Losers
By Eric Dowd
Toronto – The biggest losers in Ontario’s debate over Muslim sharia law oddly have been Jews, who appear to have lost some of their traditional clout in politics.
Premier Dalton McGuinty had no option but to deny government approval to residents who choose to be judged in civil and family disputes by the Muslim law, after hearing ample evidence this can be unfair to women.
The Liberal premier also had no alternative than to add it would be inconsistent to refuse Muslims this support while approving other religious groups arbitrating disputes under their laws, which had been permitted since New Democrats passed a law making it available in 1991.
The most frequent users of this law have been Jews who try such issues in rabbinical courts and also faced criticisms their faith-based tribunals favor men.
The province cannot prevent such informal arbitration by religious groups and some have said they will continue it, but their findings no longer will be binding in law.
Organizations representing Jews have been quick to protest. The Canadian Jewish Congress, which judging by those who speak for it is led by men, expressed disappointment and said it is important Jews retain a right to choose arbitration by rabbinical courts.
Jews demonstrated against McGuinty, a rare occurrence, outside a human rights dinner he attended given by B’nai Brith. (Premiers seem to spend almost as much time attending dinners given by Jewish organizations as in the legislature.)
Jews also said they are considering a constitutional challenge and were shocked the premier decided without consulting them.
Jews would expect to be consulted because they traditionally have been very much listened to. They have had a huge influence for their comparatively small numbers, only a total 190,795 out of the province’s total population of 11,285,550.
Jews are among the most talented, educated and public-spirited Ontarians and at high levels in business, the arts, academics and media.
They are strongly represented in McGuinty’s cabinet with two senior ministers, Monte Kwinter, a steady, respected elder statesman, in community safety, and David Caplan, responsible for renewing infrastructure.
Attorney General Michael Bryant, most tipped by news media to succeed McGuinty as leader, has a large concentration of Jews in his riding and is highly attentive to their causes.
Ontario premiers rarely have been attracted by events overseas, but virtually all premiers in recent decades have visited Israel at least once, pressed by Ontario’s Jewish groups to see first hand the nation they helped build.
Progressive Conservative William Davis went several times, a school there was named after him and he once said `I am a Jerusalemite’ to show his attachment.
MPPs have expressed support for Israel many times in the legislature, but only one, New Democrat Peter Kormos, has expressed support for Arabs, calling for Jews to withdraw from occupied lands and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state
Ontario Jews’ biggest ambition for decades was to secure provincial funding for their religious schools similar to that given public and Roman Catholic schools.
They obtained a form of this when Tory premier Mike Harris before retiring in 2002 changed the law so parents who sent their children to private including religious schools received credits they could deduct from their income tax.
Kwinter and Bryant recognized the enthusiasm for this among Jews and praised the Tories’ law and created something of a rift among the Liberals in opposition.
But since the Liberals under McGuinty won government in 2003 they have abolished the tax credits for parents who send children to private including Jewish schools.
The big question, as opposition to sharia grew, was how McGuinty could reject it while allowing Jews to continue using their religious laws to arbitrate and of course he couldn’t.
But he has now taken away a second right wanted by Jews and they are not growing as fast as other groups and must feel they have been shoved to the back of the bus.
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