Concern over social media posts by Edmonton city councillor Michael Janz

Edmonton city councillor Michael Janz is under scrutiny from the city's Jewish community following his recent social media activity, which they allege is spreading harmful misinformation about the conflict in Gaza.

The Jewish Federation of Edmonton has reportedly saved screenshots of content Janz shared on his Instagram stories last week. One re-shared post from a pro-Palestine account stated: "If you have a newborn baby right now, anywhere in the world, your brand new baby is statistically more likely to be killed by Israel than dying by any other way." Janz later removed this specific post, according to Mayor Andrew Knack.

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If you have a newborn baby right now, anywhere in the world, your brand new baby is statistically more likely to be killed by Israel than dying by any other way.

Stacey Leavitt-Wright, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, expressed that the damage was already done. "What he's doing is demonizing Israel, demonizing the Jewish community there and, by extension, the Jewish community here, who is so connected to that, is feeling demonized as well," she said.

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At the end of the day, councillors are free to speak to any issue they want. They are ultimately held accountable for their own actions.

Fellow city councillor Mike Elliott voiced his surprise at Janz's posts, opining that civic politics should remain focused on local matters. "I know we have freedom of speech and we can say whatever we want, but let's focus on what we need to focus on, that's Edmontonians and our city," Elliott stated.

Janz, when reached for an interview, released a statement saying, "Like many Edmontonians, I've been horrified by the genocide in Palestine and the numerous well-documented war crimes committed by the state of Israel." He indicated he would continue sharing reports from organizations like the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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What he's doing is demonizing Israel, demonizing the Jewish community there and, by extension, the Jewish community here, who is so connected to that, is feeling demonized as well.

Mayor Knack, choosing his words carefully, commented that "anyone that's not sharing accurate information, that's not what we want to see." He added that while a code of conduct may not be in place, councillors must uphold high standards. Elliott reiterated his view that international conflicts, though painful, fall outside the council's jurisdiction and expertise, emphasizing that elected officials should prioritize local issues such as roads, transit, and housing.

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I know we have freedom of speech and we can say whatever we want, but let's focus on what we need to focus on, that's Edmontonians and our city.