As Ontario legislators reconvene at Queen’s Park, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) demands immediate action to protect the province’s Jewish community amid a surge in targeted antisemitic violence.
Escalating Antisemitic Incidents
Michelle Stock, CIJA vice president, emphasizes that Jewish families should not fear attending synagogue, sending children to school, or gathering publicly. “Ontario cannot allow a situation where Jewish families question whether it is safe to attend synagogue, send their children to school, or gather as a community,” she states. “Addressing these issues is not optional — it is a fundamental responsibility of government.”
Stock recognizes prior efforts by Premier Doug Ford’s administration but stresses the urgency following recent attacks, described as “some of the most heinous attacks on the Jewish community yet.” In early March, shortly after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, gunfire struck Temple Emanu-El in North York in a targeted incident. Within a week, synagogues Beth Avraham Yoseph in Thornhill and Shaarei Shomayim in North York also faced gunfire. Jewish-owned businesses and the U.S. consulate suffered similar attacks around the same time.
Last weekend, anti-Israel protesters in North York at Bathurst and Sheppard displayed signs dehumanizing Jews, including a Star of David covered in rats, inciting hate. Toronto Police launched an investigation, while CIJA, B’nai Brith, and UJA Federation urged arrests and contacted the police chief.
Heightened Threat Environment
An internal Integrated Threat Assessment Centre report highlights a “heightened violent extremism threat environment” for Jewish Canadians linked to Middle East tensions. “What we have seen is deeply alarming and part of a broader pattern of escalating antisemitism that has left many Jewish families questioning their safety,” Stock adds.
Government Commitments and Next Steps
Ford and his caucus have pledged opposition to antisemitism, enhanced police coordination, and increased patrols in Jewish neighborhoods, though no new funding or policies have been announced. The government sought to halt Toronto’s annual Al Quds Day anti-Israel protest, but a judge rejected the bid.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner vows to introduce legislation restricting protests near “key infrastructure,” including synagogues and places of worship. “We will move forward and faster with deliverables to make sure that the message across our great province and our country is one of unity, that an attack on the Jewish community is not just an attack on the Jewish community, it is an attack on Canada,” he declares during a news conference with Jewish leaders.
Kerzner recently met Ambassador Rabbi Kaploun, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy against antisemitism, discussing proactive global protections for Jewish communities.
CIJA’s Key Priorities
CIJA expects these promises to yield results in three areas: bolstering security at Jewish facilities, enforcing hate crime laws promptly, and ensuring schools remain safe and inclusive. “Jewish Ontarians are taxpayers, citizens, and full participants in the life of this province. Like every other community, they expect their government to do its job: uphold the law, protect public safety, and ensure that no one is targeted because of who they are,” Stock concludes.
