QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Anti-Semitism
May 6, 2026
Senator Moreau, I wish to acknowledge the important work of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights in its recent report on anti-Semitism. Given the evidence of serious and ongoing safety risks and terrorist attacks at Jewish schools and places of worship, what immediate steps is the government taking to ensure that these institutions are protected?
Thank you for that important question, senator. Hate and anti-Semitism have no place in our communities or anywhere in Canada.
In the spring economic update, the government announced an additional $75 million over five years for the Canada Community Security Program, which provides time-limited funding and support for communities at risk of hate-motivated incidents or crimes to enhance security measures in their gathering spaces.
This adds to the $10 million announced to respond directly to the security needs of Jewish communities, with $5 million earmarked for Toronto-based organizations such as the Jewish Security Network of Toronto, $2.5 million for Montreal-based organizations such as the Federation CJA of Montreal and $2.5 million for other communities.
The government has also been simplifying the program application process by introducing additional flexibility to ensure that no community falls through the cracks.
Thank you, Senator Moreau.
Senator Moreau, community leaders have told us that families are relying on a patchwork of paid police, private security and volunteers, and that this situation is neither sustainable nor acceptable.
They are calling on the state to take responsibility for ensuring safety.
Will the government commit to ensuring that security for vulnerable communities is treated as a core public safety obligation rather than a burden placed on those communities?
Yes, the government has introduced Bill C-9. I hope that we will be able to adopt that bill rapidly.
The security of all Canadians is the number one priority of the government. We have seen this with renewed spending on defence at the broader level, as well as funding to strengthen the RCMP and law enforcement, augmented recruitment targets and a stricter legislative framework for repeat violent offenders, which is Bill C-14.
On your question, the purpose of the Canada Community Security Program is to take away the economic burden —
I’m sorry, Senator Moreau, but your time is up.
