Canada Ramps Up Fight Against Antisemitism Amid Surge in Hate Crimes

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has launched a federal advisory council to combat antisemitism as hate crimes against Jewish communities surge. Tasked with addressing various forms of hate, the council aims to improve data collection and bolster public safety. The initiative follows increased attacks on Jewish institutions post-2023 Israel-Gaza conflict.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a new federal advisory council on Monday to tackle antisemitism. He noted that hate crimes have surged to unprecedented levels, signaling a failure to protect Jewish Canadians.

Carney emphasized that of the 1,342 reported religion-based hate crimes in 2024, about 70% targeted Jews, who comprise only 1% of Canada's population. The Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion, led by Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller, has been established to address this crisis.

The advisory council will focus on reassessing the drivers of antisemitism, improving data collection, and evaluating the effectiveness of education, prevention, and safety measures. This initiative comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents following last year's Israel-Hamas conflict, which included attacks on Jewish schools and synagogues.