This Week in Canadian Jewish Advocacy, February 25, 2024
This week, we worked with a national media outlet to help spread the message of growing levels of antisemitism since October 7, and we are working with the government to help victims of hate crime sue civilly for damages.
Read on to learn more.
CIJA
CIJA President and CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel, and Nico Slobinsky, CIJA Vice President, Pacific Region, were among many representatives of Canada’s Jewish community who spoke with Global News National for an investigative report, based on documents, interviews, and figures compiled from police forces, demonstrating the dramatic surge of antisemitism across Canada that followed the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
In addition to three news segments that aired throughout the week and three long-form investigative articles, Global News also produced an unprecedented 30-minute prime time special about antisemitism rising in Canada since October 7, which aired on Saturday night.
We are grateful to Global News for shining a light on this insidious hate that endangers all Canadians.
- Investigation: The antisemitism that Oct. 7 unleashed in Canada
- The hunt for Canada’s last Nazis
- Government threat report warns about attacks in Canada inspired by Hamas-Israel conflict
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Trailer: The New Reality – Rising Hate: Antisemitism in Canada
- Pt 1 |Antisemitism victims speak out amid surge of cases in Canada: ‘It’s just hatred’
- Pt 2 | Antisemitic hate crimes in Canada going unchecked
- Pt 3 | ‘I found a lot of them’: Inside the hunt for Canada’s last Nazis
As part of our work combating antisemitism, CIJA has been advocating that victims who suffer emotional distress as a result of hate crimes should be able to sue perpetrators for damages.
To this end, CIJA deputed at Queen's Park before the Standing Committee on Justice Policy studying Bill 157, Enhancing Access to Justice Act, to support amendments to the Victims' Bill of Rights that would make it easier for individual victims of hate crime – regardless of whether they suffered bodily harm from those crimes – to hold perpetrators accountable in civil court.
As the Bill moves to third reading, CIJA will continue to push to ensure that victims of antisemitic hate crime are included in the list of victims who are presumed to have suffered emotional distress so that the very real consequences of hate are recognized by the courts.
Community Calendar
Communities are gathering in cities across Canada in support of the people and land of Israel. Find an event near you.
April 22-30 | Passover
CIJA in the News
Investigation: The antisemitism that Oct. 7 unleashed in Canada (Global News)
Antisemitic hate crimes in Canada going unchecked (Global News National)
Free Press coming under criticism for supposed “anti-Israel” bias (Jewish Post and News)
Conservative MP pushes for study on campus antisemitism (True North)
Hamilton MPP calls PM's protest condemnation 'bonkers' (The Hamilton Spectator)
Federal funding supported U of A conference with pro-Hamas speakers (The Jim Bakker Show)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators block Bronfman Building at McGill University (Montreal Gazette)
Terry Glavin: Canada is losing the fight against foreign interference (National Post)
Community Careers
National senior professional, External Affairs - CIJA - The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
Associate Director, University Relations and Public Education | Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA
CEO, Ottawa Soloway Jewish Community Centre
Community Engagement Specialist | Jewish Federation of Ottawa
Associate Director, Community Security (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver)
Director of Grants and Allocations (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA)
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