Eighty prominent non-Jewish Canadians have signed an open letter condemning antisemitism, published Saturday in the National Post and other Postmedia papers. The letter, described as an overdue step in the right direction by an editorial, calls for a constant and consistent enforcement of Canada's anti-hate laws.
Signatories Include Harper, Tory, and Corporate Leaders
Among the signatories are former prime minister Stephen Harper, former Toronto mayor John Tory, and senior executives from Postmedia, Telus, National Bank, Sunlife Financial, Rogers Communications, and Scotiabank, as well as University of Toronto academics. The ad hoc, non-partisan group of business and community leaders states: "We ask our colleagues to join us in condemning any act of antisemitism in this country. We are issuing an urgent call for respect and to safeguard the equality of all Canadians. Hate and intolerance have no place in Canada’s workplaces, public spaces, anywhere."
Context of Rising Antisemitism Since Oct. 7, 2023
The letter follows a surge in antisemitic incidents after Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Canada’s Jewish community, which represents just 1% of the population, has felt largely alone in fighting this hatred. Deborah Lyons, appointed as Canada’s Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism shortly after Oct. 7, resigned in frustration last July, three months before her term ended. She told the Canadian Jewish News she was exhausted from "waking up every day to a fight" to get business, religious, and political leaders to stand with the Jewish community, leaving her "despondent and despairing." She noted that governments "found it easier to hold summits to fight carjackings and tariffs – yet could not cooperate when it came to combatting hate."
Letter Quotes Carney but Criticizes Lack of Action
The letter quotes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s June 1 speech at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, where he said: "It requires all of us to raise our voices in disgust and defiance when we see the ugly face of antisemitism." However, many Jewish leaders criticized the speech for lacking new specific measures to address antisemitism. The editorial notes the irony, given that the letter calls for enforcement of anti-hate laws that many Canadians feel has been lacking since Oct. 7, 2023.
