Rising Antisemitism in Canada Raises Concerns
The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is facing growing criticism for its handling of antisemitism as a recent report indicates a significant rise in hate crimes against the Jewish community.
On Monday, B’nai Brith Canada released a report showing that there were 6,800 antisemitic incidents reported in 2025, marking a 9.4% increase from 2024. This translates to an average of nearly 19 incidents each day, and represents the highest level recorded since tracking began.
Just last week, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights issued a report addressing the surge in antisemitism following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The committee proposed 22 recommendations aimed at combating anti-Jewish hate in Canada.
The suggestions include increasing funding for security at Jewish institutions, enhancing research on hate crime data, and promoting better education on digital literacy. One key recommendation is for Prime Minister Carney to reinstate the role of Special Envoy for Holocaust Remembrance and Antisemitism, a position he dissolved earlier this year. His office has not yet responded to inquiries about this recommendation.
Although some have welcomed the committee’s report, there are concerns among Canadian Jews regarding whether it fully tackles the roots of antisemitism. Critics noted that the report does not sufficiently address Islamic extremism and only occasionally mentions anti-Zionist sentiment.
Rabbi Elchanan Poupko expressed disappointment that the report overlooked religious radicalism, suggesting that by failing to name specific groups, it implies a troubling acceptance of radical elements within the broader Muslim community. He argued that moderate Muslims often suffer the most from these extremists.
Concerns also arose from the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council, which affirmed the importance of fighting antisemitism but raised alarms that some recommendations could infringe on civil rights and freedoms of expression.
Aviva Klompas, CEO of Boundless Israel, praised some of the report’s suggestions but cautioned that they do not account for all the factors contributing to the current wave of antisemitism, including radical ideologies masked as political expression.
Critics like Rabbi Poupko believe the current measures are inadequate, noting that education alone may not suffice to address the complexity of the issues at hand. He emphasized that simply labeling incidents as antisemitic fails to capture the nuances of the problem.
The Canadian government has responded by reaffirming its commitment to combating hate in all forms, including antisemitism. A spokesperson highlighted ongoing projects aimed at improving community safety and responses to hate crimes, including a $273 million investment in related initiatives.
As concerns linger about the safety of Jewish communities, many are calling for immediate and effective action to ensure the protection of all Canadians against hate.
