The New Democratic Party (NDP) is once again at the center of controversy following the emergence of a video capturing a party canvasser making incendiary comments about Israel, with candidate Pascale Matecki appearing to nod in agreement. This incident has intensified scrutiny over the NDP’s position on Israel and raised questions about whether such sentiments are reflective of the party’s broader ideology.​
In the recently surfaced video, an NDP canvasser is heard stating, “I totally understand why the Arabs would want Israel to disappear,” and further accuses Israel of “creating chaos in the region.” Throughout the exchange, Pascale Matecki, the NDP candidate, nodded affirmatively, suggesting tacit approval of these contentious remarks. The video’s circulation has sparked outrage, with critics arguing that such rhetoric perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines efforts toward peaceful dialogue in the Middle East.​
This incident is not an isolated one within the NDP. In September 2021, two federal NDP candidates resigned after their past social media activities came under fire. Sidney Coles, the candidate for Toronto-St. Paul’s, disseminated misinformation linking Israel to missing COVID-19 vaccines, while Dan Osborne, representing the Nova Scotia riding of Cumberland-Colchester, questioned the existence of Auschwitz in a tweet directed at Oprah Winfrey. Both candidates stepped down and pledged to educate themselves further about antisemitism.
More recently, in November 2024, Tammy Jakeman, an NDP candidate in Nova Scotia, faced criticism for social media posts deemed “troubling” and “damaging” by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. One of her posts suggested that children in Gaza would die because “Israel is obsessed with killing all Hamas, regardless of the human expenses.” Jakeman is no longer running for the party in the upcoming general election.
The NDP’s internal dynamics regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict have also been contentious. In October 2023, Sarah Jama, an Ontario NDP Member of the Provincial Parliament, issued a statement calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian land and labeling the situation as apartheid. This led to her expulsion from the NDP caucus, highlighting the party’s struggle to maintain a unified stance on the issue.
The emergence of the video featuring Pascale Matecki’s implicit endorsement of anti-Israel rhetoric, coupled with a series of similar incidents involving NDP members, raises critical questions about the party’s position on antisemitism and its commitment to fostering inclusive dialogue. While the NDP has publicly denounced antisemitism, the recurrence of such controversies suggests a need for more rigorous vetting processes and internal education to ensure that the party’s actions align with its stated principles. Canadians deserve clarity on where the NDP stands and what measures it will implement to prevent the perpetuation of harmful narratives within its ranks.