Report
Executive Summary
Antisemitism in Canada has risen sharply in recent years, as demonstrated in hate crime statistics and the lived experiences of Jews across the country. These experiences are traumatic in themselves, while often reopening deep wounds rooted in the collective memory of the Holocaust and other historical forms of oppression.
This pernicious form of hate has existed throughout Canada’s history, from exclusionary immigration policies and formal professional restrictions in the past, to contemporary forms of hate on Canadian streets, communities and online, often driven by conspiracy theories and disinformation campaigns from around the world.
In the 1960s, a special committee on hate propaganda recognized the then relatively small and uncoordinated dissemination of hateful materials as a clear and present danger to the functioning of a democratic society. In response, Parliament enacted criminal prohibitions on hate propaganda that remain in place to this day.
While these prohibitions remain a critical guardrail against rising hate, the means by which hatred is spread has evolved, and Canada faces new challenges that demand new solutions.
The committee believes that hate cannot simply be legislated away and that education is the main tool to combat hate. General awareness-raising for Canadians and educating Canada’s youth about past and present forms of antisemitism are essential to our social cohesion.
Online spaces are saturated with hate and misinformation that fuel radicalization. Antisemitism in these spaces ranges from shockingly explicit hate material to insidious and subtle forms of manipulation. These flawed media and information systems are pervasive, and too often play a critical role in shaping the minds of young people.
At the same time, the committee heard that antisemitism is growing in various workplaces, with many witnesses highlighting medical professions and academia with particular concern. While Jewish communities share commonalities, they are not all the same, and antisemitism is experienced differently by different people, including based on how antisemitism intersects with other forms of prejudice, such as sexism.
Antisemitism remains a clear and present danger to Canada’s free and democratic society. As several witnesses noted, historically antisemitism has often served as the prelude to other forms of hate. The committee is keenly aware of the similarities between antisemitism, sexism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate, as well as the ways in which individuals can face intersectional discrimination.[1] These prejudices undermine the social fabric of our democracy. Moreover, the possibility that these divisions can be amplified and exploited by foreign adversaries is a threat that Canada must take seriously.
In this context, as outlined in the recommendations of the report, the Government of Canada must take immediate action to confront antisemitism by establishing a federal task force, reinstating the position of a Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, establishing a Digital Safety Commission, developing and coordinating initiatives for critical community safety infrastructure and security needs of targeted communities and events. The committee also calls for the Government of Canada to promote education and training programs, strengthen its criminal laws relating to hate and to work with provinces, territories and educational partners to strengthen education relating to democratic citizenship.
[1] Refer to previous work of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights, such as the following reports: Anti-Black Racism, Sexism and Systemic Discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Commission, 44th Parliament, 1st Session, December 2023; Combatting Hate: Islamophobia and its impact on Muslims in Canada, 44th Parliament, 1st Session, November 2023. Note that these were adopted by the committee as it existed in the First session of the Forty-fourth Parliament.
Recommendations
The committee’s recommendations have been arranged here in thematic order, which does not necessarily reflect order of priority.
Recommendation 1
That the Prime Minister reinstate the position of a Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, and, under paragraph 127.1 (1)(c) of the Public Service Employment Act, appoint the Special Envoy with a mandate to advise the Government of Canada on policy, education initiatives, and international cooperation relating to antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance.
Recommendation 2
That the newly proposed Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion include a focus on antisemitism in its mandate and composition; that it be required to report annually to both Houses of Parliament on its activities and outcomes; and that a representative from the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights be included as a member of the Advisory Council.
Recommendation 3
That the Government of Canada continue to review government policies, programs, training, appointments and funding, ensuring they are free of antisemitism and consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and to promote safe and inclusive workplaces across the federal public service.
Recommendation 4
That the Government of Canada work with civil society organizations, educational institutions, and professional bodies to develop evidence-training programs and resources that improve understanding of both historical and contemporary antisemitism in Canada and appropriately resource and equip institutions to respond effectively to incidents of hate.
Recommendation 5
That the Government of Canada work with all federal institutions and federally regulated sectors to ensure that clear and transparent mechanisms exist for reporting and addressing hate, bias, and antisemitic incidents. These mechanisms should include safeguards against reprisals and should provide individuals with confidence that all complaints will be investigated fairly and promptly.
Recommendation 6
That the Government of Canada support improved research and disaggregated data collection relating to hate, bias, and antisemitism in Canada, including the monitoring of trends across sectors such as education, workplaces, and digital platforms.
Recommendation 7
That the Government of Canada increase funding to the Canada Community Security Program and streamline requests and approval procedures for critical community safety infrastructure and security needs of targeted communities and events.
Recommendation 8
That the Government of Canada close the loophole regarding the charitable and non-profit status of organisations when they are listed as terrorist entities by immediately reviewing their activities in Canada and retracting their statuses.
Recommendation 9
That the Government of Canada immediately establish an interdepartmental task force to address antisemitism. The task force, among other initiatives as it may determine, shall:
- Determine the nature and impact on antisemitism in Canada;
- address foreign interference,
- address misinformation and disinformation affecting Canadian institutions, particularly in federally regulated sectors;
- create a framework of initiatives to combat antisemitism in Canada;
- coordinate data collection, policy development, enforcement, and operational responses, particularly in relation to the recommendations of this report;
- improve cooperation among federal institutions responsible for public safety and social cohesion;
- identify methods of tracking and measuring the success and failures of each initiative; and
- report annually to Parliament on progress and emerging trends.
The task force should include representatives from Public Safety Canada, Canadian Heritage, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, including the Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Justice Canada, and Canada Revenue Agency. The task force should collaborate with provincial and territorial counterparts as well as municipal police agencies and specialized hate crime units.
Recommendation 10
That the Government of Canada develop and support digital literacy and social media education initiatives, including model materials and funding for programs, that help young Canadians recognize misinformation, disinformation, radicalization, extremist narratives, and online hate.
Recommendation 11
That the Government of Canada collaborate with provincial and territorial governments and community stakeholders to develop a national public awareness campaign aimed at improving understanding of hate and antisemitism as well as reinforcing democratic values of pluralism, equality, and mutual respect.
Recommendation 12
That the Government of Canada work with provincial and territorial ministers of education to strengthen Holocaust education and antisemitism awareness across Canada, including professional development for teachers and the development of evidence-informed curriculum resources. Such efforts should also encourage broader historical literacy regarding racism and discrimination in Canada, including the histories and experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, residential schools, and anti-Black racism.
Recommendation 13
That the Government of Canada work with provinces, territories, and educational partners to strengthen preservice and in-service education relating to hate, bias, and antisemitism, the Holocaust, and democratic citizenship. This work should include enhanced teacher training, access to educational resources, and support for initiatives that promote historical understanding, literacy, and critical thinking.
Recommendation 14
That the Government of Canada support professional development for educators and administrators at primary, secondary and post-secondary levels. This work should include improved capacity to identify and respond to hate, bias, and antisemitic incidents, greater understanding of historical and contemporary antisemitism, and support for respectful discussion of contentious geopolitical issues consistent with democratic values and Charter protections.
Recommendation 15
That the Government of Canada, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the lead, work with provincial and territorial governments to establish and effectively resource specialized hate crime units in all major cities and regions across Canada, with a focus on education, community outreach, investigation, disaggregated data collection, information sharing, prosecution, and deradicalization efforts.
Recommendation 16
That the Government of Canada support evidence-informed training initiatives for police, prosecutors, and other justice-sector actors at all three levels of government to improve their ability to identify and respond to hate and bias motivated crimes, including antisemitic offences.
Recommendation 17
That the Government of Canada encourage municipalities, provinces and territories to consider narrowly tailored “safe access” or “bubble zone” measures where appropriate to protect access to certain religious institutions, places of worship, and community spaces (such as libraries, recreational facilities, and hospitals) while respecting the Charter-protected freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly.
Recommendation 18
That, in a manner consistent with Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Government of Canada review legislative options to address the display of symbols associated with hate groups, such as Nazi and White supremacist symbols, when used with the intent of willfully promoting hatred against identifiable groups.
Recommendation 19
That the Government of Canada examine legislative measures to address intimidation and obstruction that interferes with access to community spaces associated with identifiable groups, including religious institutions, schools, and cultural centres, while ensuring consistency with constitutional protections.
Recommendation 20
That the Government of Canada review existing Criminal Code provisions relating to hate propaganda and hate-motivated offences, with particular regard to Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence, in order to ensure that the law clearly addresses conduct that promotes the intense and extreme detestation and vilification of identifiable groups.
Recommendation 21
That the Government of Canada introduce legislation to establish a Digital Safety Commission, under the responsibility of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, with a mandate to address online harms including hate speech and the amplification of identity-based harassment.
Recommendation 22
That the Government of Canada develop policy options to address amplification of hate, prejudice, and identity-based harassment; and develop regulatory mechanisms to improve transparency and accountability of digital platforms that host and disseminate hate-motivated content, including reporting obligations, research access, and mechanisms enabling individuals to seek redress where platforms fail to address unlawful hate related content.
Ottawa – An alarming rise of antisemitism in Canada should be met with a federal interdepartmental task force and a renewed commitment to education and enforcement, the Senate Committee on Human Rights said in a report released Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
The committee recommended that the federal government immediately strike a task force to, among other things, determine the nature and impact of antisemitism in Canada, create a framework of initiatives to combat antisemitism in Canada and to improve co-operation among federal institutions responsible for public safety and social cohesion.
Education is also an important tool to combat hate. The committee makes a number of recommendations aimed at bringing more awareness to the problem of antisemitism in Canada and the great harm it is doing to Canadian Jews and the country’s social cohesion.
To help the Jewish community feel safe and protected, the committee recommends that the federal government work with provincial and territorial governments to fund specialized hate crime units and increase training for police and prosecutors to identify and respond to hate crimes across Canada.
In addition, the committee recommended reestablishing the role of Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism. The position was abolished with the February 2026 announcement of a new Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion but the committee questions whether the council will be able to adequately continue the Special Envoy’s specialized work.
Quick Facts
- According to Deborah Lyons, the former Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, the Jewish community comprises only 1% of the population but endures 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes. Jewish people are also the number one target for overall hate crimes.
- According to evidence from Public Safety Canada, hate crimes targeting religious groups have increased over the years, peaking at 1,345 incidents in 2023 — a 75% increase from the previous year. The majority of religion-based hate crimes in Canada — 69% in 2024 and 71% in 2023 — targeted the Jewish community.
- Antisemitism is also prevalent online, particularly in social media. According to Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, this is due in part to financial incentives that reward toxic communication.
Quotes
“Canadians must stand united against antisemitism. It is only by coming together to celebrate our shared values that we can thrive as a country. Antisemitism is a clear and present danger to our free and democratic society.”
- Senator Paulette Senior, chair of the committee
“Everyone in Canada deserves to feel safe. The increase in antisemitic rhetoric and attacks at places of worship and education is beyond troubling — it is a cry for action.”
- Senator Mary Jane McCallum, member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure
“Social media has been a conduit for antisemitic ideas, exposing young people, who may lack an understanding of history, to an unregulated and unverified source of information. Education, by ensuring students know how to critically evaluate online content, is a powerful inoculant against the cheap pull of hatred.”
- Senator Mary Robinson, member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure
“The rise in antisemitism and hate is a concerning trend that demands real-world solutions to make communities safer and more inclusive. This report provides comprehensive recommendations that call for immediate action to protect all Canadians from hate.”
- Senator Kristopher Wells, member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure
Associated Links
- Read the report: Standing United Against Antisemitism: Protecting Communities and Strengthening Canadian Democracy.
- Follow the committee on social media using #RIDR.
- Subscribe to email alerts for Senate committees.
- Sign up for the Senate eNewsletter.
For more information:
Chelsea DeFazio
Communications Officer | Senate of Canada
343-576-1481 | chelsea.defazio@sen.parl.gc.ca
Senators who participated in this study
Paulette Senior
ISG - Ontario
Wanda Thomas Bernard
PSG - Nova Scotia (East Preston)
Dawn Arnold
ISG - New Brunswick
David M. Arnot
ISG - Saskatchewan
Nancy Karetak-Lindell
ISG - Nunavut
Mary Jane McCallum
C - Manitoba
Marilou McPhedran
Non-affiliated - Manitoba
Mary Robinson
CSG - Prince Edward Island
Kristopher Wells
PSG - Alberta
Ex officio members of the committee: the Honourable Pierre Moreau, P.C., or the Honourable Patti LaBoucane-Benson, the Honourable Leo Housakos or the Honourable Yonah Martin, the Honourable Lucie Moncion or the Honourable Joan Kingston, the Honourable Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler or the Honourable Robert Black, the Honourable Brian Francis or the Honourable Judy A. White
Other senators who have participated in the study: the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, the Honourable Denise Batters, the Honourable Andrew Cardozo, the Honourable Mary Coyle, the Honourable Percy E. Downe, the Honourable Leo Housakos, the Honourable Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler, the Honourable Kim Pate