Liberal staffers pull support for party in Montreal byelection, citing government's stance on Gaza

The Liberal Party of Canada is facing a revolt by ministerial staffers, mostly of Arab and Muslim origin, over the Trudeau government's handling of the war in Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict generally.

Fifty-two Arab and Muslim staffers working in the Liberal government signed a letter addressed to "the leader of the Liberal Party" that says they will not participate in its byelection campaign to hold on to the seat of Lasalle–Émard–Verdun, left vacant by the resignation of former Liberal justice minister David Lametti.

Referring to "the increasing push for Liberal staff members to phone bank and door knock," the letter obtained by CBC News warns that "while many of us started our political careers in elections as volunteers, we can no longer in good conscience campaign for a party that excludes us and our values."

Staffers are not acting alone. They have also asked for and received the support of a group of influential Arab and Muslim donors to the Liberal Party known as the Network 100-GTA, London, Ottawa, Montreal.

Back in November, the Network announced it was pulling out of the Liberal Party's top donor ranks over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's disinclination at the time to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"They're far more brave than we are," said Hussein Hamdani, a founding member of that fundraising group, in an interview with CBC News. 

"We held back our money, sure.... They're putting their own livelihood at risk," he said.

"I'm hoping that the party recognizes that this is not some people who may or may not be donating," he added. "Maybe they think they can find other donors, but you can't just find 50 staff overnight. 

"What [the staff] are really trying to do is help the Liberal Party wake up, and they're taking this extreme step to do so."

Staffers issue 5 demands

The donors have also said they will withhold their support from the government in the crucial byelection where the Liberals face a strong challenge from the New Democrats.

In their letter, staffers indicate they will not participate in activities as party members until the government changes its diplomatic posture to "join our allies in explicitly condemning Israel for its numerous war crimes and for the genocidal rhetoric from members of the Israeli Cabinet."

They also demand that Canada "join our allies, including Norway, Spain, and Ireland in recognizing the state of Palestine," and "acknowledge anti-Palestinian racism as a unique form of hate and work to address it in Canada."

The staffers also echo the NDP's demand that the government revoke existing arms export permits to Israel, and close loopholes that allow Canadian-made arms to be shipped through third countries.

Finally, they call for an end to "all research collaboration on military and dual-use technologies between Canadian and Israeli researchers." 

A statement from the prime minister's office did not directly address the demands in the letter, but said Canada continues to call for an immediate ceasefire.

"We fully stand behind the comprehensive ceasefire deal, outlined by President Biden and endorsed by the UN Security Council," the statement said. "We call on parties to the conflict to agree to the deal. Any delay will only see more lives lost."

The statement also said Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages, demanded civilians be protected and called for a sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza.

A Liberal Party spokesman did not directly address the demands, but said Canadians "choose to engage in our democratic process for a variety of reasons, including to support a specific cause or policy position.

"The Liberal Party of Canada firmly believes that everyone should feel safe, welcome, and included in our movement — and we'll continue working very hard to engage volunteers and supporters on their priorities to keep moving forward," the statement said.

Montreal byelection a critical test

Trudeau already suffered a serious setback in a byelection in the riding of Toronto–St Paul's, where the party lost a once-safe seat to the Conservatives.

The Montreal byelection is seen as another test of Trudeau's electability, as his party continues to trail in the polls.

The Liberal Party's decision to withdraw from the Capital Pride march in Ottawa after organizers released a pro-Palestinian statement on Aug. 6 was one of the factors that triggered the staffers' decision, the letter said.

That statement had committed the Capital Pride organization to "recognizing the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in opening remarks" at Pride events. It also condemned "in the strongest possible terms the acts of terrorism" and "atrocities committed against civilians" on Oct. 7, 2023, by Hamas.

A group representing 2SLGBTQ+ staffers already sent a letter to the party protesting that decision on Aug. 23. Staffers told CBC News they were taken aback by the party's decision to boycott the event over a statement that they said did not seem out of line with past positions taken by the government of Canada.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also decided to boycott the parade over its support for Palestinian causes, though a number of city councillors took part, as did the capital's medical officer of health.

Staffers allege double standards in the workplace

Staffers told CBC News their decision to refuse to participate in campaigning was not only a response to the party's boycott of Capital Pride, but also reflects anger at a perceived double standard within the party.

They said there was anger that Liberal MPs and staffers, some of whom have relatives in Gaza, were reprimanded or told to keep their views to themselves, while Liberal MP Anthony Housefather was given free rein to criticize his own party and openly speculate about leaving it, only to be rewarded in July with a new appointment as the prime minister's special adviser on antisemitism and Jewish affairs.

Political staffers are non-unionized and can be hired and dismissed at will. They are often called upon to volunteer their time during the campaign season, but said they will not respond to those calls until the party changes direction.

"Until we are no longer ashamed to tell our communities and families that we are actively campaigning for the Liberal Party, we will be pausing partisan activity," they said in the statement.

The group had previously written a letter to Trudeau in November 2023, appealing for Canada to take a stronger role in demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. That letter asked for changes but did not threaten specific actions such as a refusal to campaign for the party.

The new letter refers to that last attempt to influence government policy.

"Over the past months we have expressed our growing concerns in relation to the human rights violations experienced by Palestinians and advocated for a change in policy towards a posture that is aligned with our values," the letter reads. "We have often felt unheard by the leadership of our party."

Staffers told CBC News they were reluctant to damage their party's chances in the Montreal byelection, and would deliver the letter privately to the prime minister to avoid embarrassing the ministers they work for. Staffers from almost every minister's office have signed the letter.

"No one wants to see a Canada where Pierre Poilievre is Prime Minister," the letter reads, "but you cannot take advantage of our labour at home while perpetuating our dehumanization abroad. As staff members, we are caught in an extremely difficult position but we have a moral obligation to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves."

Staffers also told CBC News they're frustrated that ministers in cabinet who wanted to see Canada take a stronger position against the war in Gaza are being overruled by more pro-Israel cabinet members who enjoy the backing of the prime minister.

NDP attempts inroads with Muslim community 

The move by the Liberal staffers comes as the NDP attempts to make inroads with Muslim communities in Lasalle–Émard–Verdun. 

Last Thursday afternoon, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and his local candidate Craig Sauvé visited a mosque, Masjid Verdun.

The NDP invited local leaders from across the Montreal area, as well as the president of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), one of the larger advocacy groups representing Muslims in Canada.

The NDP and the NCCM declined to do interviews following that meeting, but one of the invited guests, Imam Hassan Guillet, spoke to CBC News. 

"We are interested in listening to everybody and hearing what the party has to offer," Guillet said. "Parties try to seduce voters, try to convince voters that they are going to work for their concerns. And we understand that."

Guillet was set to run for the Liberals himself in the 2019 general election before the party revoked his candidacy in response to claims by the Jewish advocacy group B'nai Brith that he had praised a Hamas-aligned activist.

Hamdani said he was aware of some members of Network-100 who have already started helping the NDP's efforts in Lasalle–Émard–Verdun.

"I know there are people going, in Quebec, to canvass door-to-door," he said. 

The mosque visit came just a day after Trudeau tried holding a meeting with Muslim community members at a reception hall in Laval, Que., just north of Montreal, but cancelled that appearance after many members declined to show up and pro-Palestinian demonstrators held a protest at its doors instead. 

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada census, above five per cent of Lasalle–Émard–Verdun's population identifies as Muslim.