Parliamentary Committee Notes: Antisemitism
Issue
Rise in Antisemitism Across Canada
Proposed Response
- The Government of Canada takes the issue of hate against Jewish communities with the utmost seriousness. Antisemitism, and hate in any form are unacceptable and have no place in this country.
- Over the last three years, the Government has taken a number of actions to combat hate and antisemitism in Canada, including: the renewal of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy; the appointment of Canada’s second Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism; and the appointment of a first Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism who is advising the Prime Minister and ministers on the development and co-ordination of the Government of Canada’s work to combat antisemitism.
- The Canada Community Security Program (CCSP), which was announced on September 24, 2024, is an important way that the Government of Canada helps communities at risk of hate-motivated crime. Through this program, the government provides funding to eligible not-for-profit community centers, places of worship, provincially and territorially recognized educational institutions at risk of hate-motivated crimes, shelters for victims of gender-based violence, office and administrative spaces, cemeteries, and child care centres.
- The CCSP is part of Canada’s first ever action plan on combatting hate. For this, Budget 2024 announced $273.6 million over six years, and $29.3 million in permanent funding. This money will support community outreach and law enforcement reform, tackle the rise in hate crimes, enhance community security, increase the Government’s understanding of radicalized to violence, and enhance support for victims.
- With regards to legislative actions, Bill C-63, which was introduced by the Government in February 2024, seeks to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to create a standalone hate crime offence applying to any offence in the Criminal Code or any other Act of Parliament, where the underlying act was motivated by hate, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The new offence would make the charging and prosecution of hate crimes easier to track nationwide. The Act would also create a new peace bond to help prevent and deter hate crimes and hate propaganda offences from being committed; and, increase the maximum punishments for hate propaganda offences.
- The proliferation of terrorist and violent extremist content (TVEC) and disinformation online has worsened social polarization and extremism. The recent Israel-Hamas conflict has amplified this trend, with a surge in violent, graphic, and antisemitic material circulating on social media.
- Public Safety also helps combating antisemitism by leading the Government’s efforts to counter radicalization to violence. In addition to providing policy guidance, the Canada Centre supports prevention efforts and interventions across the country through its Community Resilience Fund.
- The Canada Center has also intensified engagement with key stakeholders in response to domestic extremism and social polarization, particularly in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict. For example, they met with university presidents to address social and community safety on campuses, and a Deputy Ministers’ Small Group on Community Safety and Social Cohesion, co-chaired with Canadian Heritage, convenes 15 departments to strengthen whole-of-government efforts.
- Since October 2023, Public Safety Canada has, in cooperation with portfolio partners, led seven engagement sessions with Jewish community representatives. At these meetings, portfolio partners provided updates on the national security and law enforcement landscape, heard concerns about community safety and answered questions.
- The Government of Canada is working closely with law enforcement, provinces and territories, to support the safety and security of all communities. We are also working collaboratively with partners, such as the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, as well as the RCMP and CRRF’s joint Task Force on Hate Crimes, to increase awareness of the scope, nature and impact of hate crimes across Canada.
- In addition, the Government of Canada has listed the following organizations as Terrorist Entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (June 18, 2024); Samidoun (October 15, 2024); and, Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis (December 2, 2024).
- This government stands firm in its belief that hatred, violence and intolerance directed towards those of diverse faiths and social groups is wrong. These acts will not be tolerated in Canada. These are not just words – the government is taking firm and concrete action to combat antisemitism.
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