Ontarians will head to the polls on October 26, 2026, to elect mayors, councillors, and school board trustees across the province. Municipal governments play a critical role in shaping public safety, local services, community cohesion, and the everyday quality of life in our neighbourhoods. CIJA is committed to helping Ontario’s Jewish community engage in this important democratic process.
Although Canada’s Jewish community represents less than one percent of the population, antisemitic incidents continue to account for a deeply disproportionate share of reported hate crimes.
Jewish Ontarians have witnessed rising intimidation, harassment, vandalism, threats, and violence targeting schools and synagogues, as well as increasingly aggressive demonstrations near community institutions and neighbourhoods. Municipal leaders are often on the front lines of responding to these challenges — through policing, by-law enforcement, and local leadership.
With municipal elections set for October 26, 2026, CIJA will work with the Jewish community and allies across Ontario to encourage candidates to support policies that strengthen public safety, combat hate, and ensure all residents can participate fully and safely in civic life.
This website includes policy recommendations and questions that community members can raise with candidates seeking municipal office. While not exhaustive, these priorities reflect some of the most pressing issues affecting Jewish communities across Ontario municipalities today.
Municipal governments and police services play a critical role in ensuring residents can safely access schools, places of worship, community centres, and public spaces without fear of intimidation or harassment. Long-term solutions require coordinated policing strategies and clear operational policies that protect both public safety and fundamental freedoms.
At a time when antisemitism is increasingly normalized in some public discourse, municipalities have a responsibility to demonstrate clear leadership against hate and ensure staff and frontline personnel understand how antisemitism manifests in modern contexts.
Residents deserve confidence that municipal spaces and programs will not be used to promote hatred, intimidation, or exclusion, and that city institutions respond consistently and transparently when incidents occur.
School board trustees play a critical role as the elected representatives responsible for overseeing their respective school board and ensuring that schools remain safe, inclusive, and accountable to the communities they serve.
Find out who is eligible to vote, how to vote and how you can support candidates in Ontario municipal council and school board elections.
CJPAC is here to help community members get engaged in Canadian politics.
Let us know how the conversation went. And if you have comments or questions about the municipal election, tell us here.