The roundtable with the Liberal Party saw a large cohort of eight candidates from across the National Capital Region come to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa to address the concerns of the city’s Jewish community.

 

In attendance were Bruce Fanjoy (Carleton), Greg Fergus (Hull–Aylmer), Mona Fortier (Ottawa–Vanier–Gloucester), David McGuinty (Ottawa South), Giovanna Mingarelli (Prescott–Russell–Cumberland), Yasir Naqvi (Ottawa Centre), Jenna Sudds (Kanata), and Anita Vandenbeld (Ottawa West–Nepean).

 

Representing the Jewish Federation of Ottawa were CEO Adam Silver, Chair of the Board Karen Palayew, Vice Chair Danya Vered, Antisemitism Specialist David Sachs, VP of Communications Pauline Colwin, and E-Bulletin reporter Ethan Rode.

 

The candidates were asked what they will do to address community safety, the alarming rise in hate-motivated incidents, and the alignment of values between the Federation and the Liberal Party.

 

A key issue discussed was the need for “bubble legislation,” or protective zones around vulnerable social infrastructure such as synagogues and schools.

 

“We are very supportive of bubble zone legislation,” said Naqvi. “David [McGuinty] and my colleagues have been staunch supporters, as well. Just yesterday, Mark Carney announced, as part of the Liberal plan, to bring bubble zone legislation so that we can protect places of worship like synagogues and vulnerable institutions.”

 

McGuinty, who serves as Minister of Public Safety and has long worked with Ottawa’s Jewish community, outlined government priorities and actions to combat antisemitism, including:

 

• Organizing the first-ever National Forum on Combatting Antisemitism

• Providing $10 million to grassroots organizations addressing all forms of hate, including antisemitism

• Allocating $26.8 million over four years to support police training on hate crimes

• Requiring regular progress reports twice per year

• Directing Statistics Canada to standardize hate crime data collection

• Collaborating on bubble zone legislation to protect religious and cultural centres

• Funding $1.4 million for seven new National Holocaust Remembrance Program initiatives

• Ensuring federal transfers are managed with integrity and Charter compliance

• Increasing Canada’s support for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

• Investing $18 million through the Community Resilience Fund to respond to violent acts of antisemitism

He also spoke to broader party commitments and past actions:

• Listing the Houthis, Samidoun, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah, and Hamas

• Voting overwhelmingly against BDS legislation in 2015

• Establishing National Jewish Heritage Month

• Apologizing for the MS St. Louis tragedy

• Enhancing the Canada–Israel Free Trade Agreement

• Appointing the world’s first special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism

• Doubling IHRA contributions

• Creating the Canada Centre for Community Engagement and Prevention of Violence

 

“We are not alone,” he said regarding the rise in extremist ideology. “The French are struggling, the British are struggling, the Germans are struggling, the Americans are struggling.”

 

McGuinty highlighted the Canada Community Security Program, which helps protect communal institutions, noting that many synagogues and schools in Ottawa have benefitted from the program. He also referenced the recent addition of $65 million to the fund.

 

He condemned the planned Hizb-ut-Tahrir conference in southwestern Ontario and confirmed the group is under investigation as a potential terrorist organization. These concerns are particularly personal for McGuinty, whose young niece was accosted while on her way to the Negev Dinner.

 

McGuinty also responded to reports that the Prime Minister was asked whether Canada would recognize Gaza as a state.

 

“Canada would refuse to recognize a government led by a terrorist organization as a sovereign country,” he said.

Despite this extensive list of actions and support, candidates were asked about the disconnect between what has been done and how Jewish communities across Canada are feeling.

 

Vandenbeld addressed the growing normalization of terrorist-supporting ideologies within Canadian homes and stressed the need for early education to combat antisemitism.

 

“Obviously, the school curriculum is provincial,” she said. “But at the federal level, we do have mechanisms … to be able to ensure that that kind of normalization doesn’t happen.”

 

This led into a discussion of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), which has spread antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric on university campuses. Sudds was asked directly why she supported PYM by signing up to the Vote Palestine platform, which is clearly associated with the group.

 

“I don’t want to put any of my colleagues … in the same situation, as I take full responsibility and have taken a stand,” she said. “Having said that, I think it’s important … to just say I stand with humanity, and as you have just explained, the Palestinian Youth Movement has been extreme, and I have not stood with them. That is not a position I have taken.”

 

She clarified that her intention was not to associate with the movement or its extreme elements.

 

“I have spent quite a bit of time in the community … listening and learning and understanding the perspectives,” she said. “I wholeheartedly admit I have not had the opportunity to spend as much time with the Jewish community, but I stand here today with the aspiration of ensuring that people feel safe in our city and in our country.”

 

However, despite being pressed on the issue, Sudds did not directly disavow the Vote Palestine campaign. 

 

The Vote Palestine platform includes five central tenets: imposing a two-way arms embargo on Israel, ending Canadian involvement in Israeli settlements, address anti-Palestinian racism (APR) and protect freedom of expression on Palestine, recognize the state of Palestine, and properly fund relief efforts in Gaza, including the UNRWA.

 

These positions stand in direct contrast to Liberal Party policies, including support for Israel, condemnation of BDS, and the Canada–Israel Free Trade Agreement. Her refusal to clearly disassociate from the platform left many concerned about the disconnect between her public statements and the values she is expected to uphold as a Liberal representative.

 

Vered responded by encouraging Sudds to consider the broader impact of her public positions and urged her to consult with all affected communities.

 

“Education is critical,” she said. “I do just want to note that we also stand for humanity, and we are a very diverse community.” 

 

Vered spoke to the varying views within the Jewish community alone that pertain to the conflict and Israel’s participation in it. 

 

“When encountering issues that deal with … a resolution of the situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, I would really encourage you, when you are presented with anything, to take a moment and say, ‘who else should I consult on this,’” she said. “You admit that you have not engaged with the Jewish community all that much. As an elected official … we beg you to take a moment’s pause and consider who you may be impacting.”

 

The discussion then turned to the importance of dialogue.

 

“There is unbelievable polarization of people not hearing each other,” said Vandenbeld.

 

She shared an anecdote from a virtual coffee hour with constituents, where one participant called the Israel Defense Forces a terrorist organization, and another spoke with concern for his daughter, who serves in the IDF. Vandenbeld shared how afterwards it was like the “air had left the room,” and how this was an example our mutual experiences helped connect people.

 

“It’s hard for someone in their 50s, let alone a young person, to be exposed to this,” she said. “One thing we didn’t mention is the Online Harms Act. We have got to deal with this stuff that’s getting into our kids’ phones.”

 

She noted that Canada’s geography once offered a buffer from extremist influences — but now, digital platforms bring those threats directly into people’s homes.

 

Candidates agreed on the need to foster kindness and empathy from an early age, especially through schools.

 

“We need to start with kids in schools to help them feel safe and empowered,” said Mingarelli, referencing her past work with Global Dignity. “Providing support for education that will empower the students, parents, and teachers to feel safe in communities during this very difficult time can help.”

 

Still, the conversation acknowledged the deeper, systemic challenges around how hate spreads and how to stop it.

 

“I am quite concerned about the radicalization that happens online, especially boys,” said Fergus. “We need to be very alert.”

Sudds was again asked if, after hearing what her colleagues and Federation had to say, she would disassociate herself from the Palestinian Youth Movement and their platform; however, she refused to do so. 

 

McGuinty returned to the topic of radicalization:

 

“As your Minister of Public Safety … I know what’s going on. I know all the details and the classified information, and it’s very worrisome.”

 

All candidates agreed that during this campaign, they have heard more concerns about antisemitism than ever before.

“We don’t do hate here,” said McGuinty.

 

To read more about what the Liberals stand for, check out their platform here