TORONTO — A senior member of the Harper government has condemned a Queen’s Park decision to allow an anti-Israel rally to be held on its lawn next week.

Peter Kent, Minister of Environment and MP for Thornhill, said the Sergeant-at-Arms was wrong to approve a repeat of an event that offended Jewish groups.

“Video recordings of last year’s ‘Rally’ document hate speech, racism, anti-Semitism, and support for listed organizations that clearly exceed the limits of Canadian freedoms of free assembly and free speech,” read a statement from Mr. Kent Friday.

The event is in support of the International Day of Al-Quds, which invites “peace loving people to voice their opposition to the unjust and illegal occupation” of religious sites in Jerusalem, according to the event’s website. Al-Quds is the Arabic term for Jerusalem.

Toronto Jewish groups took issue with video footage of last year’s Al- Quds day at Queen’s Park, which depicted speakers likening Israel to a cancer and waving Hezbollah flags.

Mr. Kent said his role as a member of the federal cabinet doesn’t impede his ability to comment on a provincial issue.

“Of course I respect the Sergeant-at-Arms, but I think a mistake has been made,” he said in an interview with the National Post on Friday. “As you know, Thornhill is a wonderful diverse community but there is a significant Jewish community … Being a federal minister doesn’t diminish my responsibility to speak up for my constituents.”

The MPP for Thornhill, Peter Shurman, has also publicly condemned the decision.

Last week, the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Students wrote a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty urging him to ensure this year’s event was barred from the legislature’s grounds.

At a news conference Thursday, Mr. McGuinty said the issue is the jurisdiction of Sergeant-at-Arms and the Speaker.

“But let me just say something as a Premier,” he said. “We believe in freedom of speech, but there are some limits associated with that so we will not tolerate intolerances, we will not tolerate hate.”

Sergeant-at-Arms Dennis Clark said his office receives hundreds of applications a year and “it would be very rare for us to deny an application.”

Mr. Clark said protocol is to meet with all organizers to outline the rules and procedures for a demonstration at Queen’s Park.

“When they walk away they know what they can and can’t do,” he said.

According to a Queen’s Park application, those rules include abiding all laws and volume limits and demonstrators must not enter the building

“Illegal signs or speeches, such as obscenity or hate propaganda are strictly prohibited,” reads the “Guidelines” section of the application, which is available on the Ontario government’s website.

Jewish group leaders from the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal and B’nai Brith said they have been in touch with Toronto Police’s Hate Crimes Unit, who will monitor the situation.

Organizers of the event are not identified by the Sergeant-at-Arms and emails to the Al-Quds Committee website were not returned.

National Post

KENT’S FULL STATEMENT

August 10, 2012

It is with great sadness and concern I’ve learned that authorities at Queen’s Park have again issued a permit for an “Al-Quds Rally” on the grounds of the provincial legislature on Saturday, August 18, 2012.

Equally concerning is the refusal of Queen’s Park authorities to reveal the identity of the sponsoring individuals or organizations which have been granted a permit.

Video recordings of last year’s “Rally” document hate speech, racism, anti-semitism, and support for listed organizations that clearly exceed the limits of Canadian freedoms of free assembly and free speech.

The flag of Hezbollah, a radial Shia group, supported by Iran, and dedicated to the destruction of Israel and imposition of an Islamic state, was displayed prominently at the “Rally”. Under Canadian law, Hezbollah is a listed terrorist organization.

As the Member of Parliament for Thornhill, I celebrate the rights and freedoms extended to Canadians of all ethnic groups, cultures and religions.

I also believe that all levels of government should stand together to condemn any among us who would propagate hatred.

Hon. Peter Kent, P.C., MP Thornhill (© 2012 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. 08/11/12)