Conservatives vow to remove Liberals’ pick for Canadian Human Rights Commission

The Opposition Conservatives vowed Friday that a future Pierre Poilievre-led government would remove the man the Liberals just appointed to lead the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Birju Dattani, the first Muslim and racialized person to hold the role, is to take over as the chief commissioner next month for a five-year term.

Melissa Lantsman, one of the party’s deputy leaders, said in a statement that Conservatives would rescind that appointment.

She said Dattani has a “long track record of anti-Israel statements,” including a “justification of terrorism,” and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should demand Dattani stand down or “fire him.”

“Yes, common sense Conservatives would remove Justin Trudeau’s appointee,” Lantsman told The Canadian Press.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a recent statement that they believe Dattani should not be allowed to stay in the role, and they have found his responses to the allegations against him “inadequate.”

At issue are some posts Dattani made online under the name Mujahid Dattani while he was a graduate student in London almost a decade ago. Also raised as a concern is an appearance he made around the same time on a panel alongside a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic fundamentalist group.

Dattani has previously called the allegations unfounded, saying he stood behind his record.

Jewish advocacy groups also say he repeatedly lectured about the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, or BDS, which uses financial means to pressure the Israeli government to follow international law and end what the movement alleges are human-rights abuses against Palestinians.

After the groups raised concerns about the appointment and the government’s screening process, Justice Minister Arif Vriani launched an independent investigation into the allegations surrounding Dattani’s past activities.

Virani’s office has said it was made aware “of potentially troubling statements attributed” to Dattani as well as some events he took part in while studying in London.

It has said he did not tell the minister’s office about these past activities. In a subsequent statement on Friday, however, Virani’s spokeswoman confirmed that Dattani did tell public servants about the name he used during that time.

“The name he used during this period was disclosed to public servants as part of the security assessment of Mr. Dattani, but was not provided to the office of the minister of justice,” Chantalle Aubertin wrote.

She did not specify whether officials looked into statements he had made under that name.

Michael Levitt, president and CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, said in a post on X that the fact such information was disclosed to officials but the appointment still went ahead was an “alarming failure” in government’s vetting process.

Others have come to Dattani’s defence, such as the Yukon Human Rights Commission, where he used to work as the executive director.

Its current chair, Michael Dougherty, said in a statement that Dattani met the highest standards in upholding the human rights of those in the territory.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims also voiced concerns that the investigation into Dattani’s appointment was nothing more than a “witch hunt” and said the allegations against his past activities were “flimsy.”

In a statement Friday, Dattani’s lawyer said her client can’t comment given the probe that is underway, but added that he would challenge an attempt to have him removed.

“Any bad faith or improper removal of Mr. Dattani from his role as chief commissioner would be challenged in accordance with the law — which both Mr. Dattani and I have full faith in,” Muneeza Sheikh said.

A coalition of human-rights groups including the Black Canadians Civil Society Coalition released a statement this week saying that while the allegations against Dattani are “concerning,” so are the efforts to have him removed.

“This campaign against him highlights the heightened level of scrutiny he, like many Canadians, faces because of his faith and ethnic background,” it read.

“The attempts to have Mr. Dattani — the first Muslim and racialized person appointed to this position — vacate his position without due process is deeply concerning.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2024.