Prime Minister Mark Carney convened a meeting late yesterday with Jewish community leaders from Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal to address growing concerns over antisemitism in Canada.
During the discussion, community representatives shared personal accounts and described a rise in harassment and violence targeting Jewish Canadians, including incidents at synagogues, schools and other public spaces. Leaders said Jewish individuals are increasingly being excluded from cultural celebrations and public events, warning that many families no longer feel safe in their own neighbourhoods and are deeply worried about their children’s security.
Carney strongly condemned what he called a disturbing and intolerable rise in antisemitism, emphasizing that safety is a fundamental and inalienable human right. He noted that hate crimes are increasing nationwide and that nearly 70 per cent of police-reported religious hate crimes in 2024 targeted Jewish communities — a trend he said must be reversed.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and outlined upcoming measures to confront hate. He said legislation to be introduced in Parliament this fall will strengthen protections for religious and cultural spaces, including making it a criminal offence to intentionally and wilfully block access to places of worship, schools and community centres.
To support enforcement, Carney said the federal government will provide targeted funding to provinces to improve training for law enforcement officers and Crown prosecutors, enhancing their capacity to investigate and prosecute hate crimes effectively.
“Canada is a country of acceptance and community,” Carney said, stressing that Jewish Canadians must be able to live openly, freely and safely without fear.
The Prime Minister and the community leaders agreed to continue meeting on a regular basis to monitor the situation and ensure ongoing dialogue and action.
