Open Letter to the Prime Minister: Strengthen Support for Community Security

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

We are writing to you on behalf of Jewish Federations across Canada, along with other organizations that make up the fabric of our communities throughout the country.

The latest warning by Canada’s Integrated Threat Assessment Centre that a violent extremist attack remains a realistic possibility underscores the seriousness of the threats our community members are facing. For families sending their children to school, for people coming to pray, for parents sending their children to camp this summer, and for those who rely on our community institutions every day, this is the environment they are navigating.

The government’s recent announcement of an emergency investment to enhance Jewish community security is a welcome and important step forward. Nevertheless, security demands are escalating at an unprecedented rate. Canadian Jewish communities estimate annual security costs will reach 100 million CAD.

Funds needed for basic safety of our people are being diverted from education, social services, childcare, and other core programs. Rising security demands are forcing cuts and scaling back services, placing a growing strain on the future of Jewish life across the country.

As your party rightly said during the last election campaign, “increased security costs amidst rising antisemitism should not be borne by the Jewish community alone.” However, Canada’s per-capita investment in Jewish community security remains one-third that of the United Kingdom and one-quarter that of Australia. We are therefore calling on the Government of Canada to take meaningful action to ensure that Jewish institutions can remain open and safe for the people who rely on them every day.

We urge you to act decisively in the Spring Economic Statement to significantly increase the Canada Community Security Program, match the funding levels of our peer countries at a per capita level, accelerate reforms to cut red tape and make the program more accessible. This essential program provides life-saving security equipment and measures to safeguard our people. We cannot afford to wait for a mass-casualty attack before taking urgent action to safeguard Canadians.

Sincerely,

Noah Shack, CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
Adam Minsky, President and CEO, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto
Yair Szlak, President and CEO, Federation CJA (Montreal)
Ezra Shanken, CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver
Yoram Abisror, Executive Director, Atlantic Jewish Council
Rob Nagus, CEO, Calgary Jewish Federation
Stacey Leavitt-Wright, CEO, Jewish Federation of Edmonton
Dean Lavi, Executive Director, Jewish London
Adam Silver, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Ottawa
Marion Zeller, Executive Director, Windsor Jewish Federation
Jeff Lieberman, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg

Supporting Jewish Institutions: 

Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Congregation
Allied Voices for Israel
Associated Hebrew Schools of Toronto
Association of Jewish Day Schools.(AJDS)
Baron de Hirsch - Back River Cemeteries Inc
Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue
Beth Jacob Synagogue
Beth Shalom Synagogue
Beth Torah
Beth Torah Congregation
Beth Zion Congregation
Bnei Akiva Schools
Bialik Hebrew Day School
Camp B'nai Brith Inc
Camp B'nai B'rith Society
Camp Kinneret-Biluim
Camp Massad of Manitoba
Camp Northland-B'nai Brith
Camp Shalom
Camp Wahanowin
Camp Walden Canada
Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University
Canadian Friends of Hebrew University
Canadian Young Judaea
Centre for Judaism of the Fraser Valley
Canadian Friends Of The Hebrew University
Canadian Women Against Antisemitism (CWAA)
Chabad de l'Université de Montréal
Congregation Or Hahayim
Congregation Beth El
Congregation Beth Israel
Congregation Darchei Noam
Congregation Dorshei Emet
Congregation Or Hahayim
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Congregation Shomrim Laboker Beth Yehuda Shaare Tefilah Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Tifereth Israel
Corporation of Spanish and Portuguese Jews, Shearith Israel of Montreal
CPE Maïmonide Côte Saint-Luc
Cummings Centre
Eitz Chaim
Gaining Resources Our Way Inc. (GROW)
Gray Academy of Jewish Education
Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre
Har El, The North Shore Centre for Jewish Life
Har Tikvah Congregation of Brampton
Hebrew Day School
Hebrew Foundation School
Herzelia Synagogue
Hillel Atlantic Canada
Hillel Montreal
Hillel Ontario
Hillel Ottawa
Holy Blossom Temple
JCC of Greater Vancouver
JCF Montreal
Jewish Family Services
Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada
Jewish Child and Family Service (Winnipeg)
Jewish Public Library
Joe Dwek Ohr HaEmet Sephardic School
JPPS Children's Center
JPPS-BIALIK
Kayla's Children Centre
King David High School
Louis Brier Home and Hospital
Montreal Holocaust Museum
Montreal Torah Center
Netivot HaTorah
Ometz
Prosserman JCC and The Shwartz/ Reisman Centre
Rady JCC
Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre
Solel synagogue
StandWithUs Canada
Sylvan Adams YMYWHA
TanenbaumCHAT
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom
Temple Shalom
Temple Sholom
The Canadian Society for Yad Vashem
The Jewish Museum Archives of BC
The Joe Deek Ohr HaEmet Sephardic School
Tikva Housing
Toronto Board of Rabbis
University of Manitoba
URJ Camp George
Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre
Zera Café