of all types across this country. Such statements are unacceptable in Canadian society. Canada is a welcoming, diverse country of a broad range of views and perspectives, but we do not allow hate speech and we do not allow the incitement of hatred or violence,” Simard said.

“What the application process for prospective employers for the Canada Summer Jobs Program requires is for applicants to attest that the organization’s core mandate, and the student job, do not encompass work that seeks to undermine Canadians’ rights.”

In 2016, the group was approved for $24,815 to create eight jobs.

Story continues below advertisement

In 2017, it was approved for $28,444 to create six jobs.

READ MORE: Canada Summer Jobs program will no longer fund anti-abortion, anti-gay groups

The riding of Waterloo, where the funding was granted to the group, is held by Liberal MP and House Leader Bardish Chagger.

Chagger took part in an interfaith lunch event hosted by the Islamic Humanitarian Service in December 2017 where she was photographed with Hudda.

Several other MPs, including Conservative MP Harold Albrecht and Liberal MP Marwan Tabbara, appears to have posed for photos with Hudda at similar events over the last four years.

There is no evidence available online of similar public comments by Hudda prior to those made at the Quds Day rally this year.

Every day, I am reminded of how lucky we are to be living in such a diverse society where everyone is welcome and can all call 🇨🇦 our home. #Grateful to have been a part of the 13th Annual Interfaith Gathering celebration by the Islamic Humanitarian Service. #KWawesome pic.twitter.com/SuLeseDS9O — Bardish Chagger (@BardishKW) December 21, 2017

The director of the Islamic Humanitarian Organization, who called for Israeli soldiers in Gaza to be sent home in “body bags,” is seen at centre with Liberal MP Marwan Tabbara and Conservative MP Harold Albrecht at his right. Islamic Humanitarian Service

Ontario Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell stands beside Sheikh Shafiq Hudda at an interfaith lunch event hosted by his organization in 2015. Islamic Humanitarian Service

When asked whether Chagger planned to re-assess attending events with Hudda in light of his remarks, a spokesperson did not say.

Story continues below advertisement

“Minister Chagger is a long-time supporter of Interfaith Grand River, an organization that promotes dialogue among different traditions, civic leaders, police services, school boards, hospitals and other service organizations in the Waterloo Region, leading to greater understanding and respect,” said director of communications Mark Kennedy in an email to Global News.

“The Islamic Humanitarian Service has a long history of working with impoverished people from around the world including in Canada and they host IGR and community leaders for the annual interfaith dinner which Minister Chagger endeavours to attend, such as in 2017 when this picture was taken with Shafiq Hudda and his family. ”

A spokesperson for Albrecht told Global News he would take a different position, saying, “Mr. Albrecht will not be attending any future events with the Sheikh.”

READ MORE: Anti-abortion group got $56K federal grant from Liberal MP

It is not the first time the Canada Summer Jobs program has been the subject of controversy.

Last year, a series of articles detailed how the program was being used to allocate funding to anti-abortion groups, including the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, known for publicly displaying grisly images of aborted fetuses.

While the funding had in many cases also been allocated to such groups under the former Conservative government, the fact those groups were still getting public funds under a government that prominently branded itself as pro-choice immediately sparked criticism.

Story continues below advertisement

READ MORE: Government looking to shut down summer job grants for anti-abortion groups

As a result, the government announced in December 2017 it was changing the rules for the grant program.

Employers seeking funds through the program now have to attest that their core mandate respects the values underlying the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as other rights.

“These include reproductive rights, and the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression,” the attestation reads.

A legal challenge of that attestation by an anti-abortion group is currently before the Federal Court.