FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 25, 2010
Ontario Legislature Condemns Israeli Apartheid Week
PC MPP?s Resolution receives all party support at Queen?s Park
(Queen?s Park) - Peter Shurman, MPP (Thornhill) today brought his resolution to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario calling on the Ontario Legislature to condemn Israeli Apartheid Week. That condemnation now exists.
The resolution passed unanimously in the Ontario Legislature today.
?Passage of this resolution today sends a clear message to Ontarians and the rest of the world that use of the term, ?apartheid?, in relation to the state of Israel borders on hate speech and that the events staged during Israeli Apartheid Week have no place in Ontario, particularly on its university campuses?, said Shurman.
Between March 1st and March 14th this year, cities and university campuses across Ontario and around the world will mark Israeli Apartheid Week.
?Public debate in Ontario should be informed, respectful and fair to all who seek to express an option. Those behind the events of Israeli Apartheid Week assume untenable, unilateral positions and offer no reasonable room for discussion. Use of the term, ?apartheid?, serves only to diminish the suffering of those who were victims of a true apartheid regime in South Africa. I am pleased that the elected members of the Ontario Legislative Assembly stood up and condemned activities in Ontario that offend the principles of a free and democratic society?, Shurman concluded.
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For further information please contact:
Debbie Osske, Executive Assistant
Office of Peter Shurman, MPP-Thornhill
(416) 325-2505, debbie.osske@pc.ola.org