Concern Over OPSEU Employee's Alleged Social Media Posts
OTTAWA — Questions are being raised over disturbing historical social media posts by a recent hire of Ontario’s largest public service union, which describe Adolf Hitler as a “genius” and promote antisemitic conspiracies.
Late last week, a letter was sent to board members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) expressing concerns over now-deleted Twitter posts allegedly made by campaign officer Rawan Qaddoura. The posts reportedly praise Hitler and repeat racist tropes that the world is controlled by Jews.
Alleged Posts Documented by Watchdog
According to the online antisemitism watchdog Canary Mission, which has documented Qaddoura’s history of anti-Israel activism, the alleged tweets include a January 2012 post stating: “I honestly wish I was born at the time of the second world war just to see the genius, Hitler, at work.” A second post from June 2012 allegedly reads: “Everytime I read about Hitler, I fall in love all over again.” A third post from August 2013 quotes a now-deleted account saying: “the whole world is controlled by Zionist Jews and until you understand that, life will never make sense.”
Human Rights Complaint Filed
In her letter to OPSEU board members, Canadian Jewish Labour Committee (CJLC) member Kim Kazur stated that Qaddoura’s hiring exacerbates concerns among Jewish OPSEU members. “Ms. Qaddoura’s (alleged) posts blatantly call for the elimination of Jewish people from the world and they glorify the genocide perpetrated against Jews during World War 2,” Kazur wrote. She also noted that Hitler targeted other groups, including Black people, gay and bisexual men, people with disabilities, and political dissenters, questioning how any staff member could feel safe working with someone holding such extremist views.
In 2024, Jewish OPSEU members filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, alleging that the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks introduced a culture where antisemitic propaganda is openly advanced, leaving Jewish members feeling marginalized. Concerns were also raised after the union, despite recommendations from the OPSEU Jewish caucus, hired Independent Jewish Voices—a fringe anti-Zionist organization—to facilitate mandatory antisemitism training.
Reactions and Calls for Termination
Former OPSEU Local 103 President Ron Langer took to X to denounce the alleged posts, calling them unacceptable and a human rights violation. “I am calling on OPSEU to immediately terminate the employment contract of Rawan Qaddoura for social media posts praising Hitler for killing Jews and claiming that Zionist Jews control the whole world,” he wrote.
Former OPSEU President Smokey Thomas described the alleged posts as “deeply concerning” and crossing many lines. “It is fair to ask how this individual was hired in a workplace that describes itself as progressive,” he wrote on Facebook. “Our labour movement is rooted in equity, solidarity, and the protection of human rights. When actions or statements appear to contradict those principles, they must be taken seriously.”
Kazur told the Toronto Sun that OPSEU President J.P. Hornick replied to her letter, stating the issue had been escalated to the union’s “people and cultures unit.” However, she expressed concern that Qaddoura was hired at all. “The fact J.P. Hornick signed off to hire this person is a scary thing,” she said. “Where is the due diligence? I know employers search on social media for people they’re hiring now, this should never have happened.” She called for a public statement from OPSEU condemning the hate and praising of Hitler.
