Et tu, Canada?

Denis Rancourt was recently fired from the University of Ottawa for granting all of his advanced students an A+. In a recent turn of events, Rancourt posted a statement on April 10 arguing that his forceful dismissal from tenure was caused by his critical stance against Israeli’s bloody suppression of the Palestinians.

Rancourt argues that the University President and a member of the Board of Governors either suppress debate on Israel, or openly support Zionist organizations. These same people are the ones that ruled to aggressively expel him from campus.

Whether Rancourt was actually fired for Israel, or if he is just trying to provide himself cover remains unclear. If this was in American it would most certainly be the former.

Nonetheless, it is true that Canada can sometimes be as hostile to pro-Palestinians as America. The Asper family, which owns more than 100 Canadian newspaper and several television networks, is known for its strong support for Israel and even censors editorials critical of the Jewish state in its papers. Israel Asper, the late father of the family who grew the company, was a fanatical support for Israel and often criticized the CBC for its critical coverage.

The current Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper is the most pro-Israel leader on the international stage short of Netanyahu, and has sought to undermine criticism of Israel by saying that it is just masked anti-Semitism. But the Harper is from western Canada, which is similar to America in having an Evangelical culture that supports Israel. And the Asper’s are Zionist Jews, and also from the west.

Neither of which are reflective of eastern Canada. Whether Rancourt was actually disposed for the alleged reason remains unsure. But if it is true, it remains a lesson that there is more to do in strengthening the pro-Palestinian community in Canada.