Michael Higgins: Carney Liberals grudgingly admit antisemitism is a problem

The Carney Liberals are to be commended on finally taking concrete action to tackle the scourge of antisemitism, but as recent fatal and terrifying events have shown, the lateness of their initiative has allowed the ancient hatred to flourish.  

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We must also wait to see if the new tools will be adequate for police who will have the difficult job of enforcing the law.  

The federal government recently released a progress report on its National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism. In its introduction, the report makes clear just how deeply entrenched antisemitism is in Canada. 

Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings.

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“Safety is not theoretical; it is reflected in whether a child can wear a kippah to school without fear, openly express their Jewish identity, whether families feel comfortable attending synagogue, and whether community institutions can operate openly and securely,” says the report. 

“Antisemitic incidents continue to occur in schools, workplaces, places of worship, community institutions, public spaces, and online environments. Communities have reported harassment, intimidation, threats, vandalism, discrimination, hate speech, and violence. Many have expressed concern not only about the frequency of these incidents, but also about whether institutions consistently recognize and respond to antisemitism when it occurs.” 

It has been a long haul, but the government is finally clear-eyed about the dangers of antisemitism, the links to extremism and how it undermines the security of our nation. 

“The Government of Canada recognizes that antisemitism can be a matter of national security. Beyond the very real and immediate threat to Jewish individuals and communities, antisemitism is a core component of many violent extremist ideologies. Antisemitism is both an indicator and an accelerator of radicalization and its spread — as history shows — and it is not just a threat to public safety but to social cohesion and democratic values.  

“The normalization of hate directed at Jewish-Canadians, and violence directed at Jewish community institutions, undermines Canadian security and resilience, creating an environment where no vulnerable minority is safe,” reads the report. 

Actions undertaken include: educating governments, police services, prosecutors, and community organizations in antisemitism awareness; training thousands of police to recognize antisemitic incidents; special hate crime training for prosecutors; Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon have all made Holocaust education compulsory in schools and RCMP and police are receiving training on identifying antisemitism and recognizing hate symbols. 

The government has passed The Combatting Hate Act (Bill C-9) to tackle hate and intimidation, but as recent events have shown it is not going to be easy to enforce the law. 

Neil Herland, a veteran CBC journalist and national newsreader, posted a video on X of protesters outside a synagogue service on Yom Kippur in Toronto last week. Herland said he felt intimidated and was taunted by protesters as he entered the event. 

Bill C-9 makes it an offence to intimidate “a person in order to impede them from accessing certain places that are primarily used for religious worship.” Punishment can be up to ten years in jail. 

But the protesters would probably claim that the synagogue service was being held at a public building, the Meriden Arts Centre, and they were demonstrating against a guest speaker, Mark Regev, a former senior advisor to the Israeli prime minister and a diplomat. 

It will be up to police to determine whether demonstrators are exercising their legitimate right to political protest. But should Herland really have had to endure going through a baying mob to get to worship on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar? 

A day before Herland’s fraught encounter, the full, lethal ferocity of antisemitism was on display outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ont. 

Sean Ward, 29, an ex-Canadian Forces soldier, opened fire on police Const. Jeff Smith who was guarding the building because congregants had safety concerns after previously seeing a suspicious vehicle. 

Ward died in hospital following an exchange of fire that left Const. Smith seriously injured. 

Reports later indicated that Ward had espoused antisemitic conspiracy theories including blaming the Jewish community for COVID. 

The murderous attack was the latest in a string of shootings, firebombings and vandalism at synagogues, schools and Jewish buildings since Hamas slaughtered 1,200 people on Oct. 7. 

In 2024, B’nai Brith Canada recorded that antisemitic incidents had reached “perilous, record-setting heights.” But then came 2025 and new historic highs with the advocacy group warning that “Canada is in the throes of a national crisis of antisemitism.” 

It was, unfortunately, a trend that the federal government ignored for too long. The normalization of Jew hatred will not be wiped out with legislation and training police and prosecutors on the evils of antisemitism, it has become too embedded in society. 

The government’s commitment to eradicating antisemitism, and its action so far, are laudable. But Prime Minister Mark Carney and his ministers should use every opportunity to denounce antisemitism whenever and wherever it occurs. It must be made clear that antisemitism is a curse that hurts Canada. And the police and the courts must enforce the law. 

In its progress report, the government boasts that last year Leslie Bory was found guilty of wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide in videos where he glorified Hitler, denied the Holocaust and spread antisemitism theories. The Crown wanted seven years jail time, the judge gave him time served (about two years). 

Such leniency will not help in the fight against antisemitism. 

National Post

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