A Jewish human rights group has issued a warning about one of the candidates running in the upcoming federal election.
Leslie Bory is registered as an Independent for the electoral district of Brantford-Brant South-Six Nations in Ontario.
A man of the same name was recently freed after serving just under two years for hate crimes.
The 55-year-old was convicted for “advocating genocide” and “promotion of hate,” as well as two counts of uttering threats.
A Brantford court heard that Bory spread messages of hate and violence towards members of the Jewish community, police and politicians through various social media channels.
“He made hours and hours of video over several years,” the Crown prosecutor stated in March. “All of these videos had the same goal in mind, to convince others that Jewish people needed to be killed.”
While the judge acknowledged that “a poison has been injected into our public discourse”, Bory was, ultimately, unable to find a wider following.
“Over a two-year period, the accused hosted hours and hours of mind-numbingly boring podcasts, which was followed by an average of 200 people,” the judge explained.
He ruled that Bory’s 23 months in jail before his trial, credited at 35 months, was a sufficient sentence. He was also banned from owning or living in a home with guns.
Community concern
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre, a Jewish human rights group who also opposed Bory’s sentence, have once again sounded the alarm.
“It’s highly disturbing that a man convicted of advocating genocide and spreading hateful rhetoric against Jewish people now has access to voters’ personal information, including that of the very community that he targeted with calls for their mass murder,” Michael Levitt, FSWC’s president and CEO, said in an online post.
Candidates with previous convictions are allowed to run according to the rules set out by the Canada Elections Act.
“This is a glaring blind spot in our electoral system and a serious security concern,” Levitt said. “Law enforcement and Elections Canada must implement safeguards to ensure the safety of all constituents in Bory’s riding.”
The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre said they have reached out to Elections Canada and the Brantford Police Service to express their concerns for community safety.
CTV News has been unable to independently confirm that Bory is the candidate listed on the Elections Canada website.
