Standing Up for Canadian Values and Jewish Safety
B’nai Brith Canada, the country’s oldest Jewish advocacy organization, is taking a courageous stand against extremism and hate. This week, B’nai Brith formally called on the International Centre in Mississauga to cancel its hosting of the upcoming MAC Convention 2025, an event that threatens to undermine the safety and dignity of Jewish Canadians and the core values of Canadian society itself.
The reason is clear and urgent: the MAC Convention’s roster includes individuals who have openly glorified terrorism, praised the October 7 Hamas massacre, and endorsed deeply discriminatory ideologies. Some speakers have even signed declarations calling for the criminalization of homosexuality and the denial of equal rights for women and men. Others have praised hostage-taking or held leadership roles in organizations listed as terrorist entities.
No Excuse for Hate: A Call to Action
“There is no excuse for providing a platform to extremism,” B’nai Brith Canada’s letter states. “The International Centre must cancel this event.” For the Jewish community and for all Canadians who believe in democracy, equality, and peace, this is not just a matter of policy, but of principle.
Allowing such voices to speak in the heart of Mississauga sends a dangerous message: that hate, violence, and the celebration of terror can find a home in Canada. This is unacceptable. Jewish Canadians, who have seen a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7, deserve to feel safe in their own country. Zionism, the affirmation of the Jewish people’s right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, Israel, is not a crime, and defending it should never make anyone a target.
Protecting the Community, Defending Democracy
The Jewish community is not alone in this fight. Allies from all backgrounds are joining the call for the International Centre to do the right thing and refuse a platform to those who glorify Hamas and promote hate. Canadian values demand nothing less.
B’nai Brith’s action is a reminder that silence in the face of extremism is not neutrality; it is complicity. Jewish Canadians, proud of their heritage and their unwavering connection to Israel, will not stand by while hate is given a microphone.
A Message of Hope and Unity
In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to stand together against hate. B’nai Brith Canada’s leadership is an example of the Jewish community’s resilience, courage, and commitment to building a better, safer, and more inclusive Canada for all.