"Mendicino’s refusal to distance himself from Weinstein, even after being confronted about these ties, raises serious concerns about his political judgment and ethical fitness for such a high-ranking role. It is extremely concerning that your report glanced over Mr. Mendocino’s support of the JDL."
March 13, 2025
Dear Ms. Martin, Mr. Fife and Ms. Levitz,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding the news article by Robert Fife and Stephanie Levitz that was published in the Globe and Mail on March 11, 2025.
The article commented on the appointment of Michael Medocini as Chief of Staff to Liberal Leader Mark Carney. A spokesperson for Mark Carney has said Mr. Mendicino's appointment is a temporary one to help support this transition period.
However, Mr. Mendicino’s temporary appointment is not without controversy. This omission is most alarming as Mr. Mendicino has expressed public support of pro-Israel figures with far-right affiliations, such as Meir Weinstein. Mr. Mendicino reshared a video from 2023 where Meir Weinstein said that if former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau allowed Gazans fleeing the war to come to Canada, that Jewish Canadians should “learn how to fight, learn to shoot”. The NCCM denounced his public support of Meir Weinstein as this was an explicit threat of violence on Palestinians. Despite being urged by the NCCM to remove these posts, they remain on Mendicino's social media.
It's important to note that Meir Weinstein is the former leader of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) in Canada. The JDL has documented ties to Kach and Kahane Chai and Islamaphobic groups like National Citiznes' Alliance. Kach and Kahane Chai are designated as terrorist organizations by Israel, Canada, Japan, and the United States. Mr. Weinstein has also openly called for violence against Palestinian and Canadian Gazans. He was banned from York University in Toronto in 2019 following a clash between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups.
Mendicino’s refusal to distance himself from Weinstein, even after being confronted about these ties, raises serious concerns about his political judgment and ethical fitness for such a high-ranking role. It is extremely concerning that your report glanced over Mr. Mendocino’s support of the JDL.The Globe and Mail’s failure to mention these crucial facts misleads readers, making Mendicino’s appointment seem like a routine political decision rather than a blatant continuation of Canada’s anti-Palestinian policies.
In addition to the points already outlined, the National Coordinating Council of Muslims (NCCM) in a post on X, highlighted concerns regarding Marco Mendicino’s deeply troubling record on national security, human rights, and anti-Palestinian racism (APR)—all of which were completely ignored in your reporting.
Here are some of the anti-Palestinian stances MP Mendicino has taken:
- He stood against supporting international institutions like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and has opposed decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning ongoing human rights abuses.
- He voted against halting weapons exports to human rights abusers - even as the majority of his own party supported the measure.
- He voted against a ceasefire in Gaza, despite overwhelming Liberal caucus and public support.
This lack of critical context is unacceptable from the Globe and Mail. I urge you to update the article or provide a follow up story that fully contextualizes Mendicino’s record, including his anti-Palestinian rhetoric, support for extremist figures, and opposition to human rights protections for Palestinians.
Sincerely,
Debbie Hubbard