An edited transcript of Dec. 2 remarks by Shimon Fogel, chief executive officer of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, to the Senate standing committee on human rights.

Bringing testimony before this august committee brings me no joy, nor can elegant words disguise the ugly reality that confronts not only Jewish Canadians but in a fundamental way, all Canadians. Forgive the candour of my remarks.

There is a crisis of Jew hatred in this country. Antisemitism (is) emanating from the extreme right, the radical left and, to be truthful, from segments of the Muslim and Arab communities; a bitter irony, given that they too experience discrimination and hate.

The Prime Minister called the recent rise of antisemitism terrifying, and he’s right. The statistics are staggering. Since October 7, (2023) there has been a 93 per cent rise in hate crimes in Toronto, the majority directed at the Jewish community. In Vancouver, reports of antisemitism increased 62 per cent in 2023 over 2022; 70 percent occurred subsequent to October 7.

In Ottawa, the overall number of hate-related incidents rose nearly 20 per cent in 2023. While Jews comprise about 1.4 per cent of the population, incidents affecting the Jewish community in Ottawa comprise 27 per cent of reported hate-related incidents in 2023.

We recently learned two young people charged with terrorism offences earlier this year were planning to set bombs at a Jewish event here on Parliament Hill. Our former minister of justice and human rights activist, Irwin Cotler, required 24/7 RCMP protection (because) of terrorist assassination plots by alleged Iranian agents for his outspoken criticisms of that regime.

Jewish schools in Montreal (have been) shot at, and bomb threats targeted Jewish schools in Toronto. Synagogues across the country were picketed and vandalized; demonstrations (took) place in Jewish neighbourhoods (solely to) intimidate residents; Jewish-owned businesses are defaced, damaged, boycotted and vandalized.

In our streets, we hear glorification of terrorism and violence. On Parliament Hill, the very heart of Canada’s democracy, on April 18, we heard praise for the October 7 attack by Hamas and its affiliates that murdered 1,200 people in Israel. 

The authorities (have been) so passive the only solution the community could turn to for relief was the courts, where they sought injunctions to protect our institutions, an extraordinary recourse. These injunctions were granted and extended twice. (They) were necessary because of the failure of civil authorities. 

The situation on campus for Jewish students is especially disturbing. We see hate symbols such as swastikas defacing campus property; kippah-wearing students are spat on and called “dirty Jew”; Mezuzot, the holy Jewish scripture parchment housed in the distinctive cases affixed to door posts, are being torn down in residences; discriminatory remarks in lectures claiming Jews harvest the organs or blood of non-Jews; and even bare-faced threats of violence against Jewish students at the threat of detainment and arrest. 

We’ve heard numerous instances where Jewish students and faculty were advised to stay home rather than address the root cause. Student unions and educators on Ontario campuses have made statements supporting and celebrating violence and discrimination. We’ve witnessed campus protests disguised as legitimate forms of political activism only to morph into riots while spreading hateful and violent rhetoric directed towards Jews. 

Academic freedom and freedom of expression are pillars of our values as a country and as a society, both on and off campus. But when lines are crossed and policies are not enforced, it shakes the trust of our community.

Words are not enough. We’ve had enough of those. We need action from government. 

It is urgent that the government convene an international forum on combating hate crimes, terrorism and antisemitism to coordinate efforts and ensure consistent application not just of anti-hate legislation, but of the law in general to protect vulnerable and at-risk communities.

We have to strengthen enforcement of Canada’s criminal laws. We have to ensure charges, including for criminal intimidation, unlawful assembly and hate propaganda, are laid against those promoting violence or inciting hate against Jews. 

We have to bolster community safety programs by establishing dedicated liaisons within law enforcement, creating specialized hate crime units and improving intelligence sharing to address rising threats.

Finally, we have to address radicalization and extremism, including banning terrorist symbols and cracking down on those glorifying terrorism, which emboldens extremists and undermines Canadian security.

The time for action is now. I close where I opened: This is not only about Jews. We’re the low-hanging fruit, the proverbial canary in the coal mine. As the saying goes, what starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews.