Day 17
Note: I am a poor note-taker and these summaries will contain errors and omissions which will reflect my limitations. My intention is to report on the facts as accurately as possible although a subconscious bias may creep in. I can only provide glimpses into what I see as relevant and interesting events. My goal is to capture the essence of the day’s events rather than be comprehensive.
Read the reference documents: The Legal Case and Events Leading to Trial to obtain an understanding of the case and its history. Names and terms are abbreviated and defined in Glossary.
Direct Examination of Shuvaloy Majumdar by Richard Harrison
Overview
Shuvaloy Majumdar testified on behalf of the Plaintiff, Caylan.
He is currently a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Calgary-Heritage.
Mr. Majumdar has an extensive background in Canadian conservative politics, including work with Preston Manning, General David Petraeus, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Macdonald‑Laurier Institute, and informal advisory work for Jason Kenney.
Relationship with Caylan
He first met Caylan in a Calgary coffee shop in 2018.
Prior to meeting her, he had heard she had a “quirky” reputation and had produced human‑rights‑focused documentaries.
He found her intelligent, thoughtful, and someone with whom he shared a deep interest in conservative philosophy and policy.
He enjoyed her company and valued their wide‑ranging discussions, from ancient history to contemporary politics.
Interactions with Mr. Jivraj
He met Jivraj in 2018 when both he and Jivraj were considering running for the Conservative nomination in Calgary‑Centre.
Jivraj attempted to dissuade him from running.
He found Jivraj manipulative, conniving, and obsessive, and Mr. Majumdar decided to disassociate from Jivraj.
Reaction to the March 18 Press Progress Article
He was horrified when he saw the Press Progress article about Caylan, describing it as a “character assassination”.
He saw Press Progress as an organization that presents itself as a press outlet but functions as a propaganda arm of the NDP.
He believed Jivraj was the source of the article.
He was particularly troubled by Press Progress describing Jivraj as “a long‑time Muslim Conservative with deep ties to the party.”
He knew that Jivraj had been denounced by the UCP.
The article did not change his opinion of Caylan.
Impact on Caylan
He testified that Caylan’s alleged white‑supremacist views were widely denounced and she was maligned within conservative circles.
He defended her consistently whenever her name arose, feeling strongly that people were making assumptions without knowledge.
He believed Press Progress had inflicted such severe reputational damage that helping Caylan seemed impossible.
Support for Caylan
He agreed to appear in Caylan’s documentary When The Mob Came because others were reluctant to participate.
The Conservative Party initially expressed concern about his involvement, but those concerns dissipated after the documentary was viewed.
He spent time with Caylan after her resignation, wanting to support her and help her emerge from her shock and grief.
He encouraged her to write about cancel culture or human rights, believing she was a gifted writer.
He wanted to help her reclaim her reputation and rebuild her life.
Caylan was beyond help; the depth of her depression and despair made her inconsolable.
Cross‑Examination
There was no cross‑examination. Mr. Majumdar was excused.
Court adjourned.
Comment
The reputational harm to Caylan was so severe that she was denounced by conservatives across Canada.
She remained mired in deep depression.