Three weeks after the federal Liberals promised to do a 91裸聊视频渇ormal, independent review91裸聊视频� of the appointment of Canada91裸聊视频檚 new human-rights commissioner, the government hasn91裸聊视频檛 provided any details about what that review will entail.
Birju Dattani, former executive director of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, was named as the new head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on June 14.
On Aug. 8, he is set to start a five-year term in the new job, as the first person of colour and the first Muslim man to hold the role.
But his appointment fell under scrutiny after media reported that he made anti-Israel comments as a graduate student under different names that were not flagged during the vetting process.
The Privy Council Office, the administrative arm of government that serves the Prime Minister91裸聊视频檚 Office and cabinet, oversees the screening process of federal appointees.
It says an 91裸聊视频渁dministrative oversight91裸聊视频� occurred that meant the vetting process didn91裸聊视频檛 include all of Dattani91裸聊视频檚 aliases. They have since been shared with the RCMP and CSIS, which 91裸聊视频渁re now completing necessary reviews,91裸聊视频� said spokesman Daniel Savoie.
A new directive has also been issued within the Privy Council Office to ensure this problem doesn91裸聊视频檛 happen again.
But prominent Jewish organizations have demanded the government reconsider the appointment, and both the Conservatives and Bloc Qu茅b茅cois say Dattani should withdraw or be replaced. The Tories have also said they will rescind the appointment if they form the next government.
Dattani has previously called the allegations against him unfounded and said he stands by his record working in human rights.
He has not responded to a request for comment, but his lawyer said in a statement last week that he would challenge any attempt to have him removed.
In late June, the office of Justice Minister Arif Virani said it would be doing an investigation. Since then, it has provided no indication that any kind of review has begun.
91裸聊视频淚 have not heard anything about the investigation, and I have not even seen the terms of reference,91裸聊视频� Richard Marceau, vice-president for the Centre of Israel and Jewish Affairs, said in an interview.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a bit fuzzy about what91裸聊视频檚 happening.91裸聊视频�
Jaime Kirzner- Roberts, director of policy and advocacy at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, said her organization is disappointed it hasn91裸聊视频檛 heard from Virani.
91裸聊视频淗ow is it possible that the minister, after his appointment, was unaware of some basic facts that were dug up by a simple Google search?91裸聊视频� said Kirzner- Roberts.
91裸聊视频淭hese are just among the questions that we would like answered by an investigation.91裸聊视频�
Richard Robertson, B91裸聊视频檔ai Brith Canada91裸聊视频檚 director for research and advocacy, said he met with Virani91裸聊视频檚 office and was told the investigation would be completed before Dattani91裸聊视频檚 scheduled start.
Virani91裸聊视频檚 office confirmed Thursday that the review is 91裸聊视频渆xpected to conclude91裸聊视频� by Aug. 8, but would only add that 91裸聊视频渁dditional information will be forthcoming shortly.91裸聊视频�
With less than a month until that time, a government source said Ottawa is looking at ways to delay Dattani91裸聊视频檚 arrival. The source spoke under condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Virani91裸聊视频檚 office previously committed that it would make the results of any review public.
At issue are some now-deleted posts Dattani made under the name Mujahid Dattani while he was a graduate student in London almost a decade ago.
Dattani has said that in 2014, he shared an article titled 91裸聊视频淧alestinians are Warsaw Ghetto Prisoners of Today91裸聊视频� on social media. He recently told CBC News and The Globe and Mail that he did not agree with its argument.
He has rejected accusations that he posted articles comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, as an article published in 2015 suggested.
An appearance that Dattani made around the same time on a panel alongside a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic fundamentalist group, was also flagged as a concern.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims has defended Dattani, saying it expects 91裸聊视频渁ny independent and fair process to fully exonerate91裸聊视频� him.
It accused those calling for his ouster as 91裸聊视频渟mearing91裸聊视频� him for writing about political science topics such as terrorism.
NDP MP Randall Garrison said his party has yet to receive a clear timeline for when CSIS and the RCMP will complete its review.
91裸聊视频淣ew Democrats strongly urge that this review be done as quickly, as thoroughly and as transparently as possible,91裸聊视频� he said in a statement.
Marceau said the incident raises questions about how the human-rights commission can be trusted to deal with antisemitism at a time when online hate is increasing and police are reporting a spike in related crimes.
91裸聊视频淐an we really trust 91裸聊视频� the setup by the government to tackle antisemitism online? That91裸聊视频檚 a fair question.91裸聊视频�
Earlier this year, the government proposed legislation that would allow the Canadian Human Rights Commission to hear complaints of online hate speech.
The Online Harms Act, which also proposes stiffer penalties for hate crimes and seeks to hold social-media giants to account for harmful content, is still in the early stages of House of Commons debate.
