Hon. Leo Housakos: Honourable senators, with leave of the Senate and notwithstanding rule 5-5(a), I move:

That the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications be authorized to meet on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, even though the Senate may then be sitting, and that rule 12-18(1) be suspended in relation thereto.

Senator Housakos: Government leader, with all due respect, the minister stood in a picture with him, knowing full well that this is a well-known anti-Semite. As I said, Senator Gold, this is not the first time that Liberals and Trudeau cabinet ministers of this government have been found sharing the stage with anti‑Semites and terrorist sympathizers.

My question to you, government leader, is the following: If you were allowed to participate in the national caucus of the governing party — which you should, given the fact that you are the government leader and represent the government in this chamber — would you advise the national Liberal governing caucus to stay away from well-known anti-Semites and terrorist sympathizers?

Hon. Leo Housakos: My question is for the Government Leader in the Senate.

Last week, Minister Omar Alghabra attended a gathering hosted by the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group. Among the guests was Nazih Khatatba, publisher of the Arabic language newspaper Meshwar Media. Mr. Khatatba is a dangerous anti-Semite, Holocaust-denier and terrorist sympathizer. His publication has referred to the Holocaust as a hoax and the biggest lie in history.

Minister Alghabra refused to apologize for standing with Mr. Khatatba at that event.

This is not the first time that Liberal MPs and ministers have been caught attending events with such anti-Semite, terrorist sympathizers. They always express regret at being caught, but these unsavoury characters continue to show up at the same events as Liberal cabinet ministers.

Senator Gold, do you think that Minister Alghabra should apologize for having attended this event with Mr. Khatatba?