Although all NDP candidates were invited to participate in the Jewish Federation of Ottawa’s election roundtable, only Josh Bizjak (Ottawa West-Nepean) was able to join Federation for a separate conversation. 

 

Nonetheless, it remains important to share the party’s stated positions on key issues affecting Jewish Ottawans.

 

Other than Bizjak, candidates on the Ontario side of the river include Ryder Finlay (Prescott-Russell-Cumberland), Oulai B. Goué (Orléans), Joel Harden (Ottawa Centre), Hena Masjedee (Ottawa South), Tristan Oliff (Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester), Beth Prokaska (Carleton), Shyam Shukla (Nepean), and Melissa Simon (Kanata).

 

For candidates in the Gatineau region, there is Pascale Matecki (Hull-Aylmer), Daniel Simoncic (Gatineau), Melissa Simon (Kanata), Michel Welt (Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation), and Gilbert W. Whiteduck (Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi).

 

The following is information collected from our conversation with Bizjak, in addition to news articles, social media posts, and speeches pertaining to the other candidates’ views on the topics that were covered with all other parties in this special issue of the Ottawa Jewish E-Bulletin.

 

 

This has been a key concern in Jewish Ottawa even before October 7, but it has become significantly more urgent in the months since. Many in the community are deeply worried, given the rise in bomb threats, protests targeting vulnerable community spaces, and violent incidents across the country.

 

Further to physical safety, there is also increasing feeling of being unwelcome in Canadian society at large, such as in universities, public schools, unions, workplaces, and neighbourhoods.

 

One of the tools that has been discussed is enacting “bubble zone” legislation, which would protect faith-based organizations and centres from protests. Per a Global News report back in 2021, the NDP supported similar legislation when it came to protecting hospitals and long-term care facilities from protestors back during the pandemic.

 

The party also encouraged this protection to be expanded to abortion clinics and other sites where there is contention among the general populace.

 

In conversation with Bizjak, he reiterated his support of bubble legislation around vulnerable infrastructure, including houses of worship.

 

“I support [bubble zones] fully,” he said. “I do not believe that people should be allowed to protest outside places of worship … or where students are going to school.”

 

He also spoke about working with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to better combat the hate that is being seen in the streets.

 

 

To determine what is and is not antisemitism, several Jewish organizations of pushed for the adoption and implementation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition at the federal level.

 

Under Liberal leadership, the IHRA definition was implemented, along with garnering support from the Conservative Party.

 

In November of 2024, however, the NDP critic for Diversity and Inclusion Blake Desjarlais put out a statement condemning the adoption of the IHRA definition, expressing that this definition could curtail Canadians’ constitutional right to free speech when it comes to condemning actions of the Israeli government.

 

“In light of these concerns, New Democrats reiterate their position that the federal government should not adopt the IHRA definition and should provide a broader range of guidelines, including alternative definitions, to identify and take action to stop antisemitism,” the statement said. 

 

Instead, the NDP endorses adopting the Jerusalem Definition or the Nexus Document because it allows for more room to criticize the Israeli government’s policies. Still, neither the IHRA definition nor the others listed here are endorsed to be binding by the NDP.

 

Bizjak did not speak to which definition he supports, but he committed himself to being an ally to the Jewish community if he were to be elected. 

 

“I believe that there is a strong desire from within my party for all people to feel protected,” he said. “With my help and encouragement … I would be able to better communicate the concerns that the Jewish community has, especially if I am elected as a Member of Parliament.”

 

 

Seven NDP candidates in Ottawa-Gatineau have signed onto what is called the Vote Palestine Platform which “outlines the unified demands of the Palestinian community and people across the country who consider Canada’s position on Palestine a top election issue.”

 

The five points of the Vote Palestine Platform are as follows:

 

• Two-way arms embargo on Israel

• End Canadian involvement in Israeli settlements in the West Bank

• Address Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) and protect freedom of expression on Palestine

• Recognize Palestinian state

• Properly fund relief efforts in Gaza, including UNRWA

 

The platform openly calls for Canada to implement Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) on Israel and to recognize APR in Canada’s anti-racism strategy framework.

 

Several organizations have endorsed the platform, including the Palestinian Youth Movement, an organization known for spreading antisemitic and anti-Israel propaganda on college and university campuses.

 

The candidates who have endorsed this platform include Prokaska (Carleton), Harden (Ottawa Centre), Masjedee (Ottawa South), Oliff (Ottawa-Vanier-Gloucester), Finlay (Prescott-Russell-Cumberland), Matecki (Hull-Aylmer), and Whiteduck (Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi).

 

Of these candidates, one of the movement’s loudest and most controversial supporters is Harden.

 

Harden has attended several rallies and has made statements that have rocked the Jewish community and has even been accused of invoking antisemitic stereotypes and spreading anti-Israel hatred, saying in one interview back in 2022 that “the single greatest origin of violence in the Middle East is unquestionably the state of Israel.”

 

Though having apologized for that remark, he has continued to participate in protests alongside individuals and groups accused of peddling antisemitic rhetoric. 

 

However, it’s important to note that not all candidates have endorsed this platform.  Bizjak has acknowledged the harm caused by some of the organizations associated with the Vote Palestine movement and the distress it has caused many in Ottawa’s Jewish community. He believes that endorsing the platform would be alienating to the Jewish community and stands in contradiction to the NDP’s anti-racism principles. 

 

“It’s easy for elements of an idea to be positive and then get extended and become hateful,” said Bizjak. “I would like to be able to work with the Jewish community to be able to bring your concerns about the BDS movement to parliament, to my caucus, to the party.”

 

To learn more about the NDP’s platform, click here