Group claims defamation over minister’s comments on October 7 student commemoration
UTM’s Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) sent a legal letter to Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce, a month after he called the group a “hateful, antisemitic, and anti-democratic mob” for organizing a “Honouring our Martyrs” student commemoration on October 7.
The letter, issued by the MSA’s lawyer Jeff Saikaley and obtained by The Varsity, claims Lecce made defamatory and libellous claims that are “completely and absolutely false.” It calls on Lecce to publish a retraction and apology for his X post, as well as provide $2,500 in compensation for legal costs.
Saikaley wrote that Lecce has until January 6, 2026, to respond and that legal action will be considered if the deadline passes.
The October 2 joint social media post by the UTMSU, Palestinian Youth Movement Toronto, and Association of Palestinian Students at UTM stated that the commemoration planned outside the Student Centre on October 7 would ensure “the martyrs of Palestine are never forgotten” and that it would “honour their legacy.”
In an October 6 post on X, Lecce denounced the organizers, and wrote, “It’s beyond appalling to think that this morally degenerate group will glorify the barbaric murder of 1,200 kids, mothers, fathers, and grandparents.”
Lecce added, “This hateful, antisemitic, and anti-democratic mob should be condemned and banned from any campus. This poisonous ideology is entirely incompatible with well-established Canadian values.” (more...)
UTM Muslim Students’ Association sends legal letter to Stephen Lecce
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