From Belleville to Parliament Hill: Our Community’s Advocacy in Action
Federal Budget Investment to Confront Violent Extremism
On Monday, I was joined by members of Belleville's Sons of Jacob Synagogue on Parliament Hill demanding concrete action from our political leaders.
They came to Ottawa with an urgent message: confront the antisemitic radicalization that fuels violence. Because what happened in Belleville started long before two courageous constables, Jeff Smith and Michael McCurdy, faced down a fanatical gunman steeped in antisemitic conspiracy theories. And failing to take decisive action now risks an unthinkable tragedy.
Thanks to you, they were not alone. Tens of thousands of Jewish Canadians and allies have spoken up through CIJA's ActionHub and in meetings with federal elected officials in communities across the country.
The federal budget responded to our community’s advocacy by renewing and expanding Canada's National Strategy on Countering Radicalization to Violence. This will help authorities identify and disrupt potentially dangerous individuals, particularly youth, on the path from antisemitic ideologies to antisemitic violence.
The Budget also responded to our community’s calls to boost resources for Canada’s spy agency, CSIS, bolstering its ability to combat terrorism, foreign interference and other security threats.
These initiatives build on meaningful progress, including increased community security funding, new hate-crime legislation, and the affirmation that antisemitism, which includes antizionism, is a matter of national security.
Our message is clear: keeping Canadians safe requires both protection and prevention. You can count on CIJA to keep pressing the government to deliver on its commitments, enforce our laws, and provide the tools needed to safeguard our community and all Canadians.
For the Belleville community, these steps forward are deeply personal.
Please take a moment to hear from Douglas Lobel, and share his message with your friends and family.
To everyone who sent a message, met with their MP, or spoke up: thank you.
Let's keep showing up.
Shabbat Shalom,
Noah Shack
CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
