Canada’s Jewish community is reacting this week to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement of a series of measures aimed at combatting antisemitism, and many are hoping for more. The plan, which was revealed on Monday, at Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple, includes the creation of a new Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion. It will be made up of community leaders and academic experts who will take on the responsibilities previously held by the Office of the Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia and the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. Carney has directed the council to begin its work by focusing on antisemitism.

Broadview contacted several Canadian Jewish organizations and Jewish community leaders for their responses. Here’s what they had to say, based on official statements and interviews requested by Broadview. 

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Simon Wolle, Chief Executive Officer, B’nai Brith Canada:

“This was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to meet the moment. Instead, Canadians heard a speech that described the problem more than it confronted it. The Jewish community did not require another acknowledgment that antisemitism is raging across the country, we needed a plan proportional to the scale of the crisis. Canada is not facing an antisemitism awareness problem. Canada has an antisemitism problem. The country has been poisoned with Jew hatred, and we need a remedy.

Freedom is not a suicide pact; we cannot tolerate intolerance. Canadian liberties were never intended to protect intimidation, harassment, violence, the glorification of terrorism or the targeting of communities because of who they are. The defense of freedom requires the defense of the values that make freedom possible.

The Government must also address the ideological and organizational infrastructure driving radicalization and hatred.

We cannot continue cutting the branches while ignoring the roots. The head of the snake must be addressed. Any serious effort to combat antisemitism........

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