Gunfire at Synagogues Highlights Urgency as Ontario Legislature Returns

CIJA

|March 23, 2026

Toronto, ON – March 23, 2026 – As Members of Provincial Parliament return to Queen’s Park for the Spring Session, Michelle Stock, Vice President – Ontario, at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), issued the following statement:

“Recently, three synagogues in the Greater Toronto Area were struck by gunfire. Extremist protestors openly threatened violence, glorified terrorism, and displayed imagery portraying Jewish people as sub-human. And last week, one of Canada’s own intelligence agencies warned that a violent extremist attack against the Jewish community is a realistic possibility.

“What we have seen is deeply alarming and part of a broader pattern of escalating antisemitism that has left many Jewish families questioning their safety. This should be a wake-up call for every elected official in this province.

“For more than two years, extremists have targeted Jewish neighbourhoods, institutions, and community members across Ontario. Harassment, vandalism, and intimidation have become disturbingly routine. This cannot become the new normal.

“In the wake of some of the most heinous attacks on the Jewish community yet, the Premier and his government made clear commitments to the Jewish community; we expect those commitments to translate into concrete action.

“At the start of the Spring Session, we urge the Government of Ontario to quickly advance three key priorities to safeguard Ontario’s Jewish community:

Strengthening security for Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centres, including through additional funding;
Ensuring existing hate crime laws are enforced and offenders are held accountable in a timely fashion;
Holding school boards and administration accountable for ensuring schools are safe, inclusive, and focused on learning — for all children.

“The Government has taken meaningful steps to combat antisemitism and invest in the safety and security of the Jewish community. Those efforts matter but recent events have made it clear that more must be done.

“Jewish Ontarians are taxpayers, citizens, and full participants in the life of this province. Like every other community, they expect their government to do its job: uphold the law, protect public safety, and ensure that no one is targeted because of who they are.

“Ontario cannot allow a situation where Jewish families question whether it is safe to attend synagogue, send their children to school, or gather as a community. Addressing these issues is not optional — it is a fundamental responsibility of government.”

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