Where the Parties Stand

Where the Parties Stand on issues important to the jewish community

Question: If elected, what changes to the Criminal Code will your government make to better fight hate crimes and help law enforcement stop them?

Context:

Canada’s current legal framework does not fully address the rising threat of hate speech and hate-motivated offences. Loopholes in the Criminal Code, such as lenient penalties and the ability to conceal identity through mask wearing at protests, allow individuals to avoid accountability for harmful actions. Amending the Criminal Code to strengthen measures against hate-motivated offences will equip law enforcement with better tools to combat these behaviours and protect the values of tolerance and safety for all Canadians.

The key actions that the next government can take to address this issue are based on Priority 1 of B’nai Brith Canada’s Seven-Point Plan to Tackle Antisemitism:

Strengthen Penalties for Hate Crimes: The next federal government must introduce amendments to the Criminal Code to increase penalties for hate-motivated offences. This includes harsher sentencing guidelines for crimes committed with a hateful intent, ensuring that perpetrators face significant consequences.

Legal Framework for Mask Prohibition: The next federal government must introduce legislation that prohibits the wearing of masks or face coverings at protests, except for those with legitimate medical or religious reasons. This law should balance the right to protest with the need to prevent hate speech, violence, and other illegal activities.

Broaden the Definition of Hate Speech: The next federal government must amend the Criminal Code to broaden the definition of hate speech to include modern forms of online and digital harassment, which are often used to target minority communities, including the Jewish community. This will ensure that hate speech in all forms is recognized and punishable by law.

Criminalize the Display of the Flags and Emblems of Listed Terror Entities: The next federal government must amend the Criminal Code to include a provision outlawing the display of the Flags and Emblems of Listed Terror entities.

Criminalize Nazi Symbols: The next federal government must introduce new legislation to ban the Nazi hooked cross (Hakenkreuz) as well as other Nazi symbols and iconography.

Enforcement and Penalties: Law enforcement agencies must ensure the effective enforcement of these laws by imposing fines or other penalties on individuals who violate hate crime legislation or the prohibition on mask-wearing at protests. This will help maintain accountability and deter unlawful behaviour.

Question: If elected, what steps will your government take to list all terrorist organizations (along with individuals and entities that belong to them) that endanger the lives of Canadians and individuals around the world?

Context:

Terrorist organizations, both foreign and domestic, pose serious threats to Canadians and individuals around the world. Foreign and domestic terrorist organizations (along with individuals and entities that belong to them) have been directly or indirectly involved in activities that harm people across Canada, spread violence, and promote dangerous extremist ideologies.

While B’nai Brith Canada was pleased that our advocacy efforts led to the listing of the Ansarallah (commonly referred to as “the Houthis”) , the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Samidoun, many more need to be listed – including adding new entities such as the Palestinian Mujahadeen Movement – a terrorist group in Gaza that took part in the October 7 Hamas attack against Israel.

As for Samidoun, the recently listed terrorist entity (listed in October 2024) is still managing to benefit from its status as a not-for-profit corporation under Corporations Canada. This is unbecoming, and the next government must immediately remove its not-for-profit status.

The key actions that the next government can take to address this issue are based on Priority 2 of B’nai Brith Canada’s Seven-Point Plan to Tackle Antisemitism:

Designation of All Terror Organizations: The next government must officially list all organizations who engage in terrorist activities, or who have links to organizations who engage in terrorist activities, as terrorist organizations under Canadian law. This designation would make it illegal to provide any form of support or affiliation to these entities.

Collaboration with Allies: The next government must work closely with international allies to ensure these groups are recognized as terrorist entities worldwide, promoting a coordinated global response to their activities.

Question: If elected, how will your government tackle foreign interference, improve immigration policies, and prevent the spread of extremist ideas to keep Canadians safe and protect Canadian values?

Canada is increasingly becoming a target for extremist ideologies and the spread of terrorism. Poor immigration policies and inadequate monitoring of individuals involved in extremist activities have allowed foreign hate groups to spread their views within Canada. This has impacted schools, community organizations, and political movements, undermining Canadian values and endangering the safety of people across Canada. Concurrently, weak enforcement has allowed radical ideas and terror to spread from Canada to other countries around the world.

Strengthening federal laws and border security to stop the import and export of hate and terror is crucial for keeping Canadians safe and protecting Canadian values of tolerance and respect.

The key actions that the next government can take to address this issue are based on Priority 3 of B’nai Brith Canada’s Seven-Point Plan to Tackle Antisemitism:

Enhanced Monitoring of Foreign Interference: Law enforcement agencies must actively monitor foreign groups or individuals attempting to spread extremist ideologies or engage in terrorist activities within Canada. This includes working closely with intelligence agencies to identify foreign actors who seek to radicalize Canadian citizens.

Stricter Immigration Controls: The next federal government must implement more rigorous screening for foreign students, immigrants, refugees, and visitors with respect to extremism and radicalization. This should include in-depth background checks and ongoing monitoring to ensure that individuals with ties to extremist groups are not allowed to enter or remain in Canada. As well, the continuous monitoring of these individuals should be performed during their stay in Canada to prevent the spread of extremist views.

Deportation of Extremists: Federal government authorities must identify and deport leaders of extremist groups or individuals who actively promote hate and violence within Canada. This measure is critical for dismantling networks that threaten Canadian communities, particularly the Jewish community.

Prevent the Export of Terrorism: The next federal government must establish stricter penalties and laws to prevent the export of terror and radicalization. Canadians or residents involved in extremist activities or supporting terror abroad should face immediate legal consequences, including deportation or long-term imprisonment.

Question: If elected, what steps will your government take to ban hate rallies that support terror entities and sanctioned regimes?

Context:

Hate rallies and rallies that support listed terror entities and sanctioned regimes held across Canada, including Al-Quds Day rallies, have consistently been platforms for spreading antisemitic rhetoric and extremist views. Originally promoted by foreign governments hostile to Canada and to Israel, these rallies often cross the line from legitimate political discourse into hate speech and incitement against Jews.

The key actions that the next government can take to address this issue are based on Priority 4 of B’nai Brith Canada’s Seven-Point Plan to Tackle Antisemitism:

National Ban: The next federal government must implement a national ban on all rallies that promote hate speech, violence, and extremism, including those like Al-Quds Day. These events have no place in a society that values diversity, tolerance, and the safety of all its citizens.

B’nai Brith Canada recently launched a letter-writing campaign calling for a ban on the Al-Quds Day rallies in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. As part of the campaign, over 11,000 letters were sent to the mayors of these cities. While the campaign targets local officials, it is essential that federal parties join our call to prohibit these rallies – in 2025 and in the future! Al-Quds Day has a well-documented history of promoting hateful rhetoric, glorifying terrorism, and inciting violence.

Enforcement: Law enforcement agencies must actively monitor and intervene at events where hate speech and incitement to violence are likely, ensuring that participants and organizers face legal consequences.

Accountability: Local governments and universities must take a firm stance against permitting their facilities to be used for hate rallies, ensuring alignment with Canada’s commitment to combating all forms of hate speech

Question: If elected, what actions will your government take to implement and apply Canada’s definition of antisemitism – the IHRA definition – across federal departments and agencies?

Context:

In 2019, B’nai Brith Canada welcomed the Government of Canada’s decision to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Canada’s definition of antisemitism was also part of Canada’s first federal anti-racism strategy (2019-2022). This definition is crucial for federal, provincial and territorial policymakers, law enforcement, and educational institutions to effectively address antisemitism.

B’nai Brith Canada welcomed the previous government’s commitment to collaborate “with partners across all levels of government to raise awareness of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition and all its elements outlined in the Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.” However, more can be done to ensure the effective implementation and consistent application of the definition throughout the Government of Canada.

Therein lies the opportunity for the next government to take the following actions – some of which are based on Priority 5 of B’nai Brith Canada’s Seven-Point Plan to Tackle Antisemitism:

Federal Grants: The next government must ensure that federal grants programs are aligned with Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy. Ensuring that all the projects and funding recipients that receive federal grants as part of Canada’s federal grant programs are aligned with the Strategy will guarantee that no federal funding is given to projects or individuals whose aims and objectives are contrary to the federal government’s efforts to combat racism and hatred.

IHRA literacy: The next government must dedicate funding to develop a 5-year program to enhance the literacy of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism amongst secondary and post-secondary students and institutions.

These recommendations are outlined in B’nai Brith Canada’s written submissions to the Department of Finance (February 2025) and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (August 2024) for their respective pre-budget consultations. Additionally, these recommendations are included in B’nai Brith Canada’s May 2024 submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights for its study on antisemitism and further measures to address the legitimate concerns expressed by Canada’s Jewish community.

B’nai Brith Canada commended the Justice and Human Rights, and Finance Committees for endorsing both recommendations in their respective reports that were tabled in December 2024 in the House of Commons.

Implementation Guidelines: The next government must establish clear guidelines and protocols for its implementation. This includes incorporating the definition into federal hate crime legislation.

Training and Education: Federal public servants must undergo training on the IHRA definition and its application in various contexts to ensure antisemitic incidents are recognized and addressed appropriately.

Monitoring and Reporting: A national monitoring system must be established by the federal government to track the adoption and implementation of the IHRA definition, identifying areas where it is not being effectively applied, and implementing improvements where necessary.