From the Editor: ‘A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian’

Michael Regenstreif, Editor

By Michael Regenstreif

Editor

No matter what one may feel about the policies of “The Squad,” four women of colour elected in 2018 to their first terms in the United States Congress, or even the antisemitic tropes that were tweeted by one of them, there was no denying the explicit racism employed by U.S. President Donald Trump in his attacks on them last month.

“So interesting to see ‘Progressive’ Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came,” Trump tweeted on July 14.

And that was only the beginning of Trump’s tweet storm.

Just for the record, three of the four congresswomen Trump was attacking – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib – were born in the United States. The fourth, Ilhan Omar, was born in Somalia and was brought to the U.S. legally as a refugee when she was a child. Omar became an American citizen in 2000 when she was 17.

By the way, earlier this year when Jewish organizations and congressional colleagues came down hard on Omar for employing antisemitic tropes in criticizing Israeli government policies toward the Palestinians, she did apologize for them – even writing an op-ed in the Washington Post describing Israel as the “historical homeland” of the Jews and reiterating her support for a two-state solution to the conflict, calling for “internationally recognized borders, which allow for both Israelis and Palestinians to have their own sanctuaries and self-determination.”

So, while Omar did come to understand why Jewish people were hurt by her words, and apologized for them, Trump has shown no such understanding.

Even leaders of some of the U.S.’s closest allies took the unusual step of calling out the American president for remarks he made about domestic political opponents.

“The prime minister’s view is that the language used to refer to these women was completely unacceptable,” said the spokesperson for then-prime minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she rejects Trump’s racist comments and stands in solidarity with the congresswomen he targeted.

“That is not how we do things in Canada. A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, and the diversity of our country is actually one of our greatest strengths and a source of tremendous resilience and pride for Canadians, and we will continue to defend that,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau’s comments were inspiring to hear at that time. Our Canadian Jewish community, and so many other ethnic and religious communities in Canada, have thrived in a country that takes justified pride in its multiculturalism.

But, and it’s a big but, “a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” is not necessarily true when Quebec, our second-largest province, encompassing nearly a quarter of our population, uses the notwithstanding clause to override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to prevent people working in the public sector from wearing kippot, hijabs, turbans and other expressions of religious belief, including Stars of David.

For example, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan is a Sikh whose religion mandates that he wear a turban – a turban that he wears in the House of Commons, a turban that he wore as a Canadian military officer serving on deployments to Bosnia and Herzegovina and three times to Afghanistan, and a turban he wore during an 11-year career as a Vancouver police officer and detective. Now, though, because of that turban, Sajjan cannot be a police officer in Quebec.

With a federal election two months away, are Trudeau and the other federal leaders and candidates willing to defend our diversity – in both official languages – and ensure that “a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” is more than just a platitude?

Barbara Farber becomes honorary lieutenant-colonel of the Cameron Highlanders

By Matthew Horwood

Barbara Farber has been appointed honorary lieutenant-colonel of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own) by Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan.

The Cameron Highlanders are a reserve infantry unit in the Canadian Armed Forces, a part of the 33 Canadian Brigade Group. According to its website, the regiment traces its roots to 1856, and its members have served Canada in “all armed conflicts from the Northwest Rebellion to Afghanistan.”

Farber, a prominent leader in both the Jewish and broader communities, said she was approached several years ago by a friend who was at the time the honorary lieutenant-colonel of the Cameron Highlanders. He wanted to put Farber’s name forward for the same position, and she accepted. The process took 19 months to come to fruition and she officially began her position on May 9.

Farber explained that the vetting process for the nomination goes “up through the various army ranks to the top, and at that point they recommend it to the minister of National Defence, who then approves it,” Farber said.

Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Jackson, commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders, said the regiment was searching for “someone who had a very prominent role within the community” to be the honorary lieutenant-colonel.

Jackson said Farber’s philanthropic efforts, including her involvement with hospitals, First Nations communities, and the city of Ottawa through various boards, made her a “very prominent choice” for the position.

Jackson said Farber has “quickly jumped into her role as the bridge between the regiment and different elements of our city,” and that she is a natural speaker with a “big heart.”

As honorary lieutenant-colonel, Farber said one of the most important things she will do is help the reservists to secure employment, “because if they are happily employed in Ottawa, they will stay with their regiment.”

Farber said many of the reservists have full-time jobs, while others have recently graduated from university or college. Farber said she will be attempting to “incentivize employers to hire reservists, as they are going to be good employees.”

Farber said she will also be mentoring and giving advice to the reservists, as well as being a consultant to her commanding officer from a “business and charitable perspective.”

“I’ve often been accused of mothering everybody, and that’s kind of part and parcel of the role I will be playing,” Farber joked.

Farber said her approach to the role will be “one of knowledge” with the goal of acquainting people with what the unit does. Farber said she would like to make the Cameron Highlanders “a household name in Ottawa,” as she would “venture to say few people know what the Cameron Highlanders are.”

Farber is the second member of Ottawa’s Jewish community to serve as honorary lieutenant-colonel of the Cameron Highlanders. Former Ottawa mayor Jacquelin Holzman served in the position from 1999 to 2005. Holzman – who said she has known Farber for many years – offered her congratulations and said she expected Farber would “represent the regiment well.”

Holzman predicted Farber will “take great pride in her role,” especially during the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial. Holzman encouraged Farber to dress warmly for the November 11 ceremony, as “her knees will get cold.”

Another Jewish community leader, Roger Greenberg, serves as the honourary colonel of the 30th Field Artillery Regiment, which is also based in Ottawa. 

Farber said she feels “extremely proud” to have accepted this position as a Jewish woman, and hopes she can “bring some of that diversity to the Canadian Armed Forces.”

Farber has already had several meetings with her brigade and hosted a barbecue at her home for the junior officers. She said the regiment now calls themselves her “extended family.”

“I was gratified by the first function I attended. They were concerned about providing a kosher meal for me, and that kind of effort and sensitivity really speaks volumes,” Farber said.

"I want to treat them with the same kind of respect and try to help as much as I can," she added.

Photo: Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Barbara Farber stands in front of the Cameron Highlanders
of Ottawa regimental colours at the Cartier Square Drill Hall. (Matthew Horwood )