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CBC
28-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Legal group draws ire for cancelling humanitarian advocate's speech over his stance on Gaza
A prominent legal organization is facing criticism for cancelling a speech by a noted entrepreneur and humanitarian advocate after, it says, some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel's war in Gaza. Tareq Hadhad, the founder of Peace by Chocolate, had been selected by the Advocates' Society, a national non-profit group made up of some 6,000 judges, lawyers and advocates, to deliver the keynote address at its highly anticipated end-of-term dinner, in Toronto in June. On its website, the organization says it was "established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar." But in a message to its members on Wednesday, the group said that invitation was rescinded after some members raised concerns about his "public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East." "We recognize that, by selecting Mr. Hadhad, we have harmed many of our members and made them feel unwelcome," it said. The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns. But the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) says when it pressed the society, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, particularly in the context of human rights discussions, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. WATCH | Hadhad gets Canadian citizenship: Peace by Chocolate founder gets Canadian citizenship 5 years ago Duration 1:49 When asked, the Advocates' Society would not confirm those specifics to CBC News. In a statement, it said the reaction "made it clear that our plans were pushing members apart, not bringing us together. With regret, we have concluded that this is not the right time or event for this speaker to address our members." "The decision was not due to any specific social media post, but rather the impact this discussion had on our members, creating division and harm for some, instead of community and collegiality." 'I stand firm on my values' Hadhad arrived in Canada as a refugee in 2015 after the war in his native Syria displaced millions, and quickly made headlines for his entrepreneurship after recreating his family's chocolate business. It's for that reason that the society chose him for its keynote, saying in its message to members Hadhad "has an inspiring personal story about his perseverance as a Syrian refugee." Hadhad said he was "honoured" by the invitation and "surprised" when it was rescinded. "I stand firm on my values and I am proud of who I am. My story is not political, it is personal. It is rooted in lived experience," he said in a statement to CBC News. "I will continue to use my voice to advocate for human rights and the belief that every person deserves to live in peace and with respect." Hadhad added that his speech would have focused on "values that unite" and the "dignity of every human being." Accused of 'policing views' In an open letter to the society, the CMLA noted Hadhad has earned widespread recognition for his story, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, in addition to being invited to speak by numerous Canadian financial institutions and consulting services. As for any concerns raised about the use of the term genocide to refer to Israel's actions in Gaza, it pointed out that top human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have already argued Israel's actions amount to genocide. The International Court of Justice has also ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent any acts contrary to the 1948 Genocide Convention in its war in Gaza, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for specific Israeli officials for war crimes. Israel has vehemently denied those charges. "By policing views on this issue, the Society is making it very clear that it is not committed to diversity of opinion or colour and sending a clear message to its visible minority members that they are not welcome," CMLA chair Husein Panju said in the letter. "The Society's actions show that it and its board place a higher value on appeasing certain anonymous constituencies than on promoting free speech, intercultural dialogue, inclusivity, and the open exchange of ideas. We can think of few things that are more at odds with fundamental Canadian values." In its statement to CBC News, the society said it is "committed to creating a vibrant, diverse, welcoming and inclusive environment for all advocates" and that it is "actively reaching out to members and leaders of legal organizations to listen, learn, and seek to restore the trust of our membership." But for employment and human rights lawyer Muneeza Sheikh, the society's about-face sends a different message. "The fact that someone as passionate about human rights as Mr. Hadhad can get booted off a prominent legal stage (with young, racialized lawyers watching) in this manner sends a clear message: those who stand for Human Rights are screened first as to whose Human Rights they are standing for," she wrote to CBC News. "That is not OK," she continued. "My friends in the legal community are not OK. Free speech has become a casualty in the Ontario legal community, which is shocking given that it is an imperative when looking at human rights — furthermore, thought crimes are punishable in the worst way." Hadhad, meanwhile, says he will continue to do what he has done since arriving in Canada: aiming to build bridges through dialogue.
CBC
30-01-2025
- Business
- CBC
Canada's live music industry grew economy by more than $10B in 2023: report
Canada's live music industry generated $10.92 billion for the economy in 2023, according to a new report released Thursday. The industry also supported more than 101,640 full-time equivalent jobs, according to the report by the Canadian Live Music Association (CMLA). The organization says the report is the first-ever to assess the economic impact of live music in the country. "The report makes it clearer than ever that protecting and growing Canada's live music infrastructure … drives major economic impact for cities and towns, and creates more opportunities for Canadian artists," CMLA president Erin Benjamin said at a launch event in Toronto on Tuesday. Benjamin added the industry's economic contributions were made "largely in the absence of any dedicated policy frameworks aimed at incentivizing innovation and growth in live music." Visitor spending related to live music tourism in 2023 was estimated at $9.9 billion — representing just over 10 per cent of total tourism spending in Canada that year, the report says. The report used a public survey with 651 responses collected last summer as the primary financial data collection tool. This survey was promoted through the CMLA social and email channels, and through community partners with networks in the music industry. CMLA also conducted a series of regional roundtables to gather qualitative findings about the industry. The report incorporated secondary research from sources including Statistics Canada and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 'It's really hard to get people to leave their homes' Canada's live music industry is facing difficulty due to operational costs, with many festivals and events still recovering from financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the report says. Declining support from corporate sponsorships and government, as well as inflation, are making recovery from the pandemic challenging, it adds. While Toronto is one of the major live music markets in the country — along with Vancouver and Montreal — the report found the rising cost of living in these cities is making it difficult for music professionals to maintain their careers. "As a result, many artists are struggling to afford to live in the very cities that are central to Canada's music industry," the report said. In a statement, the city said it's supporting live music through several initiatives, including by giving eligible venues a 50 per cent reduction in property tax each year. The city is also exploring how to protect existing venues and encourage new spaces, such as through more tax incentives and cultural heritage designations, spokesperson Imane Boussaid said. "Much of this work is ongoing, and the continued support of live music remains a priority for the city," she said. In Toronto, live music venues create a total economic impact of $850 million annually, while providing the equivalent of 10,500 full-time jobs, according to the city's website. About 80 per cent of recording industry expenditure in the country is in the Toronto region, the city said. But affording rent in the city can be difficult for some live music venues, said Billy Wild, owner of Division 88. The venue, located near Dufferin Street and Geary Avenue is also a production studio, record label and event space. Wild said declining alcohol sales have hit music venues, including Division 88, hard — an issue noted in the CLMA report. Promotion is also challenging, unless a notable artist is performing, he said. "It's really hard to get people to leave their homes… It's harder to get them to spend money at a place," he said. To diversify their events, Wilder said Divison 88 livestreams performances on YouTube and also hosts other programming, such as video game tournaments.
