Anti -Semitism in Canada rose after Hamas on October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel, culminating in a record of 920 hate crimes that focus on Jews last year.
The peak in incidents led to Deborah Lyons, the special envoy of the country about storing Holocaust -Herinnering and the fighting of anti -Semitism, to resign earlier this month, with reference to exhaustion of “waking up every day to fight a fight.”
Lyons told The Canadian Jewish news Last week that the “job was one who tore you physically and emotionally. I mean, I confronted a lot of hatred … Many annoying words and in some cases actions,” she said.
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A man repairs the end of the doors of Congregation Beth Tikvah while the police are investigating an alleged arson in the synagogue in the outskirts of Dollard-des-Emereaux in Montreal, Wednesday, December 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
“I would say that during this period, these last two years, I was really very surprised and often become quite despondent and desperate that it was difficult to make people speak, to speak with clarity, to speak with conviction about what we saw here on Canadian soil happening,” she added.
“The government cannot only be virtue signals or performance – it must act,” said Cotler. “That is something that Deborah had to contend with. She is a very loyal civil servant, and I am sure it was difficult for her – even actually – to see the government moving not as quickly, effective or decisive as the mandate requires.”
Although Jews make up less than one percent of the Canadian population, 18.8% of all reported hate crimes were motivated by anti -Semitism in 2024.
Of the 1,342 religiously motivated hate crimes, 920 – or 68.5% – reported the Jewish community last year.
Toronto, Canada -January 4: Anti -Resraël protesters are gather outside of Union Station during a meeting in Toronto, On 4 January 2024. Demonstrants who demanded that it caught up -Fires outside Union Station collected in the center of Toronto. (Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty images)
“The situation has become increasingly untenable for the community. And although the federal government has taken some positive steps, not enough has been done to stop the tide – someone like the special envoy in a very heavy position,” he continued. “It is therefore understandable that she felt tired and discouraged by the current state of hatred in Canada.”
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Both Cotler and Robertson recognized important achievements by Lyons during her term of office, including the publication of a handbook on the IHRA work definition of anti -Semitism produced by the office of the envoy. According to Cotler, the source is now being used internationally by governments for training police, public prosecutors, law enforcement officers and officials.
Lyons was also an important voice in the international coalition of special envoys for combating anti -Semitism, giving Canada a presence with global resonance, Cotler said. He also emphasized her success in building the office of the special envoy with a strong staff and dedicated budget – an institutional basis that never existed before.
Anti-Israël agitators protest at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty images)
Lyons also helped in organizing the National Forum for combating anti-Semitism, held in March 2024 and co-chairman of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. The forum brought together leaders of all government levels to tackle the growing threat of public safety set by Jewish hatred.
“We need a whole government approach,” said Robertson. “That is why, immediately after the election of Mark Carney, we wrote the prime minister and outlined the most important ministries that could have a mandate to have an immediate impact on the crisis of anti-Semitism. This is not something that the special envoy can only resolve the coordinated government-wide effort.”
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Deborah Lyons, Left, The Former Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combare anti -Semitism, Speaks with David Moscovic, A Holocaust and Auschwitz Survivor, Before an Event Commemorating The 80th Anniversary of ausary of ausario in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (Justin Tang/the Canadian Press via AP)
“I think that is instructive – that when our public institutions take action to push back, it disappears,” he said. “We really need the government, law enforcement and broader society to acknowledge that we all have a duty to stand against this hatred that is now focusing on the Jewish community, but also focuses on our core values such as Canadians. And if we do not stand up, this will overtake our society and be introduced into a very dark future for all Canadians.”
Shack outlined three urgent actions that he believes can take Canada to tackle the problem meaningfully. Firstly, he emphasized the need to follow commitments to set up safety zones around places of worship, community centers, daycare centers, schools and other sites where the Jewish community gathered.
Secondly, he called for increased support for Jewish community security programs to protect these facilities against the violent threats that they are confronted with.
Anti-Israeli demonstrators gather outside of Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Synagogue that organizes ‘Israeli real estate event’ in Thornhill, north of Toronto, On March 7, 2024. Thornhill is the home of a large Jewish population. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty images)
“We have shot schools, set fire to synagogues. This is a very relevant situation, and we must ensure that the government finances and integrates our community programs at a level that improves safety exponentially,” he said.
Thirdly, Shack emphasized the need to tackle the growing issue of radicalization on the street and within public institutions.
“The anti-terrorism control laws of Canada must be tailored to those of countries such as the UK, where the glorification of terrorism and membership in a terrorist organization are criminal offenses,” he said.
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Shack also warned against attempts to separate anti-zionism from anti-Semitism, which states that the starting point itself is defective and emphasized that it is the fault of Jews around the world because of disagreements with Israeli government policy equally hateful.
“I don’t represent the government of Israel; I represent myself as a Jewish person who lives here in Canada. Just like my friends, family and colleagues who live in the US, we are Jewish Americans, we deserve to be treated with the same respect and rights as any other Canadian or American citizen,” he said.
