Jewish in Canada Faces Growing Antisemitism Under Trudeau

The prevalence of antisemitism in Canada has reached alarming levels, with the country’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau facing severe criticism for his perceived support of anti-Israel activists and his alleged abandonment of the Jewish state.

Preliminary statistics on outbreaks of antisemitism indicate a significant surge in hatred towards Jews in Canada, with the full data set expected to be released in the summer. A recent report from the Toronto police, dated March 18, revealed that out of the 84 registered hate crimes in 2024, a staggering 56% of them were motivated by antisemitism. It is important to note that Jews constitute only approximately 1.4% of the country’s population.

Talking about Jewish Faces Growing Antisemitism, in February, Toronto witnessed the highest number of antisemitic incidents recorded in the past three years, further highlighting the concerning trend.

In November, a synagogue and Jewish center in Montreal were targeted with firebombs, while two Jewish schools in the same city faced gunfire in a separate incident. Additionally, a suspected arson attack occurred in January at a Jewish-owned grocery store in Toronto, where the antisemitic slogan “Free Palestine” was found graffitied on the rear doors. Disturbingly, acts of violence against Jews have been reported across various regions in Canada.

Over 20,000 individuals gathered at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario to attend Canada’s Rally for The Jewish People. The event, organized by UJA (United Jewish Appeal), aims to support and improve the Jewish community’s quality of life in Greater Toronto, Canada, Israel, and globally through philanthropic efforts, volunteer work, and professional leadership. Additionally, the rally serves as a demonstration of solidarity with Israel, a fight against antisemitism, and a call for the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

Richard Marceau, Vice President of External Affairs and General Counsel at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Canada, expressed his concerns regarding the Jewish community’s current situation. He emphasized that the community has been facing unprecedented levels of antisemitism, including firebombings of synagogues, community centers, and Jewish-owned businesses, as well as shootings, bomb scares, harassment, and intimidation.

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Marceau stressed that antisemitism is not solely a Jewish problem and called for collective action against this toxic hate. He urged governments to establish safe access zones around Jewish institutions, implement online hate legislation, and for law enforcement to protect Jewish community members and institutions. Marceau also highlighted the importance of schools and businesses addressing antisemitism promptly when it arises.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto synagogue hosting ‘Israeli Real Estate Event’ in Thornhill, north of Toronto, Ontario on March 7, 2024.

When approached by Fox News Digital about the criticism that Canada has failed to combat antisemitism and contributed to the rise in the world’s oldest hatred by stopping arm sales to Israel during its existential war against Hamas, Laurent de Casanove, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Trudeau said, “Our government is taking very seriously the rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate.”

He continued, “We have put forward a number of key measures, from holding the first-ever national summit on antisemitism to making historic investments in combating racism and hate. We invested an initial $5.6 million (Canadian dollars) for the creation of the office of a special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism to push back against religious discrimination, hateful rhetoric, and racism at home and abroad.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to local supporters of the Liberal Party at a private fundraising event held at the Edmonton Convention Center in Edmonton, Canada on August 26, 2023. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Version 1: Trudeau’s representative also mentioned that last autumn, Ms. Deborah Lyons, a well-regarded diplomat with 25 years of experience, was appointed as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. She will lead efforts both domestically and internationally, with continued financial support of $1.2 million.

Furthermore, in January, a ‘Building Community Resilience’ initiative was launched to empower communities through events that promote connections, unity, and resilience. Currently, efforts are underway to introduce Canada’s inaugural Action Plan on Combating Hate in the near future.

People gather to stage a demonstration for Palestinians in Ottawa, Canada, on November 25, 2023. (Photo by Kadri Mohammmed/Anadolu via Getty Images)

De Casanove declined to answer questions about Trudeau pulling the plug on arms sales to Israel and whether anti-Zionism, the view that Israel should be abolished, is an expression of modern antisemitism.

Casey Babb, who teaches courses on terrorism and international security at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs in Ottawa, told Fox News Digital, “Antisemitism in Canada is as bad as it’s been in three-quarters of a century, and what’s been fueling these successive waves of antisemitism over the last number of years — long before October 7 — is anti-Zionism.”

He continued, “While it is well-known that Jew-hatred comes from a variety of ideological backgrounds, it is most acute in Canada within the country’s Arab population and the far-left, which is precisely why decision makers here have done so little to address it: They’d rather Jews feel vulnerable and unsafe than offend groups of people which are either off-limits politically or who represent potential votes. Because of this — because there is no political or social will to address these things — we’ve seen a sort of Hamasification of Canadian society.”

Babb said that “we’ve seen pro-Palestinian protesters call for the erasure of Jews from Israel, and we have groups like Samidoun, a registered Canadian not-for-profit with a direct link to a listed terrorist entity, operate with impunity here. Frankly, it’s hard to describe the moral decay we’re seeing here.”

The German government outlawed the pro-Palestinian NGO Samidoun after the Hamas massacre on October 7 of 1,200 people in southern Israel because of claims that the group aids Palestinian terrorists.

Babb said that “decision makers in Canada have signaled to Hamas, other terrorist organizers, and the countless thousands of supports and sympathizers they have in this country, that not only does terrorism work — but that Israel isn’t allowed to win a war — a war which was forced upon them in the most sadistic manner possible. From calling for a ceasefire almost immediately after Israel started making gains, to funding UNRWA again despite its perverse terrorism problem, to pulling arms sales to Israel when they need it most, the elite in Canada have made it clear which side they’re on.”

UNRWA is an acronym for the scandal-plagued United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Israel accused UNRWA employees of participating in the October 7 massacre. The United States government suspended funding to UNRWA after pumping $1 billion into the agency since 2021.

Emily Schrader, an Israeli-American human rights activist who campaigns for Jewish faces growing antisemitism, told Fox News Digital, “I’m alarmed and appalled by the sharp rise in blatant Jewish that faces growing antisemitism in Canada.

This is the byproduct of weak government policies that refuse to defend the liberal values that make Canada a freedom-loving and human rights-respecting democracy. For years, Canada has allowed foreign interference and the unchecked immigration of individuals associated with terrorist groups like the IRGC, and they have used the very values of liberal democracy to undermine it.”

Schrader added, “Trudeau’s publicity stunt catering to these radicals by stopping arms sales to Israel, as well as his support for UNRWA, emboldens the supporters of terrorist organizations and gives a green light to continue this campaign and fight for Jewish that faces growing antisemitism throughout Canada as well. Combating extremism requires deterrence — Trudeau is instead rewarding them and their thuggish bullying tactics.