Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that Canada is failing its Jewish community, warning that antisemitism has reached levels not seen since the post-World War II era and that Jewish Canadians are being “particularly and brutally targeted” by hate.
He noted that last year, over two-thirds of all religion-motivated hate crimes were directed at Jewish Canadians. Jews make up only 1% of the population.
“The horror and shame are global. Our actions must be local. They start with clearly admitting that Canada's civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians,” Carney said at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto.
Carney said antisemitism plagues Europe, Australia, and the United States. But he said the crisis of antisemitism in Canada is "specific, severe and demands a targeted response.” There has been a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents globally since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023.
To combat the surge in antisemitism, Carney announced the launch of a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, which will initially focus on examining the causes of antisemitism, improving hate-crime data collection, and evaluating the effectiveness of government programs aimed at prevention and community safety.
The Canadian government has also introduced legislation aimed at strengthening protections against hate-motivated crimes and has committed an additional C$75 million to enhance security at religious and community institutions considered vulnerable to attacks.
