TORONTO — A rookie Ontario legislator was kicked out of the New Democratic caucus Monday, moments before Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives effectively silenced her in the legislature over comments she made about the Israel-Hamas war.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles had originally defended Sarah Jama after she issued an apology for her initial statement. But she said Monday that while she and Jama had agreed they would work together"in good faith with no surprises," she was unaware Jama was going to speak in the legislature against the motion earlier in the day."Ms. Jama has taken a number of unilateral actions that have broken and undermined the collective work of your Ontario NDP Official Opposition ...
The motion passed Monday, with the newly independent Jama and the New Democrats voting against what Stiles called a"really egregious motion." The Speaker's office said he would uphold the will of the House. Several thousand Palestinians have died as Israel has ramped up airstrikes in blockaded Gaza ahead of an anticipated ground invasion in response to the Hamas attacks. Gaza, with a population of 2.3 million people, is running out of food, water and medicine.
Stiles kicked Jama out of caucus two hours later, saying she did not know what Jama was going to say. Jama declined to comment after the vote. Jama alleges Ford defamed her when he said on social media on Oct. 11 she has a"well-documented history of antisemitism" and supports the"rape and murder of innocent Jewish people."
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