The CBC-Radio Canada building is seen Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Montreal. Dozens of prominent Radio-Canada personalities are urging their employer to fight back against a recent CRTC decision ordering the broadcaster to apologize over the use of the N-word on air. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan RemiorzRyan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
Radio-Canada has apologized and put one of its reporters on indefinite leave after she used antisemitic language during a Monday broadcast.
On the television show Sur Le Terrain, Washington correspondent Élisa Serret commented in French on U.S. policy toward the Middle East.
“The Israelis, in fact the Jews, finance a lot of American politics,” she said. She also stated that they control “a big machine” and that Hollywood and big U.S. cities are “run by Jews.”
The clip was shared online and condemned by the Quebec chapter of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which advocates on behalf of the Canadian Jewish community.
Radio-Canada said in a statement on its website that the analysis by Ms. Serret led to “stereotypical, antisemitic, erroneous and prejudicial allegations against Jewish communities.” The broadcaster also said her comments in no way reflect its opinion.
“These unacceptable comments contravene Radio-Canada’s Journalistic Standards and Practices,” the statement said in French. “As a result, the news department has decided to relieve the journalist of her duties until further notice.”
“We recognize that these comments have offended many viewers. We sincerely apologize to them and to the Jewish community,” it added.
Ms. Serret did not respond to questions sent to her Radio-Canada e-mail address.
Eta Yudin, vice-president for Quebec with the CIJA, said the broadcaster took “the only appropriate course of action” regarding Ms. Serret.
She added that the comments should not be allowed to pass without “serious internal reflection” on the damage they inflict on Canada’s democratic values. Antisemitism corrodes the fabric of society, she said, adding that its persistence is made possible by the environment that enables it.
“We expect Canada’s national public broadcaster to recognize this reality and to take concrete steps to ensure that neither such comments – nor the systemic issues that enabled them to be aired – are ever allowed again on Canadian airwaves,“ Ms. Yudin said.
Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault criticized Ms. Serret’s remarks, and added that the government does not, and should not, interfere with programming decisions at the public broadcaster.
“The words used on last night’s broadcast were pernicious antisemitic tropes and have absolutely no place on Canadian airwaves,” he said in a statement posted on X. “When antisemitic language is used by journalists, or anyone in a position of trust, it risks normalizing hatred in deeply dangerous ways.”
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who previously served as the prime minister’s special adviser on Jewish community issues and antisemitism, said Tuesday the move by Radio-Canada was “a positive development.”
On Monday, he said the comments were antisemitic under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition, which the Canadian government has adopted, and called on the broadcaster to explain how it would prevent the occurrence from happening again.