*** In partnership with Hillel Ontario, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Canadian Women Against Antisemitism, Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation and StandWithUs Canada.
As students prepare to return to campus in September, Justice Mary Lou Benotto has released an independent review into two incidents at Toronto Metropolitan University last year.
Her findings on the antisemitic incidents should have been a wake-up call for TMU’s administration.
Justice Benotto found that TMU already has policies capable of addressing antisemitism, but that the university has too often failed to enforce its own rules “consistently and decisively.”
Her message is clear: without “decisive institutional action,” incidents like those examined in her review are likely to recur.
Similar to a recent Government of Canada study of antisemitism at universities across the country, Justice Benotto found that antizionism is driving much of the discrimination and violence targeting Jewish students.
Yet rather than immediately implementing Justice Benotto’s recommendations before students return this September, TMU President Mohamed Lachemi appointed a Task Force that will produce an “implementation blueprint” by March 2027.
That’s right: at the end of another academic year, well after his presidency is set to end in December.
And it gets even worse. Three members of the President’s Task Force previously signed an open letter opposing the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a core recommendation of Justice Benotto’s review, undermining her important work.
Justice Benotto found that TMU already has policies capable of addressing antisemitism, but that the university has too often failed to enforce its own rules “consistently and decisively.”
Her message is clear: without “decisive institutional action,” incidents like those examined in her review are likely to recur.
Similar to a recent Government of Canada study of antisemitism at universities across the country, Justice Benotto found that antizionism is driving much of the discrimination and violence targeting Jewish students.
Yet rather than immediately implementing Justice Benotto’s recommendations before students return this September, TMU President Mohamed Lachemi appointed a Task Force that will produce an “implementation blueprint” by March 2027.
That’s right: at the end of another academic year, well after his presidency is set to end in December.
And it gets even worse. Three members of the President’s Task Force previously signed an open letter opposing the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a core recommendation of Justice Benotto’s review, undermining her important work.
Justice Benotto’s report rightly says that a university cannot resolve the conflict in the Middle East.
But TMU can—and must—set clear behavioural expectations. Protect the rights of all members of its community. And enforce its own policies consistently and decisively.
CIJA is proud to be supporting two Jewish students in taking legal action against TMU for failing to uphold its own standards and rules. But we all need to raise our collective voices.
Join us in sending a loud and clear message to TMU President Lachemi: the safety of our students cannot wait; the university must immediately implement Justice Benotto’s recommendations and ensure its own policies are enforced.
