Montreal Council Questioned on Plateau-Mont-Royal City Councillor's Support for BDS

The City of Montreal held a council discussing various issues, including combatting climate change, but more controversial matters were addressed first.

A concerned citizen identified an online controversy that has recently arisen, where Plateau-Mont-Royal city councillor Alexander Norris liked a Facebook posts for groups that advocate for Boycotting, divesting and sanctioning (BDS) Israel. The council was asked what they think of this situation and if it will make it more difficult for people to trust the city of Montreal's administration? 

BDS is seen as controversial as some fear this can lead to antisemitism. While some may use this movement to promote antisemitism, the intension of this movement is to boycott Israel to economically pressure them from ceasing to build settlements on Palestinian land, wrongfully imprison, beat, punish and kill Palestinians and cause ethnic cleansing and genocide in Palestine and towards Palestinians.

There were many questions regarding Norris, even some asking the council if they can dissociate themselves from Norris. However, most of the answers by councillors said that they don't stand for discrimination or racism and that this is a subject that involves different a different point of view – rather than sanctioning Israel. Many representatives also said that they could not talk on Norris' involvement in Projet Montreal.

The environment was also addressed in this meeting. One participant questioned the council on what they will do to support and address climate change in Montreal. 

The council said they recently they gave "important" funding to support urban agriculture to protect part of the Anjou golf.

Councillors reminded participants that the week before this council they announced that they would protect municipal lands andterritories which are in l'echo campus Hubert Reeves to ensure the preservation of those green spaces and to preserve biodiversity of the sector. The council stated that they are engaged in preservation projects.