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

The Liberal Party of Canada is facing internal dissent from ministerial staffers, primarily of Arab and Muslim descent, due to the Trudeau government's handling of the war in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A group of 52 Arab and Muslim staffers within the Liberal government signed a letter addressed to "the leader of the Liberal Party," declaring their refusal to participate in the campaign for the upcoming byelection in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, which was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal justice minister David Lametti.

The letter, obtained by CBC News, criticizes the party's increasing pressure on staff members to engage in campaign activities, stating, "While many of us began our political careers as election volunteers, we can no longer in good conscience campaign for a party that excludes us and our values."

These staffers are not acting alone; they have garnered support from the Network 100-GTA, London, Ottawa, Montreal, an influential group of Arab and Muslim donors to the Liberal Party. This group previously announced in November that it was withdrawing from the party's top donor ranks due to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's initial reluctance 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 the fundraising group, in an interview with CBC News. He emphasized the risks the staffers are taking, saying, "We held back our money, sure... They're putting their own livelihood at risk."

Hamdani expressed hope that the party would recognize the significance of this protest, noting, "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 Five Demands

The donors have also pledged to withhold their support in the crucial byelection, where the Liberals are facing a strong challenge from the New Democrats. The staffers' letter outlines five demands, including a call for the government 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 recognize the state of Palestine, address anti-Palestinian racism in Canada, revoke arms export permits to Israel, and end research collaborations on military and dual-use technologies with Israeli researchers.

Montreal Byelection a Critical Test

Trudeau has already faced a significant setback in a recent byelection in Toronto–St Paul's, where the party lost a traditionally safe seat to the Conservatives. The upcoming Montreal byelection is viewed as another crucial test of Trudeau's leadership, as the party struggles in the polls.

The staffers' letter also notes that the Liberal Party's decision to withdraw from the Capital Pride march in Ottawa, following a pro-Palestinian statement by the event organizers, was a major factor in their decision to protest. The statement had committed Capital Pride to "recognizing the ongoing genocide against Palestinians" and condemning Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023.

A group representing 2SLGBTQ+ staffers had already sent a letter to the party protesting this decision. Some staffers told CBC News they were shocked by the party's boycott of the event over a statement they felt was consistent with Canada's past positions.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also boycotted the parade due to its support for Palestinian causes, though some city councillors and the capital's medical officer of health participated.

Allegations of Double Standards

Staffers informed CBC News that their decision to refuse participation in campaigning is also driven by perceived double standards within the party. They expressed frustration that while some Liberal MPs and staffers with ties to Gaza were reprimanded or silenced, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather was permitted to criticize the party and speculate about leaving it, ultimately being rewarded with a new role as the prime minister's special adviser on antisemitism and Jewish affairs.

Political staffers, who are non-unionized and can be dismissed at will, are often expected to volunteer during campaigns but have said they will not do so until the party changes its stance. "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," the letter states.

The group had previously written to Trudeau in November 2023, urging Canada to take a stronger stance on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. While that letter requested policy changes, it did not threaten specific actions like the current refusal to campaign.

The new letter reflects frustration with the lack of response, stating, "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. We have often felt unheard by the leadership of our party."

Staffers indicated that, despite their reluctance to harm the party's chances in the Montreal byelection, they plan to deliver the letter privately to the prime minister to avoid embarrassing the ministers they work for. The letter has been signed by staffers from nearly every minister's office.

"No one wants to see a Canada where Pierre Poilievre is Prime Minister," the letter concludes, "but you cannot take advantage of our labour at home while perpetuating our dehumanization abroad."

NDP Attempts Inroads with Muslim Community

This internal dissent within the Liberal Party coincides with the NDP's efforts to gain support from Muslim communities in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun. Last Thursday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and his local candidate, Craig Sauvé, visited Masjid Verdun, a local mosque, where they met with community leaders and the president of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a major advocacy group for Muslims in Canada.

While the NDP and NCCM declined interviews following the meeting, Imam Hassan Guillet, one of the attendees, said, "We are interested in listening to everybody and hearing what the party has to offer."

Guillet, who was set to run for the Liberals in the 2019 election before his candidacy was revoked over claims he praised a Hamas-aligned activist, highlighted the importance of party outreach to the Muslim community.

Hamdani acknowledged that some members of Network 100 have already begun assisting the NDP's efforts in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, with some even canvassing door-to-door.

The mosque visit occurred just a day after Trudeau canceled a planned meeting with Muslim community members in Laval, Quebec, following a low turnout and a protest by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

According to the 2021 Statistics Canada census, over five percent of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun's population identifies as Muslim.