British Columbia’s Premier, David Eby, issued an apology after a member of his staff mistakenly posted an incorrect message on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), linking to his statement for Holocaust Remembrance Day. The erroneous post expressed solidarity with the Muslim community instead of commemorating the Holocaust.
Eby acknowledged the mistake, stating that it was promptly noticed and removed but emphasized that it should not have occurred. The original post included a link to Eby’s accurate statement for Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The incident gained attention when Andrew Reeve, press secretary for the BC United Opposition leader, shared a screenshot of the initial post from Eby’s account, highlighting the misdirected message.
Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed on January 29, coincides with the anniversary of the 2017 deadly shooting at a Quebec City mosque. Further screenshots revealed a separate post from Eby’s Instagram account paying tribute to those killed in the mosque attack.
In his apology on X, Eby expressed regret for any pain caused by the mistake and acknowledged the distraction from the significance of the day. He underscored the importance of Holocaust education and noted the B.C. government’s commitment to making it mandatory for all high school students in collaboration with the Jewish community.
Eby’s actual statement for Holocaust Remembrance Day addressed the recent violence against Jewish people, emphasizing the commitment to Holocaust education in the province. Eby’s press secretary, Jimmy Smith, did not respond to inquiries about the social media error.