Inflammatory newspaper Your Ward News found in Richmond Hill

Yorkregion.com
May 11, 2017
By Kim Zarzour

A controversial newsletter, labelled racist, misogynist and anti-Semitic by its critics, has appeared on doorsteps in parts of Richmond Hill.

Residents are being asked to report if they receive “Your Ward News”, after reports the alt-right tabloid was inserted this week into mail boxes and door handles in the area of Bathurst Street and Shaftsbury Avenue – a community with a large Jewish population.

It appears to be the first time the Toronto-based publication has been distributed outside of Toronto and a spokesperson for Your Ward News says more deliveries to the Richmond Hill area are planned.

Ellin Bessner was walking with a friend in the Richmond Hill neighbourhood when a woman approached them, upset over the newspaper that had been delivered to her door.

An author and journalist, Bessner recognized it immediately as the publication that Canada Post was forbidden from delivering last year.

Last June, Judy Foote, minister responsible for Canada Post, advised publisher James Sears “that he can no longer use Canada Post to spread this offensive material”.

Sears has appealed and the decision is being reviewed.

The three-person Board of Review examined preliminary matters April 25, with future hearing dates unannounced.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), has been granted status at the proceedings and will be advocating strongly in favour of upholding Foote’s order, said Sara Lefton, CIJA vice president, Greater Toronto Area.

“It appears that the paper is now being delivered by private distributors, as printed copies have recently resurfaced across the GTA,” she said.

Calling it “a hateful and blatantly anti-Semitic paper," Lefton said the tabloid is a source of deep concern to members of the Toronto Jewish community for its promotion of racist, homophobic, misogynist and pro-Nazi material.

“It is CIJA’s view that the content of Your Ward News violates Canadian hate speech laws under the Criminal Code.”

Lefton said CIJA has an online reporting form specifically for Your Ward News.

“We advise all residents of Thornhill and Richmond Hill who receive a copy of Your Ward News to report it on their website.

Amanda Hohmann, national director of B'nai Brith Canada's League for Human Rights, is also encouraging residents to report the publication.

“We need people to tell us what’s going on,” she said, suggesting residents do so via the anti-hate hotline.

“It started out as a just a small neighbourhood paper, but has been expanding the past couple of years all over the GTA — and now Richmond Hill,” she said. “We get calls on our anti-hate hotline every time a new edition gets put out, but this is the first time we’ve heard from people that far north.”

It’s part of a trend being seen across the country, Hohmann said. A report released this week by the B’nai Brith found anti-Semitism is on the rise in Canada. This year was the worst on record, the annual audit found, and alt-right messaging is on the rise.

B’nai Brith has complained to police and politicians, but “unless he’s charged and convicted under law, he can continue doing what he’s doing - to publish and hand-deliver," Hohmann said.

York Regional Police say they have received complaints regarding the Richmond Hill deliveries.

Toronto Police are also they investigating, but said police cannot determine what qualifies as hate speech. That decision lies with Ministry of the Attorney General.

In an email to York Region Media Group, “Hector Mulholland, A.E. to Dr. James Sears” said 305,000 copies of Your Ward News is delivered to a regular distribution area in Toronto.

The tabloid is also delivered to “random towns across the province” via private distribution companies “and a fanatical army of volunteers," the email said.

One or more volunteers likely delivered to Richmond Hill and “due to excellent feedback from Richmond Hill, we will make distribution to your town permanent after the ban is lifted," the email said.

Bessner said she was reluctant to speak out, not wanting to give more publicity to the tabloid’s producers, but felt others should be aware.

“I don’t want this garbage in my neighbourhood, filled with hate speech and Holocaust denial, anti-gay, anti-everything.”

Rabbi Chezi Zionce, at nearby Beit Rayim Synagogue and School, agreed.

“It’s racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-everything and it’s disgusting... but I’m not going to devote any time to it,” he said. “Canadians are good people and will interpret it in the proper way.”