On October 7, 2023, Canada saw a notable rise in anti-Semitism following violent events in Israel, leading to a staggering total of 920 hate crimes against Jewish individuals reported last year. This alarming trend has reignited discussions about Holocaust remembrance, and earlier this month, Deborah Lyons, Canada’s envoy for combating anti-Semitism, announced her resignation, citing fatigue from daily battles against growing hate.
Lyons, who shared her struggles with the , expressed disappointment over the silence and reluctance to speak up about these critical issues on Canadian soil. She reflected on her own experiences of facing hostility and cruel words during her tenure.
The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Task Force reported a worldwide increase in anti-Semitism in its inaugural global report, which, quite frankly, raises several eyebrows. Irwin Kotler, a former Canadian justice minister and previous special envoy, noted that the current situation is marked by a troubling “explosion” of Jewish-targeted crimes, coupled with a lack of adequate condemnation from the authorities.
According to the statistics, although Jews make up less than 1% of Canada’s population, they represented nearly 19% of reported hate crimes in 2024. Of 1,342 instances of religiously motivated attacks, 920—about 68.5%—were aimed at the Jewish community.
Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy at B’nai Brith Canada, reported a striking 124% increase in anti-Semitism since Lyons assumed her role. He mentioned that, despite some positive governmental initiatives, they haven’t effectively curbed this rising wave of hatred, leading to understandable exhaustion and discouragement for Lyons.
In discussions about her contributions, both Kotler and Robertson acknowledged achievements like the introduction of the IHRA Handbook on the Definition of Anti-Semitism. This resource is currently being utilized internationally to train various levels of law enforcement and public officials. Lyons also played a pivotal role in organizing a national forum to address the increasing threats against the Jewish community.
Noah Shack, CEO of the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, pointed out the need for adequate legal actions from public agencies during anti-Semitic protests. He emphasized that public agencies need to actively push back against hate. Shack outlined three urgent measures to help ameliorate the circumstances, including establishing safety zones around gathering places within the Jewish community and boosting security programs to protect these locations.
Moreover, Shack warned that the ongoing efforts to distinguish anti-Zionism from anti-Semitism are fundamentally flawed. He insisted that both he and his community deserve the same respect and rights as any other Canadian citizens, regardless of their incidental differences with Israeli government policies.
