Poilievre accuses Liberals of mixed messaging as candidate calls Gaza war 'genocide'

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is accusing the Liberals of mixed messaging implicit the warfare successful Gaza arsenic video emerged of 1 campaigner calling the situation a "genocide" conscionable days aft person Mark Carney clarified his ain remarks.

Poilievre's comments were in effect to a reporter's question which referenced, successful part, a video of Liberal candidate Adam van Koeverden speaking astatine a mosque.

In the video posted by on X Saturday morning, van Koeverden — the incumbent MP in Burlington North-Milton West — tin beryllium seen saying he wants "everybody to cognize that our voices, your voices, volition beryllium beardown successful Ottawa, beardown to condemn the genocide and extremity the genocide successful Gaza."

He also said that advocacy would proceed to "make definite that the Palestinian voices are heard successful Ottawa by our leaders and to marque definite that Canada continues to basal beardown for Palestinian information and sovereignty."

"The Jewish assemblage feels understandably nether siege arsenic these hatred marches and antisemitic outbursts person go an unfortunate portion of Canadian life," Poilievre said astatine a property league successful Ottawa Saturday morning.

"Frankly, the Liberals person encouraged these divisions. We spot what they do. They accidental 1 happening to 1 group, and past precisely the other to different group."

In March 2024, van Koeverden and astir the full Liberal caucus voted successful favour of an NDP question that called connected the authorities to request an contiguous ceasefire, arsenic good arsenic for Hamas to release each hostages and laic down its arms.

The question besides called connected the authorities to enactment the enactment of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, demanded unimpeded humanitarian entree to Gaza and encouraged international partners to enactment to prosecute a comprehensive, lasting peace.

Van Koeverden is besides listed arsenic a campaigner supporting "The Palestine Platform," which calls for a two-way arms embargo connected Israel, the designation of a Palestinian authorities and due backing for alleviation efforts successful Gaza.

Thirteen different Liberal candidates are besides listed arsenic endorsers. 

CBC News has reached retired to the Liberal Party for a statement. Van Koeverden acknowledged the petition for remark by CBC but has not provided one. 

Carney clarifies arms embargo comment

The video of van Koeverden emerged days aft Carney clarified a remark helium made suggesting helium agreed with the allegation that Israel's subject enactment successful Gaza qualifies arsenic a genocide.

While astatine a rally successful Calgary, idiosyncratic successful the assemblage — who did not look connected camera — shouted "Mr. Carney, there's a genocide successful Palestine!" arsenic the Liberal person was getting settled connected the stage. 

Carney replied: "I'm aware. That's wherefore we person an arms embargo," earlier Liberal supporters drowned retired the questioner by chanting the Liberal leader's name.

WATCH | Carney clarifies Gaza comments helium made astatine a rally:

Asked astatine Calgary run halt the pursuing time to clarify his response, Carney said helium did not perceive the connection "genocide" and was conscionable "stating a information successful presumption of the arms restrictions."

"I didn't perceive that word," Carney said astatine the run stop, where he announced his vigor plan. 

"It's noisy. If you're up there, you perceive snippets of what people, accidental and I heard Gaza. And my constituent was I'm alert of the concern successful Gaza."

On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reposted the video wherever Carney appeared to hold with the genocide allegation.

"Canada has ever sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney," Netanyahu said.

"But alternatively of supporting Israel, a ideology that is warring a conscionable warfare with conscionable means against the barbarians of Hamas, helium attacks the 1 and lone Jewish state. Mr. Carney, backtrack your irresponsible statement!" 

Israel's subject cognition began aft the Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israeli communities connected Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 radical and captured much than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. 

Since then, Israel has reduced overmuch of Gaza to ruins and killed much than 50,000 Palestinians successful its effort to decimate Hamas, according to the enclave's wellness authorities.

The national authorities lists Hamas arsenic a violent organization.

Poilievre, Carney committedness to support spiritual groups

Poilievre said Saturday that a Conservative authorities would bring successful tougher laws to people "vandalism, hatred marches that interruption laws [and] convulsive attacks based connected ethnicity and religion."

"Anyone who is present connected a visitant visa who carries retired lawbreaking volition beryllium deported from this country. And determination volition beryllium precise superior jailhouse clip  — and connected apical of that, fines — for anyone who carries retired antisemitic vandalism oregon spot damage," Poilievre added.

WATCH | Poilievre pledges pugnacious laws to combat antisemitism, hatred crimes:

On Thursday, the Liberals announced they would present authorities making it a transgression offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct entree to immoderate spot oregon worship, schools, and assemblage centres.

The Liberals besides program to importantly summation the yearly fund of the Canada Community Security Program successful bid to assistance support susceptible communities and places of worship.