OTTAWA – Multiple Jewish community leaders and organizations told the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights that antisemitism in Canada has risen to crisis levels and requires an urgent, coordinated federal response.
Bโnai Brith Canada told the committee that its 2024 Annual Audit recorded 6,219 antisemitic incidents nationwide, the highest total since monitoring began. The organization said Parliament must formally recognize a national crisis and marshal government resources to protect Jewish Canadians.
Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy for Bโnai Brith Canada, told senators that Canada is experiencing unprecedented levels of antisemitism and urged concrete federal steps, including funding, legislation, and education measures.
Bโnai Brith presented three central recommendations to senators. First, Parliament should formally declare that Canada is in a crisis of antisemitism. Second, the federal government must adopt a whole-of-government approach rather than a piecemeal response. Third, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism should be taught to youth so they can recognize and confront contemporary forms of antisemitism before they become normalized in schools and on campuses.
Stacey Leavitt-Wright, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, told the committee that antisemitism has shifted from episodic incidents to a persistent social problem. She said Canada has normalized antisemitism and made public spaces unsafe for Jews, including children.
Senators heard testimony from other Jewish organizations and educators who described rising verbal abuse, vandalism, threats, and protest activity that they say target Jewish students, institutions, and neighborhoods. Witnesses emphasized the cumulative effect of incidents on community safety and civic life.
Bโnai Brith and allied witnesses urged practical steps for Ottawa. These included targeted funding for community security, a federal strategy to counter online hate, support for school and campus programs that build literacy about antisemitism, and cooperation with provincial education authorities to integrate IHRA guidance into curricula.
The federal government has acknowledged a rise in antisemitic incidents and the need to protect Jewish communities. Canadaโs Special Envoy for Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism and other federal officials have issued statements recognizing the scale of the challenge and the need for sustained action.
Legal and policy experts who appeared before the committee warned senators that effective responses must balance protections for free expression with enforcement against hate speech and violence. They recommended clear thresholds for intervention, standardized incident reporting, and support for local authorities to investigate threats quickly.
For pro-Israel and Jewish community audiences, witnesses framed the debate as urgent and practical. They urged Parliament to adopt a clear statement of official concern, to resource Jewish schools and synagogues for enhanced security, and to ensure that Canadaโs definitions and educational practices equip youth to discern antisemitic rhetoric from legitimate political debate.
Senators did not announce immediate legislative measures at the hearing. The committee will compile testimony and may recommend federal action based on its findings. Jewish leaders say they will press Parliament to move quickly to adopt the steps proposed in testimony.
This article is based on verified information from the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights witness list and proceedings, Bโnai Brith Canadaโs 2024 Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents and subsequent policy submission, the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, the Government of Canada public statements on antisemitism, and related reporting.