Michael Higgins: Carney Liberals grudgingly admit antisemitism is a problem

Bullet holes are seen in the stained-glass windows at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ont., following an attack on the eve of Yom Kippur, Sept. 20, that left the shooter dead and a police officer critically injured. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk / Postmedia

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The Carney Liberals are to be commended on finally taking concrete action to tackle the scourge of antisemitism, but as recent fatal and terrifying events have shown, the lateness of their initiative has allowed the ancient hatred to flourish.  

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We must also wait to see if the new tools will be adequate for police who will have the difficult job of enforcing the law.  

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The federal government recently released a progress report on its National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism. In its introduction, the report makes clear just how deeply entrenched antisemitism is in Canada. 

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“Safety is not theoretical; it is reflected in whether a child can wear a kippah to school without fear, openly express their Jewish identity, whether families feel comfortable attending synagogue, and whether community institutions can operate openly and securely,” says the report. 

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“Antisemitic incidents continue to occur in schools, workplaces, places of worship, community institutions, public spaces, and online environments. Communities have reported harassment, intimidation, threats, vandalism, discrimination, hate speech, and violence. Many have expressed concern not only about the frequency of these incidents, but also about whether institutions consistently recognize and respond to antisemitism when it occurs.” 

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It has been a long haul, but the government is finally clear-eyed about the dangers of antisemitism, the links to extremism and how it undermines the security of our nation. 

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“The Government of Canada recognizes that antisemitism can be a matter of national security. Beyond the very real and immediate threat to Jewish individuals and communities, antisemitism is a core component of many violent extremist ideologies. Antisemitism is both an indicator and an accelerator of radicalization and its spread — as history shows — and it is not just a threat to public safety but to social cohesion and democratic values.  

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“The normalization of hate directed at Jewish-Canadians, and violence directed at Jewish community institutions, undermines Canadian security and resilience, creating an environment where no vulnerable minority is safe,” reads the report. 

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Actions undertaken include: educating governments, police services, prosecutors, and community organizations in antisemitism awareness; training thousands of police to recognize antisemitic incidents; special hate crime training for prosecutors; Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon have all made Holocaust education compulsory in schools and RCMP and police are receiving training on identifying antisemitism and recognizing hate symbols.