Question Period Note: Funding to Community Media Advocacy Centre

• Racism in any form has no place in our society and no place in Canada. The antisemitic statements and other racial slurs used by Laith Marouf are absolutely unacceptable.

• Mr. Marouf and the Community Media Advisory Centre should never have been approved for funding through the Anti-Racism Action Program. Their funding has been cut and their project suspended.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the funding programs that support Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

• Canada has the fourth largest Jewish community in the world, with a population of over 390,000, comprising 1% of Canada’s population.
• On January 13, 2020, CMAC, a first-time applicant to the Department, submitted a funding application under the Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) for the project “Building an Anti-Racism Strategy for Canadian Broadcasting: Conversation & Convergence”. The project aims to address employment-related barriers facing racialized communities, Indigenous Peoples and religious minorities in Canadian broadcasting and media.
• Following comprehensive assessment, including both Regional and National Committees, CMAC’s project was recommended in the amount of $133, 822 ($22,214 in 2021-2022 and $111,608 for 2022-2023) for approval on July 8, 2021 and the project was approved for funding on July 30th, 2021.
• In August 2022, Canadian Heritage Officials were informed of allegations against Laith Marouf, a consultant allegedly employed with CMAC. Following research into the organization and its relationship with Mr. Marouf, and legal advice on options, a Notice of Default was sent to CMAC on August 19. The Notice advises CMAC that support and funding of their project has been suspended until further notice.
• The Notice of Default gives CMAC 30 days, until September 23rd, to provide the Department with various assurances, including assurance that ties with Mr. Marouf will be cut. Failure to provide the assurances requested could result in the Minister seeking repayment of funds already paid out for the project.
• In addition, the Department of Canadian Heritage is undertaking a comprehensive review of the funding programs that support Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy, inducing how applications are assessed, addition of required attestations to be signed by applicants, and new provisions in the funding agreements. The Department is also reviewing its monitoring procedures for funded initiatives to strengthen the process.
• Until new measures are put in place, all applications being recommended for funding through the Multiculturalism Programs are being held.
• While the focus now is on the Multiculturalism Programs, it is anticipated that enhanced processes may be rolled out to other Programs of the Department of Canadian Heritage, pending consultation with other responsible Ministers.

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