April 21, 2026
OTTAWA – The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights (RIDR) has endorsed B’nai Brith Canada’s recommendations to address rising levels of antisemitism and hate-motivated extremism.
Several of the recommendations, published in a landmark report Tuesday, stem from B’nai Brith’s direct engagement with the Committee. During a press conference, Senator Paulette Senior, the RIDR’s chair, specifically highlighted our organization’s concerns about the spread of Holocaust denial and online radicalization.
“B’nai Brith Canada applauds RIDR for elevating our recommendations to confront hate in this country,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy, who had appeared before the Committee during its hearings on the subject.
Key items for which B’nai Brith has advocated, and which appear in RIDR’s report, include:
1) A call for the Government to establish an interdepartmental task force to address antisemitism in Canada;
2) A proposal to develop a campaign to promote digital literacy among Canadian youth, with a specific emphasis on countering disinformation, hate, and ideological radicalization;
3) A recommendation that the Government’s Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion be mandated to include a specific focus on antisemitism;
4) Support for Holocaust and antisemitism-awareness education for schoolchildren, civil servants, and others.
The Committee also supported national bubble-zone legislation to protect synagogues, among other vulnerable institutions. In addition, it suggested Criminal Code reforms should be enacted to criminalize acts of hate that involve the use of the Hakenkreuz, as has been contemplated in Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act. B’nai Brith has backed each of these proposals as well.
“B’nai Brith Canada will continue to advocate for the rights, security, and dignity of the Jewish community as well as other marginalized Canadians,” Robertson said. “We will continue to work with the Senate to ensure that these recommendations result in changes on the ground that benefit everyone in our society.”
Simon Wolle, B’nai Brith Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, emphasized the importance of action at the Federal level.
“The Senate has listened to the community and produced pertinent and tangible recommendations to confront antisemitism in this country,” he said. “Now, it falls on the Government to translate these recommendations into action.”