Canada’s Prime Minister Declares National Crisis of Antisemitism, Launches Advisory Council

On June 2, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney told worshippers at Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple that Canada is “failing Jewish Canadians” and that antisemitism has risen to post-World-War II levels. He announced the Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, chaired by Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller, to study antisemitism’s nature, scale and drivers, improve data collection, and evaluate education, prevention and community-safety measures.

YnetNews

Government data show 1,342 religion-motivated hate crimes were reported in 2024, with roughly 70 % targeting Jewish Canadians, a community that makes up about 1 % of the population. The surge follows a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents worldwide after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the ensuing Gaza conflict.

YnetNews

The government pledged C$75 million (US $54 million) for security upgrades and personnel at faith-based sites and allocated over C$36 million last year for violent-extremism projects. Six public-safety measures include a bill to strengthen protections for worship places, schools and community centres and to make hate-motivated crime a specific offence. The bill passed the House of Commons in March 2026 and now awaits Senate approval. Carney stressed the measures “are not curtailments of freedom of expression” and do not limit legitimate criticism of any government.

YnetNews

Noah Shack, chief executive of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, warned that the government must do more to reinforce community security and combat hate. Some observers argue that the funding, while significant, may be insufficient to address threats to Jewish schools, synagogues, businesses and students on university campuses.

YnetNews

“The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, it's severe, and it demands a targeted response,” — Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

The Jerusalem Post

“It pains me that we had to commit $75 million to this, any dollar to this,” — Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

CNN

“They are not curtailments of freedom of expression. They are not constraints on legitimate criticism of any government on any subject anywhere.” — Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

YnetNews

“Canada finally said the quiet part out loud.” — Harley Finkelstein, President, Shopify

YnetNews

All sources agree on the 70 % figure and the pending Senate vote, but the final outcome of the hate-crime legislation remains uncertain. The completeness of hate-crime reporting is not addressed, leaving potential data gaps.

The Jerusalem Post

The advisory council will begin its assessment in the coming months, and the Senate’s decision on the hate-crime bill will determine whether the proposed protections become law. Ongoing monitoring of antisemitic incidents and possible additional funding are expected as the government addresses the crisis.

The Jerusalem Post