Housefather hopes to heal division in Mount Royal riding

Montreal Gazette

02-05-2025

Canadian Politics
By
Days after winning a fourth term as MP of the Mount Royal riding, Anthony Housefather said he will work to heal a divided community.
With 51.1 per cent of the vote, Housefather won with a comfortable majority, with a margin of more than 5,000 votes over his Conservative opponent Neil Oberman, who received 40.5 per cent of the vote. However, it was the issue of the Jewish vote that weighed heavy in this campaign, as both candidates acknowledge that many from the majority Jewish city of Côte-St-Luc and town of Hampstead voted Conservative. Official results from Elections Canada were not available as of publication.
Housefather said despite the rhetoric from many people on social media, the results showed the Jewish community didn't overwhelmingly reject his candidacy.
'I didn't lose the Jewish vote by massive amounts,' he said. 'I won the advance polls in largely Jewish areas, and on election day, I won many polls where Jews form the majority. Now that the election is over, my hope is that in the next election, I will win back all communities, and prove through my work as an MP that I deserve their vote.'
Though Mount Royal has been Liberal for 85 years, it's not the first time the Jewish community rejected the Liberal party in this riding. Housefather's predecessor Irwin Cotler said he too lost the Jewish vote during the last two of his three terms.
'It's very similar to 2015, where Stephen Harper was very popular with the Jewish community,' Housefather said.
In the months leading up to the election, many on social media expressed anger against the Liberal government for what they perceived as inaction against rising antisemitism.
Housefather said he has no problem accepting criticism of his party and his record, but he found this campaign more difficult than others. He said there was a concerted effort on social media to attack his character.
'On a daily basis, there were some in our community who would post things attacking me five or six times a day,' he said. 'For someone who served the community for 30 years, whether people like what I've done, I think I've always done my best, and I think I delivered for the community. It was deeply hurtful and I have to now get over that and I have to try to bring everyone together and I am going to try to do that.'
For his part, Oberman said he's proud of the campaign he waged. His 40.5 per cent of the vote was the largest share by a Conservative candidate since 1958, according to statistics from the Library of Parliament.
'I think we sent a strong message to the Liberal Party of Canada that the Jewish community will not tolerate being disrespected, or not being heard,' Oberman said. 'What I think we need to see from the federal government is leadership, and it needs to come by ensuring our streets are removed of those who wish to break the law and attack minority communities. We need to make sure university campuses are protected by ensuring laws are applied.'
He said he will continue to fight for the community, and that he's 'not going anywhere.'
At the Côte-St-Luc Shopping Centre this week, many of those who voted on Monday said they were pleased with the result.
'I'm happy that Anthony Housefather won,' said a Ruby, a Jewish woman who lives in Côte-St-Luc. 'He's a good man, very honest; he's straightforward, and he's a very hard worker.' She added she didn't think the anger against Housefather was warranted.
'Why were people angry? You have to ask them.'
Another woman said she was disappointed with the result.
'We were hoping for a change, and I was surprised,' said Katie, who is also Jewish. 'I feel there was no support to try to (combat) antisemitism. I was disappointed. I don't think (Carney) supports or cares, while (Pierre) Poilievre was very expressive in support of the Jewish community in his promise to defund universities that have (problems with antisemitism).'