CIJA Statement on the Government of Canada’s New Approach to Addressing Hate
Ottawa, ON – February 4, 2026 – Today, the government announced a change in its approach to addressing the surge in hate, with the launch of an advisory council.
In response, Noah Shack, CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, issued the following statement:
“We want to acknowledge the important work led by the Office of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism under both Deborah Lyons and Irwin Cotler.
“With antisemitism and extremism continuing to surge across the country, the status quo was untenable. Impact requires leadership from the federal government in coordination with all other levels of government.
“We expect immediate concrete action on solutions that the Jewish community has long advocated for, including support for security and addressing the sources of hate. This is essential to safeguard the future of our community and all Canadians.
“It is crucial that the government's new approach and the composition of the advisory council are designed to achieve meaningful outcomes in combatting the unprecedented wave of antisemitism and extremism in Canada."
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Additional Background
