Alberta multiculturalism council member resigns after antisemitic posts resurface

A member of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s Council on Multiculturalism resigned Monday because of resurfaced antisemitic social media posts, days after being named to the post.

Jasvir Deol, the NDP critic for multiculturalism, called for Tariq Khan to step down after the revelation, which includes a video saying the holocaust was a hoax.

The opposition revealed the posts shared under Khan’s name on Facebook, along with a letter from 2018 rejecting him as a UCP nominee.

“Albertans deserve better than this,” Deol said. “It’s time for better leadership from a government that doesn’t associate itself with people with extreme views.”

The premier’s office released a short statement saying Smith “denounces all forms of intolerance and hate” and that she accepted his resignation.

However, she didn’t offer a comment on the vetting process for members of the council.

Deputy Premier Kaycee Madu commented earlier Monday before Khan announced he was quitting when the NDP made the posts public.

“My view is, as I suspect to be the view of the premier, is that we would have to take action to deal with this particular individual to make clear that we do not support any of the tenants you are saying his posts that may have been shared out there publicly online,” he said.

He also could not speak to how the vetting process went with the government.

“What I can commit to is that the views or the things that have been shared by this individual are not reflective of this government, myself or the Premier, and we will deal with it,” Madu said.

Khan was one of 30 members appointed to the panel Friday.

Smith announced the council to promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness in the province.

-With files from The Canadian Press