Public Safety

During question period on public safety, members discussed anti-Semitism in Canada, citing recent incidents in Montreal including effigies of Jewish people being hung and posters of a missing Jewish girl being torn down. Melissa Lantsman of the Conservatives said the government ignored the problem for years and asked it to acknowledge a crisis and explain what it will take to act, arguing that the government’s Combatting Hate Act (Bill C-9) would not have stopped the events on the streets. Anthony Housefather of the Liberals agreed there is a crisis, pointing to the government’s condemnation of the Montreal events, the introduction of the Combatting Hate Act, funding for security for Jewish communities, and a December 2024 justice committee report with recommendations for governments, police and universities. He said Jewish communities do not feel safe and that the government will work with all levels of government to address it.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

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2 statements

Melissa Lantsman, Thornhill

Conservative
“The government ignored people treating Jewish people badly, and now it is out of control. In just one week, people hung effigies of Jews, called for an end to Canada's Jewish community, and tore down posters of a missing Jewish girl. I want the government to admit this is a crisis.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government spent years ignoring and enabling anti-Semitism in Canada. We are now watching the consequences unfold in real time. In a single week in the country, effigies of Jews were hung in Montreal in the streets, while genocidal slogans were chanted. Government-funded organizations openly discussed a Jew-free Canada. Posters of a missing 14-year-old girl were torn down because she was Jewish. That is in just one week in Canada. Will any member on that side of the House get up and admit that we are in a full-blown crisis?

Melissa Lantsman, Thornhill

Conservative
“We already have laws, and this bill will not stop the violence on our streets. The Prime Minister is doing nothing while synagogues are attacked and hate continues. I want to know what it will take for the government to finally act.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we all know the laws exist. The member opposite knows full well that Bill C-9 and anything he mentioned would not have stopped a single thing that happened in the streets. We already know the Prime Minister will not act because he has not acted. In fact, he did not say a thing last week. More effigies will be hung, more firebombs will be thrown into synagogues and more Liberal MPs will pose for pictures with those who glorify terrorism. The question is not whether the government will finally call this a crisis. We know they will not. The question is how much more needs to happen in order for anybody to do anything.

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