Canadian Zionist organizations are escalating their efforts to suppress free speech and silence opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza. This campaign has extended from barring artists from entering the country, to pressuring venues to cancel events, to calls for silencing a federal leadership candidate.
Kneecap Barred from Canada
On Friday, the federal government announced that Irish rap group Kneecap would be barred from entering Canada. The ban follows weeks of lobbying by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and other pro-Israel organizations who denounced the group’s outspoken opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
For Engler, this move was part of a pattern:
“Friday the federal government announced that they were barring Irish rap group Kneecap from entering Canada for its opposition to genocide. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and other Jewish supremacist organizations have been campaigning for this measure for weeks.”
Carney’s New “Hate” Law
The same day Kneecap was banned, the Carney government unveiled a sweeping new “hate” law. The legislation would criminalize wearing or displaying the symbols of organizations listed as “terrorist” if done with the intent to intimidate.
Engler argues that this measure is designed to directly target Palestinian solidarity activists, particularly supporters of Samidoun Palestinian Prisoners Solidarity Network.
“According to initial media reports, it would be illegal to wave a Samidoun Palestinian Prisoners Solidarity Network flag outside a synagogue hosting an Israeli politician or military official.”
Critics warn that the law’s scope could extend far beyond flags at rallies. Simply wearing a Samidoun t-shirt at a demonstration could be treated as a criminal act if authorities decide it constitutes intimidation. In practice, this gives police and politicians wide discretion to suppress pro-Palestinian expression under the guise of public safety.
Engler sees the law as part of a broader authoritarian trend:
“We need to campaign against Carney’s new ‘hate’ law,” he said.
Attacks on Engler’s Campaign
Engler argues that the same authoritarian logic driving Kneecap’s ban is being deployed against his NDP leadership campaign.
From the day he announced his candidacy, Zionist commentators and lobbyists have demanded his exclusion. Toronto Sun columnist Brian Lilley renewed these calls last week, writing:
“NDP leadership candidate Yves Engler is upset the government wants to ban the symbols of banned terrorist groups. Really @NDP you should make it clear that this man has no place in your party.”
At the same time, far-right activist Meir Weinstein led a campaign to pressure a Toronto Anglican church into cancelling Engler’s launch event. After the church caved, Weinstein went further, urging police to enforce Toronto’s unconstitutional “bubble bylaw” to break up the gathering.
Defying Censorship
Despite these attempts, Engler’s campaign went ahead. About 150 people rallied outside the church Thursday evening to hear speeches from Rabbi David Mivisair, former CUPW president Mike Palecek, organizer Sara Rasikh, and Engler himself.
“The event was electrifying. There’s almost certainly never been more police on hand for an NDP leadership launch,” Engler said.
The following day, Wilfrid Laurier University abruptly “postponed” a room booking for a talk with Engler, retired professor Peter Eglin, and PhD candidate Tamara Lorincz. The topic—Canada and the Genocide in Gaza: What rules based order?—was deemed too controversial. Organizers instead moved the event to a nearby public area, where about 50 people attended.
“Zionist authoritarianism must be vociferously resisted,” Engler stressed.
Building Resistance
Engler insists these incidents are connected. Whether it is Kneecap being banned, churches and universities cancelling events, or new laws targeting Palestinian solidarity, the broader project is silencing criticism of Israel in Canada.
“The way Canadian authorities have punished those opposing Israel’s genocide but done almost nothing to put pressure on the state committing the crime to stop reveals how rotten our intertwined economic and political system has become,” he argued.
He concludes that his NDP leadership campaign is not only about internal party politics, but a vehicle for resistance:
“We are trying to use this leadership campaign as a tool to build that resistance.”
