UBC among 4 Canadian universities facing class-action lawsuits for alleged antisemitic incidents

The University of British Columbia is the target of a proposed class action lawsuit claiming "a well-documented history of antisemitic sentiments" has existed on campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna for decades.

Documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court ask for $15 million in damages and allege UBC showed negligence by failing to address antisemitic incidents and hate speech. It also says UBC violated its own non-discrimination policies and gave staff insufficient training on handling harassment.

The Alma Mater Society of UBC, Students' Union Okanagan and the Graduate Students Society have also been named as defendants. None have filed a response and the allegations have not been tested in court.

The lawsuit comes amidst rising tensions on campuses over the war in Gaza that has killed thousands and the Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas that left 1,400 Israelis dead. 

York, TMU, Queen's facing similar lawsuits

Law firm Diamond and Diamond launched the lawsuit against UBC and three similar suits in Ontario, naming York University, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and Queen's University.

"What we're suggesting in our lawsuits is that [the universities] fostered an environment where this type of hate speech has been encouraged and allowed, and there's been no consequences for it," said Diamond and Diamond managing partner Sandra Zisckind.

"We're not filing just to file. We're filing when we've seen a pattern and we've seen an environment that has been fostered by the universities ... and the current state just brought it to a new height," she said.

The UBC lawsuit cites a number of incidents, including a 2022 speaking engagement on campus of Laith Marouf, described in the claim as "a federally funded activist with a history of antisemitic comments."

It also alleges Jewish students at UBC have been forced out of student organizations, haven't been given equal opportunity to voice concerns over hate speech on campus, and have been attacked for their Jewish identity at public student meetings.

Representative plaintiffs to remain anonymous

CBC requested comment from UBC. Media relations director of public affairs Matthew Ramsey said the university was in receipt of the lawsuit but couldn't comment because it was before the courts.

The claim names current UBC student "Jane Doe #1" and UBC graduate "John Doe #1" as the proposed representative plaintiffs. It says their identities must remain anonymous because they fear physical intimidation, assault and other forms of retaliation.

The lawsuit says all current, recent and former Jewish UBC students going back to 1998 are members of the class.

Zisckind said when news of the first lawsuit filed against York University became public, Diamond and Diamond was inundated with calls alleging antisemitic incidents on other Canadian campuses.

The claims against UBC, Queen's and TMU grew out of those phone calls, according to Zisckind, and lawsuits against at least two more Canadian universities are also in the works.

"We're the largest personal injury firm in Canada so we're used to a high volume of calls. The call volume we're getting about this is unprecedented right now," she said.

Zisckind said the $15 million in damages is a symbolic figure. Should any of the claims result in a cash settlement, she said the money will be donated to Holocaust education efforts and initiatives to combat antisemitism. 

"I've told all the students we've taken on, 'If there's any money, you're not seeing a penny of it,'" she said. "We're asking the universities — all the universities — to just uphold the policies and procedures that they have in place."