Government of Canada hosts National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism

OTTAWA, ON, March 6, 2025 /CNW/ - Antisemitism is unacceptable and has no place in Canada. We must stand united against hatred in all its forms by actively addressing antisemitism through accountability, education, and solidarity – using all tools and laws available, and examining their effectiveness. No community should live in fear because of their identity.

Today, the Honourable Rachel Bendayan, Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety, and the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, met with provincial, territorial and municipal leadership, law enforcement, prosecutors, and members of the Jewish community at the National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism in Ottawa, to address the growing public safety threat posed by antisemitism.

The Forum provided a platform to identify challenges and develop strategies to effectively combat antisemitism while strengthening collective action. 

At the conclusion of the Forum, representatives of federal, provincial and municipal governments and law enforcement agencies from across Canada endorsed a Statement of Intent. They reaffirmed their commitment to address hate crimes that target the Jewish community through strengthened law enforcement and prosecution efforts. Together, they pledged to uphold the rights and safety of everyone in Canada, strengthen trust in our justice systems, and build a nation where hate and discrimination have no place.

In addition, today, the Government of Canada committed to the following:

1. Working collaboratively with provinces and territories and other partners to develop comprehensive National Action Commitments to combat antisemitism. This work will involve representatives of each level of government and include not only elected representatives, but also public officials from relevant departments.
   
   
2. Up to $10 million in immediate new funding to support grassroots organizations and work done on the ground to help address all forms of hate, including antisemitism. This funding, delivered through the Community Resilience Fund (CRF), will promote greater collaboration across sectors to identify and address warning signs at earlier stages, and building capacity of frontline staff in various sectors, including municipal government services, to better address hate and violent extremism.
   
   
3. Investing $26.8 million over four years to support police colleges to provide training on all hate crimes to provincial and municipal police forces and exploring ways to accelerate implementation of this work.
   
   
4. Greater transparency in tracking the progress of our collective efforts in addressing the public safety threat of antisemitism. Advancing this shared responsibility by having ongoing engagements with various partners through existing fora (e.g., Federal, provincial and territorial senior level working groups) and releasing a public report on progress on a semi-annual basis.
   
   
5. Working with Statistics Canada to better recognize and report on the existence of hate crimes, to improve data consistency and awareness in order to help everyone to better understand the extent of hate crimes in Canada, including acts of antisemitism. This involves training for police to ensure that antisemitism and acts of hatred are identified. The training, which includes an examination of antisemitism specifically, is available to all police services across Canada. The Government of Canada is committing to further this training and to further evaluating and refining data standards and training material to ensure it is meeting the intended purpose.
   
   
6. Recognizing the Jewish community's dedication to building and maintaining its own security networks, the Government of Canada is committing to working in partnership with these community-led efforts to build and maintain their own security networks to enhance security and improve the safety of all members of the community.
   
   
7. In consultation with provinces and territories, examining potential amendments to the Criminal Code to strengthen tools for law enforcement and prosecutors to address hate crimes, including those motivated by antisemitism, in the following major areas:
   •    access to religious and cultural buildings;
   •    extreme forms of hate speech;
   •    display of terror symbols; and
   •    Impediments to the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.
   
   
8. Working with provinces and territories to share promising practices in provincial/territorial legislation and other approaches that address hate-related conduct, including conduct motivated by antisemitism.
   
   
9. Working with provinces and territories to identify ways to improve the criminal justice system responses to hate crimes, including those motivated by antisemitism. This could include training as well as developing resources to support successful investigations and prosecutions.
   
   
10. Delivering $1.4 million in new funding for 7 new initiatives through the National Holocaust Remembrance Program. These projects will not only promote Holocaust education and awareness, but will also play a key role in actively combatting antisemitism across Canada.
    
    
11. Ensuring that transfer payments are designed, delivered and managed with integrity, accountability and transparency, and that recipients of government funding respect the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
    
    
12. Working with partners across all orders of government to increase awareness of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition and all elements contained within the Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.

The Government's commitment to combating hate and supporting communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes includes the following investments:

• Over $18 million in funding under the CRF committed in the past year to implement 15 projects that are enhancing Canada's capacity to prevent and respond to violent extremism, including forms involving antisemitism. These efforts are directing at-risk individuals away from violent extremism, supporting early prevention in schools and community settings, and expanding knowledge on violent extremist movements online and offline. Since its launch in 2017, the CRF has provided more than $73 million in funding to 81 projects.
  
  
• Providing financial support to organizations at risk of hate-motivated crimes to enhance security measures at their gathering places, which includes almost $1 million to support 13 Jewish organizations under the new Canada Community Security Program launched in 2024.

Quote(s)

"Today's Forum is about taking action to stem the rising tide of antisemitism in Canada. Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their own communities – that is why we are taking concrete steps, convening all levels of government, law enforcement partners, and civil society to combat hate crimes more effectively. No one should have to live in fear because of who they are."

- The Honourable Rachel Bendayan, Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety

"The troubling rise in hate crimes and antisemitism is a stark reminder that we must continue to take action. Through today's National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism, we are taking another step together in combatting hate so that all people in Canada can be safe and secure in their places of worship, their homes and their communities."

- The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety

"It takes leadership at all levels of society to stop antisemitism. We must stand against it, whenever and wherever it emerges. The safety and social cohesion of our communities depend on it. I am grateful for today's conversations, the opportunity to listen and examine where we can improve our efforts as governments, and as a society. This Forum will spur action."

- The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Quick Facts

• As defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
  
  
• Statistics Canada reported a surge in hate crimes motivated by religion that have increased by almost 200% since 2014. From 2022 to 2023, there has been a 67% increase in hate crimes motivated by religion. Also, from 2022 to 2023, there has been a 71% increase in hate crimes targeting the Jewish population.
  
  
• The Criminal Code specifically addresses the criminal act of antisemitism in section 319 with prohibitions on the public incitement of hatred, the willful promotion of hatred, and the willful promotion of antisemitism. Section 319 defines antisemitic statements to include "words spoken or written or recorded electronically or electro-magnetically or otherwise, and gestures, signs or other visible representations."

Associated Links

Anti-hate initiatives

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/nt-ht/index-en.aspx
https://www.securitepublique.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/nt-ht/index-fr.aspx

National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/nt-ht/ntnl-frm-cmbttng-ntsmtsm/index-en.aspx
https://www.securitepublique.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/nt-ht/ntnl-frm-cmbttng-ntsmtsm/index-fr.aspx

Statement of Intent

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/nt-ht/ntnl-frm-cmbttng-ntsmtsm/stmnt-ntnt-en.aspx
https://www.securitepublique.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/nt-ht/ntnl-frm-cmbttng-ntsmtsm/stmnt-ntnt-fr.aspx

• Canada's Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism - Canada.ca
• Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism
• Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate - Canada.ca
• National Crime Prevention Strategy
• Canada's National Hate Crimes Task Force
• International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
• Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism
• Funding initiatives for Holocaust public awareness efforts

Stay connected

Follow Public Safety Canada on X, LinkedIn and YouTube
Follow Don't Drive High on Facebook and Instagram

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Contacts: Malia Chenaoui, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Rachel Bendayan, Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety, [email protected], Alice Hansen, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety, [email protected]; Anna Lisa Lowenstein, Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, 343-575-8501, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected]; Media Relations, Department of Justice Canada, 613-957-4207, [email protected]