Carney says ‘more work to do’ on behalf of Jewish Canadians on Oct. 7 anniversary

OTTAWA – On the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel, Prime Minister Mark Carney said “there is more work to do” to make Jewish Canadians feel safe and thrive in Canada.

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“The government has been taking actions at home to protect the Jewish community, protect all Canadians, but particularly the Jewish community,” said Carney, on his way into a caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday.

“And it’s above and beyond protection, it’s about the ability to truly thrive, live their lives freely and openly, and thrive as Jewish people in Canada,” he added.

The prime minister outlined measures his government has taken, including anti-hate legislation and $75 million through the Canada Community Security Fund, to protect Jewish community centres, synagogues and day schools.

Carney noted that protection has become necessary, given the recent gunman attack against the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., which was thwarted by Belleville police. One of the police officers, Const. Jeff Smith, is recovering from his injuries and the suspect died from his injuries sustained in the shootout. The attack took place on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.

“There’s more work to do,” said Carney. “This is a job for all Canadians to ensure that all Canadians can live freely and openly in our society.”

Israelis gathered on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the deadliest attack in its history, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 people taken hostage by the Hamas terrorist group.

The ensuing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, with the Israeli military controlling over half of the Gaza strip, following a tentative ceasefire announced last fall.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the Jewish Canadian community has experienced the consequences of the war here in Canada.

“The hatred that fuelled October 7th did not remain on foreign shores,” said Poilievre. “Right here in Canada, far too many synagogues, Jewish businesses and institutions have been the targets of harassment and hate.”

“This is not, and cannot become, normal,” added Poilievre. “Conservatives will always fight against antisemitism and all forms of hatred: protecting our schools, communities and places of worship so that Canadians of all faiths can live in peace and security.”

According to data from Statistics Canada, police-reported hate crimes against Jewish Canadians jumped from 492 in 2021, to 788 in 2025. The number of incidents were higher in 2023 and 2024, at 959 and 943 incidents respectively.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has noted that despite Jewish Canadians representing just one per cent of the population, they were the target of 71 per cent of religion-motivated hate crimes in 2025.

More to come.

National Post

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