Minister Says Ontario Union Glorified Violence With Comments on Hamas Attack

Then-natural resources minister Seamus O'Regan responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Feb. 17, 2020. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan has condemned an Ontario union for its social media statements that he said glorify Hamas’ violence in the deadly attack on Israel.

Mr. O'Regan told reporters that comments made by Fred Hahn, the president of the Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE), which represents nearly 300,000 workers, are disappointing and amount to a “glorification of violence.”

“I stand with the many labour leaders calling Hamas’ attacks out for what they are: terrorism. The loss of civilian life is not a cause for celebration. Not in Canada. Not anywhere,” Mr. O'Regan told the Globe and Mail on Oct. 11.

“I am profoundly disappointed to see CUPE Ontario double down on this glorification of violence,” said Mr. O'Regan, adding, “This is not a reflection of Canada’s labour movement, and we cannot let it take away from the outpouring of support union leaders have expressed for Israel.”

Fred Hahn, President of the Ontario Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), speaks at a press conference at Queen's Park, in Toronto, July 16, 2018. Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press

The labour minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment to The Epoch Times by press time.

Mr. Hahn posted statements on social media on Oct. 8 in favour of “the power of resistance around the Globe” the day after Hamas launched land, air, and sea attacks against Israel. The terrorists also kidnapped Israeli soldiers and civilians, according to Israeli defence forces.

“Because Resistance is fruitful and no matter what some might say, Resistance brings progress, and for that, I’m thankful,” said Mr. Hahn on platform X during Thanksgiving weekend.

He also shared an image on Instagram that contained the text, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”–a phrase used at some rallies, associated with the desire for the destruction of Israel.

On Oct. 7, he reposted a message from another X user that said, “Any condemnation of violence is vapid if it does not begin & end with a condemnation of Israeli apartheid, settler colonialism, and occupation.”

Mr. Hahn has not responded to requests for comment by The Epoch Times.

Another branch of CUPE, Local 3906, which represents academic workers and sessional faculty at McMaster University in Hamilton, posted on X on Oct. 7 that “Palestine is rising“ and ”long live the resistance.”

It included a quote attributed to Ghassan Kanafani, a deceased Palestinian author who belonged to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The local union deleted the post on Oct. 8.

In the same tweet, the union shared a social media post showing the video of a tractor tearing down fencing, with the author of the post, Nadi Abusaada, writing, “Colonialism stifles imagination. Today, as Palestinians break down colonial barriers, they breathe life into the dream of an open, liberated geography.”

CUPE Ontario posted a statement on Oct. 10 that said it was being “targeted by a highly organized pro-Israel lobby that seeks to control the anti-Palestinian narrative.”

CUPE said that the “pro-Israel lobby” allegedly targeting the union “has targeted CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn and CUPE 3906 for their recognition of Palestinians’ rights under international law to resist occupation through armed struggle.”

“Hope for a just and lasting peace that offers security and freedom for everyone in Palestine and Israel: this fervent desire is at the heart of CUPE Ontario’s and the ISC’s calls for justice and it joins us to the global solidarity movement fighting for the rights of all peoples to liberation and self-determination,” said the statement.