JUST Committee Report

Dissenting Report on Antisemitism and Additional Measures to Address the Valid Fears Expressed by Canada’s Jewish Community

Standing Committee for Justice and Human Rights

This dissenting report reflects the views of the Conservative Members who sit on the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights; M.P. Larry Brock (Shadow Minister for Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Vice Chair, Brantford-Brant), M.P. Jamil Jivani (Durham), M.P. Michelle Ferreri (Shadow Minister for Families, Children and Social Development, Peterborough—Kawartha), and M.P. Tako Van Popta (Shadow Minister for Pacific Economic Development, Langley—Aldergrove ).

Introduction

Under Justin Trudeau's Government, Canada has seen a disturbing and unprecedented rise in antisemitism and hate crimes. Even before the October 7th terror attacks, hate crimes had surged by 165% since Trudeau became Prime Minister. In 2023, following those attacks, Canada recorded a shocking 5,791 antisemitic incidents—setting a new, tragic high.

Jewish Canadians have the right to live in safety and without fear, and Canada has a moral duty to confront and eliminate all forms of hatred, including antisemitism. To protect our communities and uphold the values of equality and respect, it is imperative that we take decisive action against groups and ideologies that promote violence, hatred, and division.

This report addresses a matter of great sensitivity and urgency. The rise in antisemitic incidents across Canada demands an immediate and unified response from all levels of government. Now, more than ever, it is critical for parliamentarians to come together and take concrete steps to combat violence, hate, and discrimination—particularly as antisemitic behaviour continues to escalate under the current Liberal government.

However, the statistics clearly demonstrate that the Liberal government's current approach to combating antisemitism is not working. Given this, while we support most of the report’s recommendations, we believe there are key areas where improvements are necessary. Based on firsthand experience and the evidence bravely provided by witnesses to this committee, Conservatives offer further comments and recommendations that are not reflected in this report to enhance and strengthen Canada’s efforts in the fight against antisemitism.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Multiple witnesses testified that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, referred to as EDI in the report, on their campuses have discriminated against Jewish students and faculty members. In response, the majority of committee members propose addressing this issue by expanding universities’ DEI programs to ensure that Jewish voices are included. Conversely, the Conservative members of the committee viewed this testimony as evidence that, despite their good intentions, DEI programs are ineffective in fostering justice both in society at large and specifically on university campuses.

As we heard earlier on in this study, DEI has exacerbated the problem at hand. As further stated by witness Rachel Cook, a diversity, equity, and inclusion meeting “did not include Jewish people when they were discussing what to do about a Jewish person complaining about antisemitism on campus. I think it can start at the top, but it also starts in institutions, when I asked who decides who is in these DEI meetings—is it a percentage of population? —their response was, well, it's the groups that deserve equity and deserve inclusion. Well, who decides that?”[1].

This viewpoint was further supported by Witness Ms. Deborah Lyons who stated that “there is no question that EDI is failing Jews in this country. EDI is failing anti-Semitism. It focuses on a very narrow description of marginalized, racialized or equity-seeking groups, and it does not address antisemitism at all. That must change”[2].

Thus, given the evidence, we strongly recommend that the Government of Canada acknowledge that DEI policies have enabled organizations and bureaucracies to exclude certain groups and have proven ineffective in addressing hate, as evidenced by the incidents of antisemitism presented through testimonies during this report.

Ultimately, while we support the majority of the report’s recommendations, we advocate for the removal of all suggestions aimed at enhancing any DEI programs.

Advocating for the Enforcement of Conduct Codes and the Protection of Academic Freedom

Instead, we recommend eliminating these programs altogether in favour of the equal and consistent enforcement of laws and codes of conduct against racism. Witness Gabriel Miller, President and CEO of Universities Canada, highlighted instances where university codes of conduct were not enforced, emphasizing the administration's failure to respond to the increasing tide of antisemitism[3] .

Academic freedom is designed to foster the exploration of challenging ideas without fear of reprisal, which is essential for intellectual growth. However, as this committee heard, some university departments maintain that the only acceptable stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict aligns with the destruction of Israel, often justifying violence and suppressing alternative viewpoints[4]. Given the emphasis placed on this issue by witnesses during our discussions, we also recommend that universities cultivate an academic environment that encourages viewpoint diversity and upholds academic freedom. Initiatives like the National Respectful Dialogue Initiative at the University of Ottawa and the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics exemplify this approach[5].

Recommendations to the Government of Canada

In light of the evidence presented and the urgent need for action, we submit the following recommendations for the Government of Canada.

It is evident that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have failed to address antisemitism and have actively excluded Jewish students and faculty. Therefore, we recommend that the Government of Canada end all DEI initiatives in federally funded institutions. In place of DEI, universal codes of conduct should be implemented to address discrimination with consistent, impartial standards that ensure equal protection for everyone. Additionally, universities should uphold academic freedom and foster viewpoint diversity, creating an environment that supports open debate and intellectual inclusivity without ideological bias. These steps will help build a more genuinely inclusive environment within Canadian institutions, promoting justice and unity without the divisiveness associated with current DEI programs.

Furthermore, we recommend that the Government of Canada designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization under Section 83.05 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which will better align Canada’s counter-terrorism efforts with the realities of global threats.

The Government must also adopt a clear, consistent, and principled stance regarding the ongoing conflict in Israel. The current approach, with conflicting messages from members of the governing Liberal caucus—supporting Israel within Jewish communities while delivering contradictory statements to pro-Palestinian groups—has become politically expedient and deeply divisive. This approach risks fracturing Canadian society on an issue that requires national unity, moral clarity, and a principled foreign policy.

In addition, we call for the immediate suspension of Canadian funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) until it can be verified that no Canadian taxpayer dollars are supporting terrorist activities. Canada must ensure that its contributions do not inadvertently fund violence or terrorism.

Finally, we strongly condemn recent comments by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in which she stated that Canada’s foreign policy is being shaped by the demographics of her constituency[6]. Such remarks underscore the Government’s politically motivated, morally compromised approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and weaken Canada’s standing on the global stage as a principled advocate for peace and justice.

These recommendations are designed to guide a more coherent and ethically grounded approach to combating antisemitism in Canada—one that prioritizes the safety, security, and well-being of Jewish Canadians. Canada’s policies must reflect a steadfast commitment to justice, equality, and the protection of all citizens from hatred and violence. By taking decisive action against antisemitic groups, promoting unity, and ensuring Canada’s leadership in combating all forms of hate, we can create a safer and more inclusive environment for Jewish communities and Canadians as a whole.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this dissenting report underscores the urgent need for a more robust and effective strategy to combat antisemitism and safeguard Jewish communities across Canada. The alarming rise in antisemitic incidents under the current government demands immediate and decisive action. However, the response from the Liberal government, with the support of the New Democratic Party, has been insufficient in addressing the severity and scope of the issue. Testimonies from witnesses throughout this study have highlighted how existing policies—particularly the expansion of diversity, equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs—have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty from discrimination, and in some cases, have even worsened the challenges they face.

The Conservative Members of this committee are committed to advocating for a Canada where Jewish Canadians can live free from fear and violence. We believe that prioritizing the strict enforcement of conduct codes, upholding academic freedom, and adopting a principled approach to global issues such as the situation in Israel are essential steps toward creating a safer environment for Jewish communities. It is only through these actions that we can ensure Jewish Canadians are truly protected from hate and are able to live without fear of discrimination or violence.