February 25, 2025
TORONTO — With Ontario voters heading to the polls this week, B’nai Brith Canada has contacted the major parties to clarify their stances on issues that concern the Jewish community.
Answers to a B’nai Brith Canada questionnaire from The Liberal Party of Ontario (LPO) and Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PCP)’s answers can be found on our website. Neither the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Ontario nor the Green Party of Ontario (GP) responded to repeated requests for comment.
B’nai Brith Canada sent the parties the following questions on Jan. 30, shortly after Premier Doug Ford called the election:
1) If elected, what measures will your government propose to protect the sanctity of vulnerable infrastructure, including places of worship and other religious and cultural institutions?
2) If elected, how will your government work with the federal government, municipal leaders, and law enforcement to combat the divisive and inciting protests and rallies that have been compromising the well-being of Ontarians and threatening the vitality of communities across the Province?
3) If elected, what steps will your government take to ensure that Ontario’s high schools and post-secondary campuses are safe spaces for Jewish students?
4) If elected, how will your government implement Ontario’s IHRA definition of antisemitism?
“B’nai Brith Canada believes it is vital for Jewish voters to engage in the democratic process,” said David Granovsky, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Government Relations. “Jewish voters deserve to know what their prospective leaders will do to address issues such as public safety, the Rule of Law, and rising antisemitism in Ontario schools and universities.”
On Feb. 12, B’nai Brith Canada held a virtual debate featuring candidates for the York Centre riding. Richard Robertson, our Director of Research and Advocacy, moderated the discussion.
“Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, antisemitism has surged to unprecedented heights in Ontario,” he said. “Our leaders must be able to articulate tangible policy solutions to this problem, which is a threat not only to Jewish Ontarians but Canadian society as a whole.”
Half of Canada’s Jewish community calls Ontario home, accounting for about 1.2% of the province’s population. According to our Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in Canada, from 2022-2023, incidents targeting Jewish people rose by 77.5 per cent in the province. This has included violent attacks, such as shootings directed at Jewish institutions.
B’nai Brith Canada has not yet released its 2024 Annual Audit but anticipates that the upward trend will continue.
