Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) Anthony Housefather and a group of 31 fellow caucus members have released a statement denouncing the recent surge of antisemitism in Canada. They are urging Canadians to take a stand against hatred directed at Jewish communities. The statement comes shortly after a Jewish woman was viciously attacked in broad daylight at an Ottawa grocery store, an incident being treated as a hate-motivated crime by the authorities.
The perpetrator, Joseph Rooke, 71, from Cornwall, Ont., was apprehended at the scene and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon. The victim, also in her 70s, sustained critical injuries in the assault. Housefather and his colleagues highlighted this disturbing incident in their statement, expressing concern about the normalization of antisemitism, citing attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools, businesses, and individuals.
According to Statistics Canada, there were 920 police-reported hate crimes targeting Jewish individuals in 2024, surpassing those against other religious groups and representing a significant increase from 527 incidents in 2022. The Liberal MPs emphasized the need for collective action from all Canadians, government bodies, law enforcement, educational institutions, and workplaces to combat the spread of hate.
The signatories of the statement include several prominent figures such as Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin, Crown Indigenous-Relations Minister Rebecca Alty, Secretary of State (Children and Youth) Anna Gainey, and Rachel Bendayan, parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
In alignment with Carney’s commitments, the Liberal MPs expressed support for proposed changes to the Criminal Code aimed at preventing unlawful fear and intimidation near places of worship, schools, and community centers. During the recent federal election campaign, Carney and the Liberal Party pledged to introduce legislation making it a criminal offense to obstruct access to these locations deliberately.
Additionally, the Liberals vowed to enhance the budget of the Canada Community Security Program to bolster security measures for vulnerable communities and places of worship. In response to the Ottawa incident, Carney reassured the Jewish community of Canada that they have the government’s support in combating antisemitism and ensuring their safety.
The attack on the Jewish woman in Ottawa has sparked widespread condemnation, with public officials and the community standing together against such acts of violence and discrimination.
