Ontario Science Center Found Guilty of Complying with Anti-israel Boycott

The Ontario Science Center has been found guilty of violating the province’s Discriminatory Business Practices Act by signing a contract with the government of Oman that excluded Israeli firms and products.

The conviction is the first since the act was passed in 1978, according to Marilyn Churley, Ontario’s minister of consumer and commercial relations. It sends a strong message that such practices are not acceptable, she said.

Bernie Farber, spokesman for the Canadian Jewish Congress, which initiated the complaint against the Science Center, said the decision is “welcome news” to the Jewish community. He commended the provincial government for its “swift action.”

Churley said a binding order was issued against the Science Center under which it acknowledged breaching the law and must make public any document related to the Oman deal.

It may not discriminate in future business practices and administrative procedures. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to $50,000.

Churley’s ministry began investigating the deal last November after learning that the Science Center had signed a $1.2 million contract with the Perisan Gulf sultanate of Oman to provide and install exhibits for a children’s museum.

A clause in the contract forbade the inclusion of Israeli products or companies. It was revised later to say only North American products and companies were acceptable.

George Cohon, chairman of the Science Center, said he approved the revised contract after being assured by counsel that it was legal.

The center acknowledged that three Israeli-made toys were included in the exhibit after stickers indicating their origin were removed.

The center fired its director, Mark Abbott, after the incident came to light. His successor, Brian Shannon, said the government’s decision was fair and the center will “fully comply.”