Prime Minister Mark Carney is not serious about antisemitism, and neither is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), according to a scathing critique by Terry Newman. In a speech delivered on Monday at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Carney suggested that the surge in antisemitism experienced by the Canadian Jewish community can be attributed to differences in a pluralistic society, generating friction due to competing claims that can be debated legitimately. Newman argues that this framing trivializes the severity of the threat.
CBC's selective coverage
The CBC did not broadcast Carney's full speech, depriving Canadians of the opportunity to judge it for themselves. Instead, the public broadcaster offered an article containing three short clips, each under four minutes, from a speech that lasted over 26 minutes. One of these clips was from the CBC's own TV news story on the event, which was buried deep in the National's lineup, behind stories about artificial intelligence and an unfavorable court ruling for U.S. President Donald Trump. Newman contends that this demonstrates how little the CBC cares about antisemitism.
The council's controversial members
Carney's proposed solution to rising antisemitism is a new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, chaired by Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller. Newman points out that the council includes individuals with histories tied to groups and causes widely viewed as hostile to Jews or supportive of designated terrorist organizations, yet the CBC failed to inform Canadians of this.
Voices from the Jewish community
Holy Blossom Temple's Chief Rabbi Yael Splansky, who was unable to attend in person due to her father's surgery in the United States, pre-recorded a video thanking Carney for his presence. She outlined the fears of the Jewish community, stating, "We are listening carefully for your clear commitment to confront antisemitism wherever it festers," and emphasized that antisemitism "is not a Jewish problem" and that "only government can govern."
Local Liberal MP Leslie Church spoke about bringing her daughter to a synagogue and her confusion over why it requires police security when her church does not. Liberal MP Evan Solomon, whose family has deep ties to the congregation, reiterated that Jewish Canadians have been facing "a level of antisemitism that is unacceptable, it's frightening and it's dangerous." None of these speeches were broadcast by the CBC.
Carney's proposed council
The prime minister stated that the advisory council will "co-ordinate a whole-of-federal-government approach to antisemitism," ensuring that "federal policies, workplaces, public safety programs and community initiatives are aligned in protecting Jewish-Canadians, confronting hate and promoting inclusion." Newman, however, remains skeptical, arguing that both Carney and the CBC have failed to take the issue seriously.
