Red Coalition and JCC call for Manaï to resign

By Joel Ceausu and Beryl Wajsman, Editor The Suburban,Dec. 6th, 2023

The Red Coalition (RC) anti-racism lobby group and the Jewish Community Council (JCC) are calling for the resignation of Montreal’s Commissioner for the Fight Against Racism and Systemic Discrimination, Bochra Manaï.
Since the creation of the Bureau, both the Commissioner and former executive committee chair Dominique Ollivier have chosen to remain silent and diminish all matters regarding racism and discrimination denounced by Black and racialized City of Montreal employees, says the Coalition. “Both Ms. Ollivier and Ms. Manaï have been aware of the suffering of several of their employees for a long time,” says executive director Joel DeBellefeuille. “They did not act swiftly, but instead chose to remain silent.” As the head of the Office de consultation publique de Montréal in 2020, Ollivier released a report suggesting that in combatting racism and discrimination, the City of Montreal should become an example and serve as a model for its partners, suppliers and civil society. However, following the 2021 municipal elections and with the appointment of Ms. Ollivier as an elected official responsible for the anti-racism and discrimination dossier, says the RC, “the Bureau has gone from having an anti-racism approach to a posture designed to accommodate resistance to change.”

The Coalition maintains after three years of the Bureau’s existence, racism and discrimination are rampant and employees have given up on the prospect of any meaningful changes going forward. RC director of racial profiling and public safety Alain Babineau says Manaï went along with that new stance. “Ms. Manaï has lost the respect of Black and racialized employees, their families and most recently, members of religious and ethnic communities spread across the island of Montreal. The city has also betrayed and failed those who participated in the OCPM public consultation.”

The JCC’s Kalman Emanuel stated even stronger charges. “Since the terrorist attack on Israel on Hamas we have seen an unprecedented rise in antisemitism and repeated attacks on Jewish schools, synagogues and institutions. Our community is frightened. Children are scared to go to school and members of our community are hesitant to attend services. At times like these we need leaders who will stand up against hatred while striving to build bridges between Montrealers of different religions and backgrounds. When she was appointed in 2021 as our City’s first Commissioner to Fight Racism and Systemic Discrimination, Bochra Manaï said, ‘I will be able to put forward my skills in developing strategies to counter discrimination, my leadership in putting into action anti-racist interventions as well as my strengths to raise awareness, develop tools and strengthen the city’s capacity to fight against racism and discrimination.’ The Commissioner’s actions speak louder than her words. Ms. Manai has attended pro-Palestinian rallies and made inappropriate posts on social media. Two weeks ago, our community called upon her to speak out against antisemitism yet she remains silent while our schools and synagogues continue to suffer a wave of anti-Semitic attacks.”
Manaï has been harshly criticized by several Jewish organizations following revelations of her activities including participation in demonstrations which featured highly inflammatory anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric, all while remaining silent as the number of antisemitic incidents, including shootings, fire-bombings and assaults, have risen in the city since the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. Calls for her resignation were rebuffed by the Plante administration which instead has mandated her to build bridges with the community.

The Red Coalition was instrumental in orchestrating the March 2023 denunciations revealed in a series of media reports and since that time, these employees have not received an official apology from the City, nor has the City created an independent entity to deal with such complaints. “Instead, the Plante administration has proudly announced the creation of a ‘one-stop counter’ to handle racism and systemic discrimination complaints.” The “zero-tolerance” message sent by city director-general Serge Lamontagne in March “is being laughed at by those set on maintaining the status quo. In many instances it has produced a backlash against racialized employees. There is no faith in that new process!” says DeBellefeuille.

The RC has filed a racial harassment and racial discrimination complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission against Manaï and the City on behalf of EDI expert Nathalie Carrénard who herself is part of the bureau. “Many racialized employees have turned to the Red Coalition for help and to speak on their behalf! They are afraid of retaliations from the city,” says Babineau. The RC has also filed a complaint with the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés regarding an ex-employee of the City who made misogynistic and racist comments towards colleagues, including Carrénard, while working for the city.

Emanuel pointed out that, “A Molotov cocktail damaged our entranceway. Leaders from across the political spectrum spoke out against this horrific act, and many took the time to visit our premises to express sympathy and solidarity. Ms. Manai’s silence was deafening. At a time of increased tension in our city we need a Commissioner to Fight Racism andSystemic Discrimination who is willing to stand up and be counted. In her actions and her words, the Commissioner has to personify the values that bring peace and safety to all Montrealers. Ms. Manai does not have the credibility or the moral fiber to do the job. She should resign or be dismissed.”