Anti-Semitism | Canada must act

The recent controversies around the toxic words of rapper Ye and the federal subsidies granted to Laith Marouf illustrated, if need be, the persistence of anti-Semitism. Year after year, Statistics Canada^⁠1 tells us that Jews are the religious group most targeted by hate crimes.

Richard Marceau
A former member of Parliament, the author is Vice President, External Relations and General Counsel at the Center for Israel and Jewish Relations Advisory (CIJA)

Anti-Semitism is not just a collection of statistics. It has an impact on our neighbours, our friends, our family. Last year, Montreal saw a veritable wave of death threats and assaults against Jewish Montrealers, confirmed by the Montreal City Police Department. This anti-Semitism is present from sea to sea. And it is unfortunately no longer confined to far right, far left and Islamist circles. It is spreading in all spheres of society.

This increase is observed across the world. In the United States, for example, the venerable and highly respected organization Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a 34% increase in anti-Semitic events over the previous year. In France, where the issue of anti-Semitism is most worrying, in 2021 there was an increase of nearly 75% in anti-Semitic acts compared to 2020, including a 36% increase in physical violence.

Summit never is now At New York

This is the reason why I will participate as a speaker at the summit never is now² in New York, organized by the ADL, representing the Canadian Jewish community there.

In 2021, never is now^⁠ brought together 11,000 participants from 60 countries. A similar number of participants is expected this year.

In addition to myself, FBI Director Christopher Wray, US elected officials, representatives of Jewish communities from around the world, academics, students, experts and others will discuss the scope of the problem and possible solutions. possible.

Possible solutions for Canada

Canada can tackle this scourge right here at home.

First, it should develop an effective strategy against online hate. This strategy should include a regulator independent of government, a definition of hate based on Supreme Court jurisprudence and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism, and mandate greater transparency of digital platforms.

Canada should then increase resources for judges, Crown prosecutors and the police, including training them.

Guidelines should be developed to guide Attorneys General in exercising the consent required to prosecute under sections 318 and 319(2) of the Criminal Code.

Canada should create hate crimes units in every major Canadian city whose members are experts on hate.

And the government should complement the existing Security Infrastructure Program with an initiative — inspired by the Community Security Trust in the UK — giving communities the ability to deter threats and take some of the responsibility for protecting its institutions and users.

Finally, education is key to understanding and combating hate. This is true not only in our schools. The authorities can do better in this area.

Anti-Semitism has often been called the “oldest hatred”. More than 75 years after the Holocaust, hatred of Jews is still very present. It is up to all of us to fight it.