The NDP is leaping to the defence of Montréal byelection candidate Craig Sauvé after he was criticized for using a Palestinian flag on an election pamphlet.
“Craig Sauvé included a Maple Leaf on the leaflet in question, and frequently poses with the Canadian flag and Quebec flags — both of which he deeply loves and respects,” a statement from the party says.
“It’s ludicrous to suggest that when a politician is seen with another flag it’s un-Canadian, whether that’s the Ukrainian flag, Israeli flag, Palestinian flag or other nations.”
Sauvé, a Montréal city councillor, is running in former Liberal justice minister David Lametti’s riding of LaSalle–Émard–Verdun on Sept. 16, in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested race.
The pamphlet that has prompted criticism from the Conservatives and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) depicts Sauvé on the cover with a Palestinian flag flying behind him.
The CIJA said the move was “a disgraceful attempt … to import a foreign conflict into Québec and Canada” and accused the party of “fueling antisemitism.”
Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman and other prominent Conservatives also posted an image of the pamphlet on X, simply asking the party’s leader, Jagmeet Singh, to state whether he approved of the pamphlet.
Since war broke out in Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed about 1,200 Israelis and saw some 250 abducted and taken to Gaza, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The conflict has also displaced 90 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people from their homes and caused heavy destruction across the besieged territory.
Gaza’s impact on Lasalle–Émard–Verdun
“The NDP has been crystal clear on our position in support of a ceasefire and the release of all hostages because we believe in protecting both Israeli and Palestinian lives,” the NDP statement continues.
The party compared Sauvé’s pamphlet with images of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and former prime minister Stephen Harper being photographed with flags from other countries, such as the Israeli flag, American flag and Australian flag.
The images supplied to CBC News by the NDP in the response were not produced into an election pamphlet. They appeared to show Harper and Poilievre speaking or being photographed at official events.
The conflict in Gaza is proving to be an inflection point in Lasalle–Émard–Verdun.
Recently, 52 Arab and Muslim staffers working in the Liberal government signed a letter addressed to “the leader of the Liberal Party” that says they will not participate in its byelection campaign to hold onto the seat.
The letter obtained by CBC News warns that “while many of us started our political careers in elections as volunteers, we can no longer in good conscience campaign for a party that excludes us and our values.”