MARKHAM, Ont. — The lone Jewish town councillor for the Town of Markham is trying to get Israeli Apartheid Week banned from the York University campus.
Howard Shore
On March 21, Howard Shore, councillor for Markham Ward 2, introduced a motion calling on the town council to officially condemn Israeli Apartheid Week at York.
“We have a moral right and obligation to stand up to threats of antisemitism and unfounded attacks against the State of Israel,” Shore, a York alumnus, said in a statement.
“Markham is the most diverse municipality in all of Canada. We set the standard for inclusiveness and are stronger because of the different cultures and communities which make up our town.”
In February, Markham and the university became partners in a life-sciences business incubator project known as the Markham Convergence Centre.
Shore felt that as friendly business partners with York, the town might be able to exercise “a little moral suasion” with it on the subject of IAW.
“It’s one good friend speaking to another,” he said.
The day after submitting the motion, council wrangled with its wording, apparently not wanting to single out the university.
According to a March 22 report on YorkRegion.com, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said his town has a “‘terrific and amazing’ relationship with York University one he wouldn’t want to jeopardize by mentioning the university in the motion.”
The report added that Scarpitti thought it would be “appropriate” to take more time to review the information and have further dialogue with the university.
Council deferred voting on Shore’s motion until next month.
In May, the Town of Markham, in collaboration with the Regional Municipality of York, York University and the law firm Miller Thomson, is scheduled to send a delegation of councillors and business leaders to attend the Israel Life Science Industry Biomed conference in Tel Aviv May 20 to 29.
Shore is scheduled to go on the trip along with Scarpitti, Councillor Carolina Moretti, who chairs Markham’s economic development committee, and the town’s manager of special projects in economic development.
Shore’s motion was accompanied by deputations from various representatives of the Jewish community and other political figures, including Bernie Farber, CEO of Canadian Jewish Congress; Emily Berg and Joel Pearl of Hillel of Greater Toronto; Thornhill Conservative MPP Peter Shurman, and Karen Mock, federal Liberal candidate for Thornhill.
Also in attendance at the March 21 council meeting was the deputy consul general of Israel, Hadas Wittenberg.
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