Just days after spending a night in jail and being charged with mischief, emergency room physician Dr. Tarek Loubani climbed on top of a riser at Parliament Hill and called for a “Free Palestine,” while demanding the government of Canada push for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
“I will not go back to sewing children’s heads without anesthesia,” said Loubani, 41, who has volunteered in Gaza over the past decade. “We must make our voices heard here and tomorrow … Ceasefire is not enough. We must have a free Palestine.”
The London, Ont., doctor spoke in front of thousands of protesters on Saturday, aware that his activism in a politically charged climate puts his job at risk.
He has emerged as a prominent voice, advocating for human rights for Palestinians since Israel declared war on Hamas.
According to the Israeli government, about 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks. In the seven weeks since then, at least 14,800 Palestinians — mostly women and children — in Gaza have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.
“These things shouldn’t happen. That’s why you see a lot of fighting back against the weaponization of antisemitism to include any criticism of Israel,” Loubani said in an interview with CTV News ahead of his speech on Parliament Hill.
On Nov. 16, London police arrested Loubani and charged him with mischief for allegedly vandalizing the office of a member of Parliament. Last month, the front door and porch of London MP Peter Fragiskatos’s constituency office was defaced by squirts of ketchup.
While he has continued to speak out since his arrest, Loubani’s criminal charge has triggered an investigation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Loubani said he knows at least five Gazan physicians who have been killed by airstrikes, and dozens of other health workers who have been injured.
“We come from a place of privilege – but people there are losing their family members. The catastrophe continues and cannot be stopped unless there is a ceasefire and a just solution to this conflict,” Loubani said.
In addition to Dr. Tarek Loubani, at least three other physicians are under investigation for their social media posts in support of Palestinians. Critics have accused them of antisemitism. (Judy Trinh/CTV News)
CONDUCT OF 5 ONTARIO DOCTORS UNDER REVIEW
Loubani is one of at least five medical doctors in Ontario being investigated for potential professional misconduct after sharing their views on Israel and the Palestinian territories publicly or through social-media posts. Four of the doctors under scrutiny expressed solidarity with Palestinians, while one is pro-Israel.
James Turk, director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University, said he has reviewed some of the social media posts that led to the investigations.
He said he is concerned universities and hospitals are capitulating to pressure from lobby groups.
“As far as I know, none of them engaged in illegal speech in Canada. It was simply that people who disagreed with their views were able to put pressure on their employers to take actions against them. There’s no place for that in a democratic society,” Turk said.
At the time of publishing this story, none of the five doctors under scrutiny for their political views on Israel-Gaza faced concerns about their medical expertise.
According to records from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, there were no complaints from patients about their medical care.
“There’s no suggestion they’re treating Jewish patients or Arab patients or Muslim patients any differently than anyone else. So in that sense, it’s not a question of their professional behaviour,” Turk said.
“The real allegation is that patients who disagree with them politically may feel uncomfortable going to them. We can’t silence people because others may be troubled.”
CTV News reached out to the doctors and none agreed to be interviewed, other than Loubani.
Dr. Ben Thomson, nephrologist. (Submitted)
DR. BEN THOMSON
Nephrologist Dr. Ben Thomson was initially suspended on Oct. 13 for a month from Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital after he questioned information posted by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs on X, formerly Twitter.
Thomson’s suspension was confirmed to CTV News by hospital staff who did not want to be identified because of the ongoing legal matter.
Thomson wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Oct. 10: “No babies were beheaded, there have been no confirmed reports of rapes. You repeat this nonsense out of racism.”
When Thomson made the post, unverified reports of decapitated babies were widely posted on social media. The claims involving mutilated infants still remain in dispute, according to fact-checking by the Poynter Institute, a non-profit journalism school and research organisation.
Following his post, Thomson was doxed, threatened and accused of antisemitism on social media.
CTV News has also heard a recording of a voicemail that referred to Thomson as a “disgusting human being” and threatened him and hospital staff with violence unless his social media post was removed.
Thomson is the co-founder of Keys of Health, a charity that places doctors from developing nations into specialized training programs in Canada. Most recently, Thomson has helped several physicians from Gaza and the West Bank secure fellowships.
Dr. Christian Zaarour, anesthesiologist. (Submitted)
DR. CHRISTIAN ZAAROUR
On Nov. 17, Honest Reporting Canada, a pro-Israel advocacy group, flagged a post it claimed was from Dr. Christian Zaarour’s personal Instagram account.
Zaarour is an anesthesiologist with The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
The post quoted Musa al-Sadr, a dead Iranian-Lebanese cleric, and stated, “We consider Israel to be absolute evil. There is nothing worse than Israel. If Israel and the devil fight each other, we will stand with the devil.”
On its X account, Honest Reporting Canada asked: “Would any #Jewish person feel comfortable getting treatment or being taught by him?”
Without naming Zaarour, SickKids said in a statement that “any forms of racism are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” and would be investigated under its code of conduct.
The hospital said one of its physicians was on voluntary paid administrative leave while an investigation was being completed.
Dr. Yipeng Ge, fourth year medical resident. (Submitted)
DR. YIPENG GE
Dr. Yipeng Ge, a fourth-year public health and preventative medicine resident with the University of Ottawa faculty of medicine, was suspended following pro-Palestinian posts he made on social media, after another physician, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, called them antisemitic on his blog.
Freedhoff posted screenshots allegedly of Ge’s Instagram account showing posts supporting a “Free Palestine.”
The screenshots show a repost of a quote from Harvard law student Tala Alfoqaha, which stated: “If the phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ makes you feel uncomfortable then you probably believe that Palestinian freedom is an inherent threat to Jewish safety. The issue isn’t how we articulate our demands for freedom, it’s that your comfort is predicated on our lack of freedom.”
Freedhoff claimed on his Substack page that Ge’s post “equates Zionism with the genocide of Palestinians.”
More than 92,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org calling on the University of Ottawa to reinstate Ge and issue an apology for denying him his “fundamental right to free expression.”
According to Ge’s LinkedIn profile, he sits on the board of the Canadian Medical Association and was a member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s anti-racism advisory committee.
Hamilton cardiologist Dr. Eva Lonn’s social media behaviour is under review after she made a post on LinkedIn calling for the deportation of supporters who marched in a pro-Palestinian march in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Submitted)
DR. EVA LONN
Although most of the doctors in this story who have been sanctioned support Palestinians, there is at least one case of a pro-Israel doctor under investigation.
In late October, Dr. Eva Lonn, the medical director of cardiac health and rehabilitation at McMaster University, commented on an article about a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Hamilton doctor wrote in a LinkedIn post “deport them all to where they came from.”
A Charge.org petition called on the university to act and McMaster said it is reviewing the matter.
Without naming Lonn, McMaster said in a statement the post does not align with the university’s “values in advancing inclusive excellence or responsibilities as health-care educators and professionals.”
McMaster says it does not discuss employment matters and did not answer questions about whether Lonn’s hospital or teaching privileges have been suspended while the investigation is underway.
At this time of heightened concerns over antisemitism and Islamophobia, employment lawyer with Samfiru Tumarkin, Aaron Levitin, says all workers should review their workplace policies around social media.
“Employees should be mindful of what they are posting because it could have a significant impact in terms of their employment,” Levitin said. “And employers need to monitor to make sure they are keeping their workplace safe for all staff and clients.”
CENSORSHIP CARE
In response to questions about whether the above doctors were acting responsibly on social media, one Jewish human rights organization, B’nai Brith Canada, said physicians should not publicly voice their political concerns.
“It’s not about picking sides,” says Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith’s manager of research.
“Doctors have a responsibility to remain apolitical to ensure they can retain the confidence of all their patients.”
Now back in London, Loubani continues to work in the emergency room. He says he’s committed to using his medical training and skills to treat all patients.
“In reality, we all have biases and those biases do not interfere with our ability to care for our patients. This is a simple oath I took. I did not go into medicine to discriminate against patients. I care deeply about people. I care deeply about my patients.”
But outside the hospital, Loubani says he will also continue to protest against the war and speak for Palestinians, even if his advocacy continues to result in complaints.
“The victims from Ukraine or Palestine or wherever always tells us – we don’t want you to be silent.”
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…
Donald Trump declares victory and secures political comeback
Former president Donald Trump is poised to return to White House after a polarizing U.S. election that deeply divided the country. The U.S. election on Tuesday saw Trump post early wins in critical states by taking Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia. Vice-President Kamala Harris did not appear at her election night party at her alma mater Howard University in Washington. Top aides told the audience that Democrats would continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted. However, U.S. TV networks projected Trump would be the winner early Wednesday morning.
Final day for nominations in Nova Scotia election
Today is the final day for candidate nominations in Nova Scotia’s provincial election campaign. Under the province’s Elections Act, nominations must close 20 days before election day on Nov. 26. The Progressive Conservatives confirmed in a news release last week that they will have a full slate of 55 candidates. The NDP and Liberals confirmed Tuesday that they will have a full slate of candidates, though there was no immediate word from the Green Party. At dissolution, the Progressive Conservatives held 34 seats in the 55-seat legislature, the Liberals held 14 seats, the NDP had six and there was one Independent.
Here’s what else we’re watching…
Nunavut premier to face confidence vote Wednesday
Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok is expected to face a confidence vote today in the territorial legislature. In a surprise move on Monday, Aivilik MLA Solomon Malliki gave notice that he’d present a motion calling for Akeeagok to be stripped of his premiership and removed from cabinet. In Nunavut’s consensus style of government — in which there are no political parties — the MLAs elect a premier from amongst themselves. If the motion passes, Akeeagok would be the second premier in Nunavut’s history to be ousted by the Legislative Assembly.
Greater Toronto home sales surge in October: board
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board says home sales in October surged as buyers continued moving off the sidelines amid lower interest rates. The board says 6,658 homes changed hands last month in the Greater Toronto Area, up 44.4 per cent compared with 4,611 in the same month last year. Sales were up 14 per cent from September on a seasonally adjusted basis. Board president Jennifer Pearce says that while it is still early in the Bank of Canada’s key interest rate cutting cycle, homebuyers appear motivated by lower borrowing costs which contributed to a “positive affordability picture” last month alongside relatively flat home prices.
Work of Canadian war artist on display in Calgary
More than two dozen paintings from respected Canadian war artist Bill MacDonnell are on display at the Military Museums in Calgary. MacDonnell spent three decades recording conflicts in Europe, Bosnia and Afghanistan but also looked back at atrocities from the past. Two of his paintings depict mass graves from the Second World War in Kyiv and Russia. Curator Dick Averns says MacDonnell considered himself to be a silent witness to some of the atrocities of war and usually involved destroyed buildings and the aftermath of war. The exhibit at the Military Museums in Calgary is the first for the artist since 2006.
Paula Hawkins talks isolation and new thriller
In Paula Hawkins’ latest thriller, people are emerging from pandemic isolation, engaging with culture once again, when a gallerygoer notices something a bit off about a sculpture displayed at the Tate Modern: it contains a deer bone that looks like it might actually be human. Set in the U.K. art scene, the end of COVID-19 lockdowns is a catalyst for the plot in the was-there-a-murder mystery. The thriller, centred on a mysterious museum collection hiding deadly secrets, is told from three perspectives: that of an artist who died shortly before the onset of the pandemic, her friend-turned-caretaker-turned-executor, and the museum curator tasked with retrieving the remaining artworks left to his employer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his re-election as president of the United States.
Trump staged a major political comeback, securing the necessary 270 electoral college votes to win the presidency in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
This concludes a turbulent campaign for Trump, which included being convicted of 34 felonies in a hush-money case and two assassination attempts.
“On behalf of the government of Canada, I congratulate Donald Trump on being elected as President of the United States of America for a second term, and Senator JD Vance for his election as Vice-President of the United States,” Trudeau said in a statement.
“Canada and the U.S. have the world’s most successful partnership. We are neighbours and friends, united by a shared history, common values, and steadfast ties between our peoples. We are also each other’s largest trade partners and our economies are deeply intertwined.”
Trudeau added that in Trump’s first term, the two nations along with Mexico successfully negotiated the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement. Trudeau stressed the multi-billion dollar value of cross-border trade.
That trade deal is up for review in 2026, and Trump has promised to introduce a universal 10-per-cent tariff on all American imports.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly also shared her congratulations on the social media platform X.
“Canada and the U.S. are friends, neighbours and allies — deeply connected through our economies and our people,” she wrote.
“Together, we’ll focus on investment, growth and global peace and security.” Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman also extended congratulations to Trump and his running mate JD Vance.
“We have the great fortune of being neighbours, and the U.S. has no closer partner and ally than Canada. Looking forward to working together toward a more prosperous and secure future,” she said in a statement.
WASHINGTON – Donald Trump clinched the United States election after a tumultuous campaign as Canadians officials espoused the important relationship between neighbours in congratulations to the former president on his extraordinary comeback.
“I will govern by a simple motto: promises made, promises kept,” Trump said to cheering party faithful at a Florida watch party.
Trump was elected the 47th president of the U.S. amidst a deeply divided America by prevailing among voters in the key battleground states.
Tuesday’s election saw Trump post early wins in critical states by taking North Carolina and Georgia. His path to victory became clear when he won the campaign’s most sought after 19 electoral college votes in Pennsylvania.
Vice-President Kamala Harris did not appear at her election night party at her alma mater Howard University in Washington.
Top aides told the audience that Democrats would continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted.
However, with a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency early Wednesday morning.
The Republicans also looked to take control of the U.S. Senate after flipping several Democrat seats. Results for control of the House of Representatives remained undecided.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau congratulated Trump on seizing a second term in office. He said Canada and the U.S. have the world’s most successful partnership.
“The friendship between Canada and the U.S. is the envy of the world,” he said on X. “I know President Trump and I will work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.”
In a statement, Trudeau said the two countries are “neighbours and friends, united by a shared history, common values, and steadfast ties between our peoples.”
“We are also each other’s largest trade partners and our economies are deeply intertwined.”
Canada will not be able to escape the geopolitical pull from the change in administration of its closest neighbour.
Trump has proposed 10 per cent across-the-board tariffs, making the duties the centrepiece of his platform. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report suggests those tariffs would shrink the Canadian economy, resulting in around $30 billion per year in economic costs.
“I would say it’s code red in Canada-U.S. relations,” said Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University in Ottawa and co-chair of the Expert Group on Canada-U.S. Relations.
Hampson said Canada should not panic but must be prepared to double-down on efforts to build relationships with U.S. lawmakers at all levels and move away from strategies of quiet diplomacy.
Canadian officials have been reaching out to members of the Republican leader’s team for months ahead of the election, making clear the importance of the bilateral relationship.
Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., also sent her congratulations to Trump and his running mate JD Vance.
“We have the great fortune of being neighbours, and the U.S. has no closer partner and ally than Canada,” Hillman posted on social media. “Looking forward to working together towards a more prosperous and secure future.”
The first Trump administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada can be when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Negotiating its successor, the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, was a key test for Ottawa after Trump’s 2016 victory. The trilateral agreement will come under review in 2026.
Trump is the first former president to return to power since Grover Cleveland regained the White House in the 1892 election. He is the first person convicted of a felony to be elected president and, at 78, is the oldest person elected to the office. Vance will become the highest-ranking member of the millennial generation in the U.S. government.
But right up to the moments Americans cast their ballots, polls showed the race was razor-thin.
The tumultuous campaign season saw Biden remove himself from the top of the Democrats’ ticket following a disastrous debate performance against Trump. The party quickly rallied support around Harris a little more than three months before election day.
The vice-president’s campaign kicked off with the idea of joy and charting a new path forward, but Harris was never able to fully shake off the criticism from many Americans about immigration, inflation and the economy directed at Biden’s administration.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
In addition to Dr. Tarek Loubani, at least three other physicians are under investigation for their social media posts in support of Palestinians. Critics have accused them of antisemitism. (Judy Trinh/CTV News)
Dr. Ben Thomson, nephrologist. (Submitted)
Dr. Christian Zaarour, anesthesiologist. (Submitted)
Dr. Yipeng Ge, fourth year medical resident. (Submitted)
Hamilton cardiologist Dr. Eva Lonn’s social media behaviour is under review after she made a post on LinkedIn calling for the deportation of supporters who marched in a pro-Palestinian march in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Submitted)
