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Fighting Antisemitism Through Education and Public Leadership
Municipal leaders help shape the tone of civic life. Public statements, council resolutions, staff training, and institutional policies all influence whether residents feel included, protected, and respected within their communities.
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.
Recommendations
We therefore recommend that all candidates, if elected, commit to:
- Formally endorsing and operationally applying the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism within municipal government and municipal agencies.
- Providing antisemitism training for city staff, by-law officers, library staff, recreation staff, and other frontline municipal employees.
- Ensuring municipal policies and frameworks align with the Ontario Human Rights Code and do not undermine established understandings of antisemitism.
- Supporting council resolutions or public statements affirming that antisemitism and all forms of hate have no place in the municipality.
- Supporting ongoing public education and awareness initiatives related to antisemitism, hate incidents, and community safety.
Questions for Candidates
- How should municipalities define, identify, and respond to antisemitism and other forms of hate?
- Do you support your municipality adopting the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism with regards to municipal policies and training?
- How would you ensure municipal policies, programs, and decision-making processes promote inclusion and effectively address antisemitism and other forms of discrimination?