New Report Gives Failing Grades to Canadian Universities Over Antisemitism Response

A new B’nai Brith Canada report has given failing or near-failing grades to four major Canadian universities over their handling of antisemitism and the climate facing Jewish students.

The pilot Canadian Campus Climate Report Card examined McGill University, York University, the University of Toronto and Queen’s University. McGill and York received overall grades of F, while Toronto and Queen’s received D grades.

B’nai Brith assessed the universities using 28 criteria divided into three categories: administrative policies and actions, campus conduct and climate, and Jewish campus life. The organization reviewed university policies and services alongside responses from Jewish students.

The report found a sharp contrast between the strength of Jewish life on the campuses and the broader environment surrounding Jewish students.

McGill, York and the University of Toronto all received red ratings for campus conduct and climate. Queen’s also received a red rating in that category. The assessments cited concerns involving antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents, student organizations, student governments, faculty activity and campus protests.

At the same time, all four universities received green ratings for Jewish life on campus. B’nai Brith highlighted resources including Hillel and Chabad organizations, Jewish studies programs, religious services, pro-Israel student groups and, at several campuses, access to kosher food.

McGill received the most concerning assessment. B’nai Brith gave the university red ratings for both administrative policies and campus climate, while noting that McGill maintains a substantial Jewish academic and religious community. The report also cited an ongoing class action alleging that the university failed to address antisemitic and anti-Zionist conduct after October 7 adequately.

York received a similar F grade. The report acknowledged that the university has formal human rights and religious accommodation policies, as well as rules governing protests. Still, it said participating students did not consistently view its reporting mechanisms and responses to antisemitism as clear or effective.

The University of Toronto and Queen’s received D grades. Both were praised for significant Jewish communal infrastructure, while the report raised concerns about their campus environments and aspects of their institutional responses.

“The goal isn’t simply to hand out grades,” B’nai Brith Canada CEO Simon Wolle said. “It is to give students, parents and the community a clearer picture of what is happening on campus.”

B’nai Brith stressed that the initial report is a pilot study and relies partly on a small sample of Jewish students. The organization said that survey findings should not be treated as statistically representative of the entire student body at each university. It plans to expand the project to additional Canadian campuses and track whether institutions improve their policies and responses over time.