Montreal MP Anthony Housefather chooses to stay in Liberal caucus despite anger over motion

After hearing from thousands of constituents and others about whether to walk away from the party, Housefather has determined that his "core values" remain Liberal ones.

Montreal MP Anthony Housefather said Friday he will remain in the Liberal caucus, despite the intense anger he still feels about a motion passed by the House of Commons last month.

Housefather has been reflecting on his next steps since the NDP-sponsored motion on the Israel-Hamas conflict passed with significant Liberal amendments on March 18.

“The adoption of the motion and all the events that preceded it have angered me as much as they angered most of the Jewish Canadians that I have communicated with,” Housefather said in a written statement late Friday afternoon.

“But I also know that my core values remain Liberal ones and after serious reflection I believe my greatest value to Canadians is staying in caucus to advocate for the centrist classical Liberal party that I believe in.”

Housefather said he has had many long conversations with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in recent days discussing what he called “a massive problem of antisemitism right now in Canada” and what the federal government needs to do to combat it.

“There is no issue more important to the Jewish community at this time,” he said. “This problem needs to be dealt with now.”

He said Trudeau asked him to work directly with him to address the problem, including when it comes to policing, antisemitism on university campuses and creating safe zones between demonstrations and community buildings.