Canada launches anti-antisemitism council as hate crimes against Jews surge: PM Carney

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday announced the creation of a new federal advisory council to tackle antisemitism, saying a sharp rise in hate crimes against Jewish Canadians reflects a broader failure to ensure their safety.

Speaking at a synagogue in Toronto, Carney said antisemitism in Canada had reached levels not seen since the end of the Second World War.

Government data shows that of the 1,342 religion-based hate crimes reported across Canada in 2024, nearly 70 per cent targeted the Jewish community, despite Jews accounting for roughly 1 per cent of the country’s population.

To address the issue, Carney unveiled the Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion, which will focus on combating antisemitism as well as other forms of hate. The council will be chaired by Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller.

“The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, it’s severe, and it demands a targeted response,” Carney said.

He said the council had been tasked with reassessing the causes and nature of antisemitism in Canada, improving the collection of data on hate-related incidents, and evaluating the effectiveness of government spending on education, prevention programmes and community safety initiatives.

The rise in antisemitic incidents has accelerated since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. In his remarks, Carney pointed to a series of troubling incidents, including shootings at Jewish schools, firebomb attacks on synagogues, and assaults targeting Jewish-owned businesses and community centres.

Carney also highlighted a series of legislative measures introduced by his government to strengthen public safety and counter hate crimes. Among them is a bill that would enhance protections for places of worship, schools and community centres, while formally designating hate-motivated crimes as a specific offence. The legislation cleared the House of Commons in March 2026 and is currently under consideration in the Senate.

In addition, the government committed C$75 million in April to improve security at religious institutions, including synagogues and Jewish day schools. More than C$36 million was also allocated last year to programmes aimed at preventing violent extremism and strengthening community resilience.