Canadian Jewish groups expressed outrage this week over reports that the nation’s domestic spy agency has an alleged white supremacist on its payroll.
The Toronto Sun newspaper reported Sunday that Grant Bristow, a member of the Heritage Front, Canada’s foremost white supremacist group, has been a paid informant for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service since 1989.
Bristow also reportedly helped plan a harassment campaign that contributed to clashes between racists and anti-racists last year.
He is said to be intelligence chief and co-director of security for the racist group, which was founded six months after Bristow’s hiring by the intelligence service.
The Canadian Jewish Congress was furious at the revelations, which were described as shocking by Hal Joffe, the group’s national community relations chairman.
“If the reports are true, then this is scandalous. We have to know if we, as taxpayers, have been funding the creation of hatred in this country.”
Sources have indicated that Canadian taxpayers have a right to be concerned since Bristow reportedly was paid $50,000-60,000 by CSIS in 1993 alone.
In the wake of the Toronto Sun report and the heated reaction it generated, Solicitor General Herb Gray said Tuesday that an independent review body would investigate CSIS’ connection with the Heritage Front.
“In order to clear the air, we want the Security Intelligence Review Committee to look into the matter and make a report,” Gray told reporters.
“I am confident that the SIRC will fully investigate the matter,” Gray said, adding that it would not be appropriate to comment further until the review body had completed its work.
MAY BE THAT SECURITY ‘HAS MADE A BOLD MOVE’
Officials with B’nai Brith Canada welcomed the news of an investigation and said there may have been good reasons for the Canadian intelligence service’s alleged links to Bristow.
“At the end of the day, it may be discovered that CSIS has made a bold move with respect to the infiltration of white-supremacist groups in this country,” said Frank Dimant, executive vice president of B’nai Brith Canada, in a statement.
“At this stage, to conclusively praise or condemn CSIS for its methods would be premature,” he said, adding that if it is shown that the intelligence service was penetrating the information networks of Canada’s hate group, “all those committed to fighting racism and intolerance will greatly benefit.”
Bristow’s past and identity are clouded in mystery. It is said by some that Bristow is not even his real name. He has told people that he’s gay, single, married, a recovered alcoholic, and an orphan whose parents died in a boating accident.
A call to the Heritage Front’s hot line in Toronto found a recorded message crediting Bristow with being a founding father of the group. The voice on the recording is said to be that of Gary Schipper, who has “hosted” the line for more than two years and claims to have Jewish parents.
“CSIS created something that can’t be stopped. White Canada should be grateful,” the message said.
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