All 17 of the buses that the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto hired from a particular company did not show up on Monday to bring participants to a “Rally for the Jewish People” on Parliament Hill in Ottawa didn’t show.
“Despite charging in full in advance and confirming its participation, the company did not send a single bus and has declined all communications while refusing to provide any explanation,” stated Adam Minsky, president and CEO of the Toronto Federation.
“Given the absolute silence of the sub-contractor and with no other explanation, we are driven to the view that this shameful decision is intended to disrupt our peaceful rally out of hatred toward Jews,” he added.
The other 53 buses that the Federation hired, all from other companies, arrived without incident.
“What happened today is sickening and outrageous. We will respond aggressively with every legal and public affairs tool at our disposal,” Minsky stated.
“UJA is already working with legal counsel and will be proceeding with strong, decisive actions against this company. Hate and discrimination against any community can never be tolerated in Canada,” he said. “We have made alternative travel arrangements for those affected. The rally is proceeding as planned, and our voices will be more determined than ever.”
Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, stated that the bus company chose “to demonstrate the worst in our society by choosing to abandon a contract and strand hundreds of people, including senior citizens and minors, at the side of the road.”
“Contrary to what this company may have hoped to achieve, the lesson learned by those they betrayed is that standing in solidarity against terror and against hate in Canada is more important now than ever,” he added.
