CAEF letter to Toronto City Councillors Lily Cheung and Shelly Carroll addressing the "Project Olive Branch", podcast that included two Toronto Police Officers, in uniform, speaking inappropriately of the rise in Islamic conversions post October 7th. Michael Teper, VP, calls for the TPS board to discuss this issue and the Jewish community's concerns at its April 10th board meeting.
Dear Councillors Cheng and Carroll;
I write to you as Vice President of the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF). I am also a resident of Willowdale.
As you know, and can see from the email below (attached for information only)*, the Jewish community in Toronto is very concerned about the recent videos that have been published as the "Project Olive Branch" podcast.
The Chief's apology misses the point. This is not about two officers who made a few remarks that offended Toronto's Jews.
The issue is the continuing credibility and public trust in the Toronto Police Service as a whole, to enforce the law and maintain public order and safety without fear or favour.
When TPS officers appear on a TPS website in uniform, and make approving remarks about conversions to a particular religion, and describing such conversions in parochial religious terms as "reversions", the credibility of the TPS in maintaining impartiality is necessarily compromised.
We are requesting that (a) a discussion of this incident be placed on the agenda of the April 10, 2025 meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board, and (b) we have a call to discuss the agenda tiem.
The public ought to have the ability to depute to the Board and be heard about this incident, and to express their views directly to the Chief and the senior staff of the TPS.
The Board needs to supervise the TPS' review of its communication policies and its commitment to political and religious impartiality and neutrality.
Very truly yours,
R. Michael Teper,
Vice President
Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation
*The author of the email below is not a member of the CAEF and the views expressed in that email are not necessarily those of the CAEF.
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