Ottawa, ON – September 24, 2024 – Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate, released today by the Government of Canada, includes major improvements to the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP), which has provided funding for security infrastructure maintenance and improvements to workplaces, community centres, and places of worship of at-risk communities.
SIP will become the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP) that will expand opportunities for vulnerable communities to protect their institutions from hateful attacks.
“Antisemitism has risen dramatically in Canada over the past year – Jewish schools have been shot at, synagogues and community centres vandalized, Jewish businesses set on fire and protested. This disturbing and intimidating behaviour has left our community reeling, forced to confront a level of antisemitism not seen since the Holocaust,” said Shimon Koffler Fogel, President and CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
“Ensuring the security of Jewish community and religious spaces is vital. CIJA has long advocated for updates to improve the Security Infrastructure Program. Expanding SIP into the CCSP and the additional $65 million announced today will help protect Jewish non-profit organizations, community centres, and religious institutions from the growing threat of hate-motivated crimes.”
Canada’s Jewish community became the most targeted group for overall hate crimes (19%) and for those spurred by religious motivation (70%) in 2023 when Canadians Jews were besieged by 900 instances of police-reported hate crimes last year alone. SIP has been a significant resource for Jewish community institutions, such as synagogues and community centres, in need of funding for improvements to protect their members.
“The expansion to existing SIP resources, especially the infusion of new funding that CCSP will provide this year, is very welcome as many institutions have been stretched beyond capacity. This year, parents were scared to send their children to school, congregants were prevented from entering synagogues, and community members were blocked from and terrorized for participating in events. With the Jewish High Holidays and the anniversary of the October 7 massacre mere days away, this is a timely announcement,” said Fogel.
CIJA has been informed by Public Safety Canada that the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP) improvements will target many of the expansions for which we have advocated, including:
- $65 million in new funding for CCSP, including $16 million available in 2024. This is in addition to funding already dedicated to SIP in Budget 2024.
- Eligibility expanded to include office and administrative spaces, cemeteries, and childcare centres.
- Funding for time-limited third-party licensed security personnel is now eligible.
- Increased coverage of up to 70% of a project’s eligible costs (up to $1.5 million) and the ability to stack government assistance programs to allow for multiple sources of funding.
- Retroactive funding for unplanned expenses and the ability to apply throughout the year as needs arise.
The cost of securing community institutions and events this year was unlike any in recent years. While these expansions will ease the burden, much more is still needed. CIJA will continue to advocate for additional improvements that will protect the Jewish community, including ensuring equivalent provincial programs work together with the new CCSP.
“What is urgently required is a track that will support the extensive security infrastructure needed for the largest communities, who have an enormous responsibility to ensure the safety of numerous community institutions that are at constant risk,” said Fogel. “We will continue to work with the government and relevant agencies to enhance the capacity of communities to meet those challenges.”
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