Canadian Broadcasting Corporation newsreader Neil Herland was reportedly removed from his on-air duties and placed under internal investigation following the release of a video showing an anti-Israel protest outside a Toronto event. The incident occurred last week when Herland documented himself attempting to enter a service at the Meridian Arts Centre, where approximately two dozen demonstrators held signs and noisemakers while chanting "Free, Free Palestine."
Herland stated on X that he was met by protesters attempting to taunt and intimidate him as he approached the building. In the footage, a man shouted "Zionist alert" as Herland neared the entrance, while another accosted him by shouting "You're going to hell" for attending the service. The event featured Israeli diplomat and former Benjamin Netanyahu advisor Mark Regev as a speaker.
In a follow-up post, Herland expressed concern that Canada may no longer be safe for Jewish people. He noted that his late father was an Austrian Jew who survived the Holocaust in Romania and arrived in Canada as a refugee. Herland said he obtained an Austrian passport this year in case Canada became unsafe for him, stating he fears that moment is approaching. He described Jewish Canadians as living in a parallel world where police stand guard outside synagogues and religious sites are targeted with bullets, while most Canadians lack awareness of these conditions.
The video has since accumulated 3.8 million views. According to The Toronto Sun, which reported on Thursday, the veteran journalist was pulled from his job and informed of an investigation based on complaints made to the company. Herland has not posted to his X account since Friday. It remains unclear what specific complaints triggered the decision, though the organization Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) encouraged followers to send complaints to CBC's Values and Ethics Commissioner, Sherry Perreault.
CJPME claimed on X that Herland was purposefully misleading people by describing the location as a synagogue. The group stated that Herland was actually on his way to the Meridian Arts Centre to see Mark Regev, who served in multiple high-ranking positions in the Israeli government, including as Prime Minister’s Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications. CJPME characterized Herland's account as a demonstrable lie intended to defame pro-Palestine activists.
CBC spokesperson Chuck Thompson told Fox News Digital that the corporation would not comment on internal matters while respecting employee privacy rights. Thompson stated that CBC is aware of reporting on the matter containing errors and mischaracterizations but could not specify them due to the confidentiality of the situation.