What to expect from this week's Antisemitism Forum in Ottawa

On Thursday March 6, in Ottawa, the Trudeau government is holding a national antisemitism forum to help better protect Jewish Canadians from what it calls “a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents, threats, and hate crimes.” It’s by invitation only, and is expected to bring together police, prosecutors, politicians and Jewish leaders for a one-day confab on how Ottawa, the provinces and municipalities can work better together to ensure Jewish Canadians feel safe to go to synagogue, school and live in their communities. The timing of this forum has prompted some skepticism in some corners: it’s being held just three days before the federal Liberals elect a new leader and prime minister–and only weeks before Canada could be sent into a general election, which puts any political pledges made at this conference at risk. It’s also being held a full seventeen months post-Oct. 7, which unleashed an explosion of antisemitism in this country that’s continued unabated, with synagogue fire bombings, gun shots at religious schools, vandalism against Jewish businesses, doxxing of Jews in health care and academia, and supporters of designated terror groups continuing to operate openly, including on campus, online and on the streets. Some groups, including CIJA, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, who pushed for the forum, say unless concrete action is announced, it will be of little value. So who’s attending? Why weren’t the Conservatives invited? What will Canadian police and politicians hear? Will Canada promise Bubble legislation? On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner gets a preview from one of the forum’s panelists, Toronto criminal defence lawyer Mark Sandler, who’s also the founder and chair of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism.

What we talked about:

• Learn more about the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism.
• Read more about what Jewish leaders are expecting from Ottawa’s Antisemitism Forum, in The CJN.
• Hear why Ottawa has been urged to convene a national summit focusing on law enforcement and antisemitism, in The CJN.Example

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Dov Beck-Levine

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