MONTREAL – Yves Engler, who was nominated by the NDP Socialist Caucus as its leadership candidate, told supporters he would remove Hamas and other groups from Canadaโs designated terrorist list and ultimately abolish the list altogether. He also outlined demands to curtail Canada Israel ties, end arms sales to Israel and suspend the Canada Israel Free Trade Agreement.
In the video and campaign materials, Engler said he wants to โget rid of the terrorist listโ and to end what he described as โunique supportโ for Israel. He used forceful language to denounce Israeli policy and accused Canada of complicity. The remarks are part of a wider platform that also advocates ending certain charity registrations related to Israel and advancing legal measures such as prosecutions under the War Crimes Act.
Rabbid antisemitic dickhead Yves Engler makes a pledge as @NDP leader
— Leviathan (@l3v1at4an) August 18, 2025
to remove Hamas & terrorist groups from the Canadian designated list while standing next to Hamas loyalist Mahmoud Khalil.
He then concludes his speech by yelling at Israel while frothing at the mouth. pic.twitter.com/j90LTUFpMQ
Jewish groups and community commentators reacted quickly. TheJ reported criticism from Jewish community leaders who described Englerโs positions as alarming and called for strong pushback. Local observers and columnists warned the pledge risks normalizing rhetoric that many in the Jewish community regard as antisemitic.
Engler has a long record as an outspoken critic of Canadian foreign policy and of Israel. His campaign announcement and writings repeatedly single out Canadaโs terrorism list as a tool he would dismantle, which he argues is biased against Palestinian organizations. Englerโs critics point to past controversies and commentaries to question his judgment and to warn the NDP against endorsing him.
The nomination by the NDP Socialist Caucus signals that Engler will be on the ballot in the partyโs leadership contest, which is scheduled to conclude in March 2026. The caucus framed the nomination as part of a broader left-wing challenge inside the party. Mainstream New Democrats have not embraced Englerโs platform.
Legal experts say removing listings from the designated terrorist entities list or abolishing the list would have major policy and security implications. The federal process for listing and delisting entities involves Global Affairs Canada and intelligence assessments and is subject to statutory rules. Any candidate proposing such changes would face complex legal and diplomatic hurdles if elected.
Community groups said the episode underscores concern in Jewish communities about candidates who blur the line between criticism of Israeli policy and rhetoric perceived as targeting Jews or Jewish institutions. They urged party officials and other candidates to repudiate calls that they see as endangering Jewish Canadians or undermining established counterterrorism tools.
Engler did not immediately provide a formal policy paper detailing how he would implement the proposals if elected leader. His campaign website and social media contain broader statements on foreign policy that include withdrawing from certain military arrangements and sharply curtailing arms exports.
This article is based on verified information from Yves Englerโs campaign materials and website, the NDP Socialist Caucus nomination announcement, The Canadian Jewish News, and public social media posts and reporting.