Ottawa City Council has unanimously endorsed B’nai Brith Canada’s campaign to ban the public display of Nazi symbols, including the Hakenkreuz, from Canadian public spaces. Councillors voted in favour of the motion on April 16, 2025, following presentations by B’nai Brith Canada and community advocates.
Council Endorsement
College Ward Councillor Laine Johnson moved the motion, which was seconded by Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. The vote was 24 in favour, none opposed, and establishes Ottawa as the latest municipality to demand federal legislation outlawing Third‑Reich iconography.
Councillor Johnson, who represents Ottawa’s largest Jewish community, stated: “I am proud to have Ottawa City Council join the national call for federal legislation banning these symbols of hate and genocide… It’s time to push back against those who callously display these symbols in attempts to instill fear and intimidation.”
Motion Details
The text of Motion 24.5 directs the City Clerk to write formal letters to:
- Prime Minister Mark Carney
- Justice Minister Arif Virani
- Ottawa‑area Members of Parliament
—urging them to introduce federal legislation prohibiting the public display of the Nazi hooked cross (Hakenkreuz) and related symbols, with narrow exemptions for education, art and historical research.
The motion notes that at least 18 countries, ranging from Germany and France to Australia and Israel, already criminalize such displays, underscoring Canada’s lag in enacting similar protections.
National Momentum
Ottawa joins a growing list of jurisdictions:
- Saskatchewan, the first province to endorse the ban in March 2025.
- Durham Region, which passed a supporting resolution on February 26, citing the swastika’s use to “promote hate and instill fear.”
- Clarington, where the council backed B’nai Brith’s call on April 12.
- Town of Collingwood, which formally urged federal action in late February.
B’nai Brith Canada reports over 10,000 petition signatures and applauds the cross‑jurisdictional consensus against unchecked hate symbols.
Community Reaction
Richard Robertson, Director of Research and Advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, praised the motion:
“There is no place for the Hakenkreuz and other symbols of the Third Reich in our public sphere. They are symbols of evil and representative of the worst of humanity.”
Local Jewish leaders echoed the call for swift federal action. UJA Federation warned that “casual displays of Nazi imagery” create fear among Jewish residents and must be met with the full force of law enforcement and criminal sanctions.
Next Steps
The City Clerk will immediately dispatch letters to federal leaders, and Ottawa’s motion will be submitted to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for national consideration. Advocates urge other municipalities and provinces to follow Ottawa’s lead, arguing that only comprehensive federal legislation can close the loophole allowing these hate symbols to appear unchecked on Canadian streets