PM Carney outlines federal antisemitism strategy

Prime Minister Mark Carney is laying out the federal government's plan to combat antisemitism and hate in Canada, responding to a sharp spike in incidents that has alarmed Jewish communities and advocacy groups.

Carney will give remarks in Toronto today, but the timing and scale of the announcement signal how seriously Ottawa is taking the crisis. Jewish advocacy group B'nai Brith recorded 6,800 antisemitic incidents in 2025 — the highest number since 1982. The surge follows the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent bombing campaign in Gaza, which triggered widespread protests and, advocates say, normalized hatred against Jewish Canadians.

Last month, Toronto police responded to a shooting where three visibly Jewish community members were targeted with an imitation firearm. It's one of many violent incidents that have prompted warnings from Jewish organizations that security and police response are inadequate.

Noah Shack with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said the government must do more. "Government and law enforcement must address the drivers of this crisis, including radicalization, promotion of terrorism, and terrorist entities operating here in Canada," Shack said in a statement Sunday. "The Prime Minister has an opportunity to set the tone from the highest office to make clear that nothing can justify the hatred, intimidation, and violence Jewish Canadians are experiencing."

Ottawa residents, particularly those in the federal workforce and the broader Jewish community, will be watching for concrete measures — not just rhetoric — to follow.