Thirty-two Liberal Party members of parliament issued a statement on Sunday, decrying rising levels of antisemitism in Canada and diplomatically reminding Prime Minister Mark Carney to implement criminal code changes, but some Canadian Jewish groups were skeptical of the call to action.
With Jews being little more than 1% of Canada’s population but victims of 70% of all reported religious-motivated crimes, the MPs said that the situation demanded a “call to action for all Canadians, all levels of government, law enforcement, schools, public institutions, and places of work.”
“Jewish Canadians – like all Canadians – have a fundamental right to feel safe in Canada. Regrettably, right now, there is a deep sense of unease, fear, and unsafety among many Jewish Canadians across Canada,” the MPs said.
“We are committed to keeping all Canadians safe. This includes the Jewish community that has contributed so much to building the vibrant country we have today. Jews should be able to live their lives safely with their Jewish identity proudly known, on the streets, at work, at community gatherings, in schools, and on campuses.”
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon, MP Anthony Housefather, MP Rachel Bendayan, and the other Liberal politicians noted that parliamentarians had previously established what actions needed to be taken to address the post-October 7-massacre wave of anti-Israel and antisemitic attacks.
In December, the Canadian Parliament issued recommendations in a Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, suggesting better antisemitism data collection, stronger campus codes of conduct, and proposals for greater adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism.
The letter also noted the March National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism, in which political and law enforcement leaders promised to strengthen laws and invest in police training.
The MPs reminded Carney of the campaign promises he had made during the 2025 Canadian federal elections to introduce new legislation addressing some of the concerns raised in the forum and report.
The MPs reminded Carney of the campaign promises he had made during the 2025 Canadian federal elections to introduce new legislation addressing some of the concerns raised in the forum and report.
“We stand firmly behind the prime minister’s commitment to quickly bring forward changes to the criminal code this fall to prevent unlawful fear and intimidation outside places of worship, school, and community centers,” they said.
While Israeli ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed praised the letter in a Monday social media post, some Jewish Canadian groups were skeptical.
Bnai Brith Canada said on X/Twitter that the letter was appreciated but came “too little, too late.”
“The time for rhetoric and condemnation has long passed. Jews are being attacked in the streets. What we need are actions that move the needle, and we need them now. What will it take for the government to act?” the Jewish group demanded.
Bnai Brith Canada and Honest Reporting Canada noted that the vast majority of Liberal MPs didn’t sign the letter condemning antisemitism. Bnai Brith Canada questioned why more of the government caucus hadn’t supported the call to action, as “fighting antisemitism shouldn’t be a controversial issue.”
The letter came in response to the Wednesday stabbing of a senior Jewish woman at an Ottawa grocery store, allegedly by a man who posted antisemitic rants on social media. The MPs said that three years ago, such an incident would have been shocking, but antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites and citizens had become normalized.
Joseph Cornwall allegedly stabbed the 70-year-old woman, who was not a prior acquaintance, in what the Ottawa Police Service said Friday was being investigated as a hate crime. The 71-year-old Cornwall resident, who was charged Thursday for aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon, allegedly posted rants on Facebook in which he declared himself “antisemitic and atheist” and detailed his hatred for Judaism as “the world’s oldest cult.”
Carney responded to the incident on Friday, describing the “senseless” attack as “deeply disturbing.”
“To Canada’s Jewish community: you are not alone,” the prime minister said on X. “We stand with you against hate and threats to your safety, and we will act to confront antisemitism wherever it appears.”
MK Sharren Haskel, who was born in Canada, said in a Tuesday video that the Ottawa stabbing demonstrated the brazen and violent nature of antisemitism in Canada.
While Haskel said her thoughts and prayers were with the victim and her family, she explained that well-wishes were no longer enough and the Canadian government had to take substantial action to stamp out antisemitism.
"This is not the Canada we know and love," said Haskel.
According to Haskel, Canada should focus on the domestic issue of antisemitism, rather than "foreign policy fantasies" like recognizing a Palestinian state.