CIJA Applauds Release of Important Report on Antisemitism in Canada

We are pleased to announce an important development in the fight against antisemitism in Canada: The House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (JUST) has released a comprehensive report, Heightened Antisemitism in Canada and How to Confront It, that underscores the alarming rise of antisemitism, extremism, and hate across our country, a trend that has now reached an all-time high. 

CIJA played a key role in this report by testifying before the committee, contributing our insights and policy recommendations. We are encouraged that many of the committee’s recommendations align with our advocacy efforts, which have long emphasized the need for systemic action to address and reduce antisemitism. 

The report presents several crucial recommendations that we believe will be instrumental in combatting this pervasive issue: 

1. Ensuring Campus Safety and Inclusivity: The report urges university administrations to prioritize the safety and well-being of Jewish students, faculty, and staff, ensuring that antisemitism is unequivocally denounced and that policies promoting inclusivity and preventing discrimination are enforced. 
   
   
2. National Review on Campus Antisemitism: A national review committee, including representatives from various levels of government and academia, is recommended to assess the impact of rising antisemitism on university campuses and offer strategies to foster safer environments. 
   
   
3. Data Collection and Research: The Government of Canada is urged to fund the collection of quantitative and qualitative data regarding Jewish experiences of antisemitism on campus to inform their understanding of the issue’s scope. 
   
   
4. Expanding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Programs: The report recommends the inclusion of the Jewish community in all federal EDI programs, with mandatory antisemitism training for all government departments and institutions. 
   
   
5. Holocaust Education: The Government of Canada is called to work with provinces and territories to ensure that Holocaust education in schools addresses modern antisemitism and includes a Jewish community-centred perspective. 
   
   
6. Adopting the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism: The report advocates the widespread adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism across educational institutions and government bodies. 
   
   
7. Strengthening Hate Crime Legislation and Law Enforcement: A series of recommendations focus on enhancing hate crime laws, establishing dedicated hate crime prosecution roles, improving police training, and increasing funding for hate crime units. 
   
   
8. Supporting Zionist Identity: The report calls for the protection of Zionist expression in Canada, reiterating that it is unacceptable to target or deny rights to individuals because of their Zionist beliefs. 

CIJA strongly supports these recommendations and urges the Government of Canada to take swift and effective action to implement them. Antisemitism is a threat to all Canadians, and it is crucial that Parliament prioritize these measures to safeguard Jewish communities across the country.