Montreal city councillor Rotrand to take on new role with B'Nai Brith Canada
Longtime city councillor Marvin Rotrand is poised to take on a new position fighting hate when he leaves Montreal City Hall next month.
He will serve with B’Nai Brith Canada as national director of its League for Human Rights, the organization announced on Monday.
Rotrand is Montreal’s longest-serving councillor, having spent the last 39 years representing the west-end district of Snowdon under eight different mayors. He announced in June that he would not seek re-election in November’s municipal vote.
“Marvin’s extensive contacts at all three levels of government and his record of defending civil rights and building alliances between various communities will be a real asset for our organization,” said B’nai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn in a news release.
Mostyn said Rotrand shares B’nai Brith Canada’s “vision of advancing our advocacy and promoting initiatives vital to the Jewish community and minorities at large.”
Rotrand cited the pandemic in spurring online hate, saying he supports advancing measures to reduce it, and that it foments radicalization and violence.
“COVID-19 has brought out the haters,” Rotrand said in a statement. “Statistics Canada has reported that crime fell nationally by five per cent in 2020 but that hate crimes rose an unprecedented 37 per cent, to their highest reported level in history. Jews are the most targeted. Hatred is unacceptable and this position with B’nai B’rith will allow our organization to work with governments and other bodies toward finding effective solutions.”
Rotrand says he plans to keep his position at city hall until the official transition of power on Nov. 18. The municipal election in Montreal will take place on Nov. 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.