Rob Lampert
The Toronto Sun
It’s a political junkie’s dream.
The weekend guest list at tomorrow’s Canadian Jewish Congress’ 90th assembly reads like the attendance list for Question Period.
Four of Canada’s five major party leaders will speak to the congress’ plenary at Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue on Wilmington Ave., in the Finch Ave.-Dufferin St. area.
Also speaking about policy is Israel’s vice prime minister, Silvan Shalom, in his first North American address.
The event is sold out. The hall holds about 570 people and there’s a waiting list, CJC CEO Bernie Farber said.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will receive the Saul Hayes Human Rights Award and is followed by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for the keynote luncheon speech.
Ignatieff may allow for questions from the floor, Farber said.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May launches the political addresses at 9:45 a.m. and NDP Leader Jack Layton takes over the stage at 10:30 a.m.
Bloc Quebecois MP Carole Freeman was to attend as well, but bowed out at the last moment because of illness.
“It’s historic for the Canadian Jewish Congress, and probably all organizations in general, that all four major political party leaders are coming on the same day, to the same place to address our community,” Farber said.
“It speaks well, I think, of politics in Canada and the politicians’ understanding of the need that the message gets out to all strata of society.”
The assembly, with delegates from across the country, will also deal with about 30 resolutions, but the agenda is focused on what the leaders will say, particularly on such issues as human rights, Darfur, hate, security and anti-Semitism.
But because there’s a chance of an election, the economy is also expected to figure prominently in the leaders’ statements, Farber said.
