Canada’s Prime Minister: "We Have Failed to Protect the Country’s Jews"

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged that his country is not properly protecting the Jewish community, against the backdrop of a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the country. According to him, the scope of the phenomenon has reached levels not seen since World War II.

In a speech he delivered this week at Holy Blossom synagogue in Toronto, Carney described antisemitism in Canada as a "serious crisis" that requires focused action. "Canada’s civic fabric is failing to protect the country’s Jews," he declared. He stressed that his government is committed to taking meaningful steps to address the phenomenon.

According to data from the Canadian government, in 2024, 1,342 religiously motivated hate crimes were reported; nearly 70% of them targeted Jews, even though they make up only about 1% of the country’s population.

As part of the effort to combat the phenomenon, Carney announced the creation of a new government council for rights, equality, and inclusion, which will examine the causes behind the rise in antisemitism and other forms of hatred and racism. Among its goals: improving data collection on hate incidents, formulating a uniform government policy, and evaluating the effectiveness of projects in education, prevention, and community security.

In his speech, Carney mentioned a series of antisemitic incidents that have taken place in Canada in recent years, including gunfire directed at Jewish educational institutions, Molotov cocktails thrown at synagogues, damage to community centers, and attacks against Jewish-owned businesses. He noted that since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in Canada, similar to the trend seen in other Western countries.

The Canadian prime minister also presented a series of government measures in the area of public safety. Among them is advancing legislation that would strengthen protection for houses of worship, schools, and community centers, and allow for tougher penalties for offenses committed out of hate. The bill has already passed the House of Commons and is now in the legislative process in the Senate.

In addition, Carney mentioned the government’s commitment to allocate 75 million Canadian dollars to strengthen security at religious institutions, including synagogues and Jewish schools. The funds are intended to improve security infrastructure, train staff, and expand guard arrangements.