Ottawa South NDP candidate under fire for bad pun
Posted Apr 23, 2011 11:58:49 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was meant to be a harmless pun, but it has landed Ottawa South NDP candidate James McLaren in some hot water with the Jewish community.
When a Saskatchewan man posted a definition of Passover on his Facebook page, McLaren responded with “Is that the month when Jewish people like to buy Japanese cars?”
Turns out Nisan is the first month of the ecclesiastic year in the Hebrew calendar. Of course, Nissan, the automaker, has a vehicle called the Passover.
The pun fell flat.
Ottawa Rabbi Reuven Balka, who actually lives in the riding, says such a flippant remark is certainly not welcome as Passover marks the time Jews endured their worst persecution.
As for McLaren, he has apologized telling the Sun he has a predilection for terrible puns and needs a 12-step program to cure them.
